Fushigi Yuugi: The Mysterious Play
Chapter 38
Love Trap
:Or:
Tama-kins isn't going to know what hit him.
By:
NightMare
With Charlie Brown Anthologies and kawaii desktops from:
Annikia Valentine
Dedicated to:
The Mighty Trumpet Loving Frog
---
Author's Note: You know what? This whole rewriting thing is tricky. If you change one thing it sends ripples throughout the whole fic. Daa… I'm insane for doing all this again but you love me anyway.
Wo Ai Ni, No Da!
Night Mare
---
Nuriko had been right, Eiou was much more crowded then Jozen. It hadn't seemed this crowded when he'd last visited.
"We're almost home," Sharon said. Genrou looked at her. She seemed genuinely happy.
"I thought you came from another world."
"I do."
"Then why do ya call this place home?"
She smiled at him. "Because it seems like home to me. A home away from home."
Genrou was glad to hear that for some reason. The little girl was slowly getting to him, but he wouldn't let her. He'd keep her away. Mitsukake bumped into him a little and Genrou looked up at him. The tall man was looking at everything with wide eyes. He'd been the same way in Jozen and Sung too for that matter.
"You really are a country boy, aren't ya?"
"Is it that obvious?" Mitsukake asked, red tingeing his cheeks.
"Really obvious." Genrou grinned at him. "I'm the same way. Before I joined Reikaku I never even left my village…except for once."
"Oh yeah? Where did you go?" Nuriko asked.
"Here. Man, that was fun as hell. Except I got in a fight with some stuck up city boy on the last day and Ma found out about it and whipped me good."
Nuriko laughed. "That's just like you. Picking fights with everyone."
"He started it! See, what happened was…"
The eleven-year-old squirmed in his stiff new clothes. They were so scratchy. He didn't want to wear them. He had been shoved into a black tunic with a red phoenix on it and black pants. The dark yellow sash around his waist was pulled very tight.
"Stop moving!" Aite, who was brushing his hair, snapped.
"But I hate this! This is worse then what I usually get stuck in!"
"Too bad!" his third oldest sister said, popping him upside the head with the brush. Shun'u winced as his head throbbed.
"I hate it when you brush my hair! Can't I brush my own hair?"
"No," Aite said.
"If you hate it so much, then I'll take over," Miburui said. Shun'u froze as his sisters exchanged places. If Aite was bad, Miburui was worse. Being the oldest, she expected to be listened to without question. If he so much as sneezed she would give him a bruise the size of Reikaku. Well at least now that he was dressed he didn't have to worry about being given a bath. He twitched at the thought. He hated baths the worst.
"I'm all ready!" Aidou chimed as she stepped into the room. She twirled in front of him. Probably more for Miburui's approval then his. She was only two years older then him and he hated her the worst. She always found ways to hurt him and he couldn't do anything back.
"You look beautiful," Miburui said.
"I think you look like a pig in a rug," Shun'u said. Aidou glared at him, amber eyes flashing. He doubled over as she slammed her fist into his stomach.
"Stand up straight, Shun'u," Miburui said, whacking him on the thigh with the brush. He stood and glared at Aidou, a hand on his aching stomach. She smiled at him in a superior way and sat on a nearby chair.
"Mama says the parade will start soon," Wani said, poking her head into the room. Then her eyes lit on Shun'u and she smiled.
"Aw! Isn't he so cute!" she said, coming over to him and pinching his cheek.
"Get off!" he snarled. Wani continued speaking as if she hadn't even heard him.
"You know, we should really put him in pink next time. I saw the cutest little outfit on a little girl today and I think it would look good on him."
"I ain't a girl!" Shun'u snapped.
"Yes you are," Aidou said. "You're just a cute little girl." She came over to him and pinched his other cheek hard. He struggled to get his head away.
"Shun'u! Stop moving!" Miburui snapped. "Aidou leave Shun'u alone. Go down to the common room with Wani and tell Mama we're almost ready."
"But…"
"Now."
"Fine. Good bye little sister," Aidou said, grinning at him. Then she tossed her red hair over her shoulder and marched from the room. Miburui soon finished and tied his hair back into a ponytail with a red ribbon. She turned him around and lifted his chin. A pretty smile came over her face.
"You look very handsome, Shun'u. But you'd better keep these clothes spotless or Mama will have your hide."
Shun'u smiled back. He really liked Miburui sometimes. She was just as mean as the rest of his sisters but whenever she smiled like that, he always liked her.
"Will you hurry up?" Aite said. "The parade of the New Year isn't going to wait for you!"
They marched him downstairs where the rest of his family was waiting. His mother clapped her hands and squeezed his shoulders so hard he thought they would break.
"There's my little baby boy. Don't you look so handsome? Isn't he precious, Gor'u?"
"Yes of course dear," father said. Shun'u rolled his eyes. 'Yes of course dear' was all his father ever seemed to say.
"He actually looks respectable for once," Nirami, his second oldest sister said. "How do you do it, Miburui?"
"It wasn't hard."
"Now if you could only find a husband."
Shun'u cringed as Miburui bristled. Uh-oh.
"Don't even start girls," mother said.
"Well Mama, she's practically an old maid."
"Well you've gone through three (&)ing fiancés! What happened? Did you ask too much for your services?!"
Nirami flushed in outrage and slapped her. Miburui slapped her back.
"Cat fight!" Shun'u said before he thought about it.
"Shut up!" they both snapped, slapping him across the head. He fell to his knees, holding his ringing head. Ow.
"You're just mad because you're going to be an old crone, Miburui!" Aite snarled.
"Yeah!" Wani said.
"She is not! Nirami's going to be the crone!" Aidou said.
"Yeah!" Wani said.
"Shut up Wani!" Aite and Aidou snapped.
"I don't have to shut up!" Wani snapped, slapping Aidou. "I don't have to listen to you. You're younger then me!"
"Only by a year!"
Shun'u had to escape. He was not going to stand there in the middle of a girl war. He'd never make it out alive. Aidou was the closest to the door. If he could get past her he could get away. He knew what he had to do. He was going to be hurt for it later but right now it was the only option. He shoved Aidou to the ground and slipped past her. She jumped to her feet.
"You little brat!"
"Wani just called you a slut," he said quickly.
"No I didn't. Even if it is true," Wani said.
"I hate you!" Aidou cried, launching into an all out assault on Wani. Shun'u sighed with relief and bolted out the door into the night.
The streets were crowded and filled with excitement. He laughed at the sudden sense of freedom and began to run through the crowds, just for the hell of it. Lanterns hung everywhere and high above, colored light exploded in the air. Nobles stood in the middle of the square, dressed in brilliant red and gold, throwing money out into the crowds.
Shun'u dove among the sea of legs and scooped up all the ryu he could find. It was copper ryu and wouldn't buy much, but it was more then he ever had. He shoved the coins into his belt. He looked up and thought he saw the flash of gold flipping over into the crowd. He dashed for it, mind whirling. Was that really a gold ryu? If he could get it maybe he could buy his own house and never have to live with his sisters again!
He was so wrapped up in his own thoughts that he charged right into someone, nearly knocking them both down. He stepped back and stared. It was a boy a little older then him with long dark brown hair. There was a white sheet around his shoulders.
"Well?" the boy said in a smooth city accent.
"Well what?"
"Aren't you going to apologize?"
"Why should I? You're the one who got in my way."
The boy looked down at him with an imperious air.
"Obviously you do not know who I am."
"Yeah…and I don't give a damn."
"I suppose it really doesn't matter. You are just a crude peasant."
Shun'u rolled his eyes. What a snob.
"And who do you think you are? The emperor?"
The boy opened his mouth to answer, and then looked around quickly as if searching for eavesdroppers. He pulled the sheet over his head and held it close.
"Truthfully I am in line for the throne," he said in a hushed voice. "But I have snuck away from my nanny and I do not wish for her to find me out here or I shall be in trouble." Shun'u laughed.
"You're in line for the throne my ass! You're probably just some dirt poor street kid who got knocked on the head too much."
"You are just an ignorant little boy."
"Who the hell are you calling an igorant huh? And you ain't much older then me so don't even be starting with the little boy crap!" Shun'u said, clenching his hands into fists.
"You act like an infant."
"Yeah! Well you act like a snob!" A gold flash caught Shun'u's attention. The eleven-year-old's eyes widened as he saw a gold ryu lying not to far from him. The other boy seemed to notice it too and started going for it. Shun'u lunged for the coin but the other boy snatched it up.
"Hey! Give it! I saw it first!"
"Not until you apologize for being rude."
"I'll apologize with this!" Shun'u yelled, punching him in the stomach. The boy doubled over, gasping. Shun'u stood and waited for him to rise again. The boy glared at him. Then turned and tossed the coin into the crowd.
"Go fetch, little boy," he said coolly.
"You're gonna pay for that!" Shun'u yelled, jumping forward to punch him in the stomach. The boy danced lightly out of the way and Shun'u slammed into the ground. The boy laughed softly.
"Didn't anyone ever tell you not to do the same attack twice?" Shun'u got to his feet and swung at him again. The boy dodged all his attacks gracefully, laughing. Shun'u glared at him. There had to be something he could do. Suddenly it hit him. He reached forward and jerked the boy's sheet away.
"Give that back!" the boy said. Shun'u grinned and waved the sheet in front of him.
"You gonna apologize?"
"To you?" he said in an outraged tone. Shun'u began to wave the sheet through the air.
"Hey! Any nanny looking for a runaway boy? I got him right here!" he shouted.
"Stop that right now!"
"Right here! The runaway's right here! Listen everyone!" The boy punched him in the jaw, sending him to the ground. Shun'u tasted blood on his tongue. That bastard! Shun'u stood and wiped the trail of blood from his chin. The boy was giving him that snobby look again.
"That should teach-" Shun'u shut him up by punching him in the face. The boy glared at him from the ground.
"You hit my eye! If this leaves a permanent mark you shall be severely punished!"
"Yeah right. I'm not scared of you." The boy stood.
"I'm warning you…" Shun'u punched him again. The boy hit him back. Soon they were on the ground punching and kicking. The boy was really good and soon Shun'u found himself underneath him. The boy had a black eye, bruises on his cheek and a busted lip. They were both out of breath.
Suddenly the boy smiled and stood, holding out a hand for him. Shun'u stared at him suspiciously. He didn't trust sudden smiles.
"Please, it's all right. Take my hand." Shun'u reluctantly did and the boy pulled him to his feet.
"What are you so happy about?" he asked.
"I have never felt so free before. It was like we were just two common boys engaging in a fist fight. I thank you for that. My face will be bruised for a while, but not even bruises can take away from its true beauty." The boy began to sparkle. Shun'u sweatdropped. This kid was definitely a little weird.
"Seishuku-sama!" shouted a female voice behind him. The boy winced.
"It appears I have been caught. Mother will not be pleased. Oh well. It was worth it. Tell me, what is your name?"
"Kou Shun'u."
"Very well Kou-san. I will have your clothes replaced. I'm sure they were expensive."
"Seishuku-sama come here right away," the woman shouted.
"We will meet again. I must go now." Shun'u watched Seishuku leave with his nanny. He'd never met anyone like that. He kinda liked him, even if the boy was a little strange in the head. Then he remembered what the boy had said and looked down at his clothes. They were torn and covered with dirt. Shun'u felt ready to cry. Ma was gonna kill him!
Sharon couldn't help but laugh. Poor Tasuki. No wonder he didn't like girls. Nuriko was laughing too.
"I can't believe you got in a fist fight with Hotohori-sama!" the purple-haired seishi said. "You will pick a fight with anyone won't you?"
"That was him wasn't it? Damn. I knew I recognized him from somewhere."
"Did you know you were a seishi then?" Sharon asked. Tasuki shook his head.
"Nah. I didn't find out until I was fifteen."
"That was kinda cool how you were drawn together. I mean, you didn't even know you were seishi," Sharon said.
"Well the seishi are drawn to each other as much as they are drawn to the miko no da. Furthermore, all the groups of seishi are connected in some way no da."
"Well the connection with Seiryuu is obvious," Nuriko said. "But are you saying we're also connected with the Byakko and Genbu seishi?"
"I can see the Byakko…but Genbu? They all died over two hundred years ago. It's impossible for us to be connected with them," Tasuki said.
"Nothing is impossible no da." They walked on in silence for a moment.
"So where are we going to be staying?" Mitsukake asked.
"The biggest building in town," Sharon said with a grin.
"You mean except the palace?" Tasuki asked.
"Nope. I mean the palace."
"No way! Ya mean the emperor's really boarding us up?"
"Is Hotohori going to meet us there?" Chiriko asked.
"Actually no da…"
"He'll be there," Sharon interrupted, grinning. Nuriko snickered and Sharon did too. She couldn't wait to see their reactions when they found out.
---
Genrou whistled appreciatively at the palace. He couldn't believe they were staying here of all places. He'd never been anywhere so luxurious. Of course it was only going to be for a few days until they got Tamahome back and did the ceremony. Then he'd be hightailing it back to Reikaku.
"Your Grace," a guard said, bowing. "His Majesty wished to see you and the seishi as soon as you returned. He is in the throne room."
"Okay," Sharon said cheerfully. Genrou stared at her. How could she be so happy to meet with the emperor himself? He was starting to get anxious. Emperors had never really liked bandits. The last one never let up on Reikaku. This one hadn't bothered with Reikaku yet, but it was only a matter of time.
He wondered how the emperor got along with Sharon? She didn't seem the type to meekly follow orders. For that matter, how did he get along with Hotohori? The man practically acted like an emperor himself. There must be a lot of tension. He bowed his head as they entered the throne room. He'd heard somewhere that you weren't supposed to look the emperor's eyes.
"We're back Hori-kun! And without a scratch. Betcha didn't think we could do that did ya?"
"He…he's the emperor?" Mitsukake asked. Genrou looked up at the throne and his eyes widened. Hotohori was sitting there dressed in imperial robes and wearing a crown. The shock made him sit down and all he could do was stare. Hotohori was the emperor! He'd insulted the emperor and threatened the emperor and mocked the emperor. He was in deep trouble.
"Well?" Hotohori said.
"Well what?"
"Aren't you going to apologize?" Genrou grinned and got to his feet. He knew he was probably taking a big risk, but he wasn't scared.
"Why should I? You still owe me a new set of clothes." Hotohori stared at him for a long moment. Then he laughed.
"Very well. I told you I would when we met again."
---
They were all sitting at the table with only one missing. Sharon had never felt so happy. This was perfect. They were almost all together. Once Tamahome was here, they would be complete. She clicked her chopsticks together happily and began piling food onto her plate.
Hotohori was sitting at the head of the table of course. She was at his right hand side. Nuriko sat next to her and Chichiri sat next to him. Tasuki was across from her with Mitsukake sitting beside him and Chiriko sitting across from Chichiri.
A servant was pouring something red into Tasuki's cup. Sharon grinned. Ooh. That looked like wine. She'd never tasted wine. She looked in her own cup and narrowed her eyes at the white, frothy liquid inside. It was milk! Something wasn't right here.
"Hey wait a minute. Why don't I get any wine?" she asked.
"You're too young for it," Hotohori said. Sharon looked down the table. A servant was pouring wine into Chiriko's cup.
"He gets wine!"
"He acts older," the healer muttered. Sharon shot a glare at him, then looked back at Hotohori with puppy dog eyes.
"That doesn't count. Comon' Hori-kun."
"Have you ever drunk wine before?" Chichiri asked.
"Nope."
"Well then I think you should stay away from it until we know how much tolerance you have," Chichiri said sweatdropping.
"Yeah, the last thing we need you is drunk," Nuriko said.
"Oh I dunno about that. She'd probably be a riot," Tasuki said. Sharon didn't know whether to take that as an insult or a compliment and left it alone.
"Oh yeah, Hori-kun. Tomorrow evening me and Chichiri-kawaii are going to Kutou to pick up Squash-boy, 'Manda and the scroll." Hotohori paused from eating and gave her a surprised look.
"You aren't serious."
"Yes I'm serious."
"Sharon, don't you understand that it's impossible for you to go to Kutou? If they caught you…"
"Well I'll just have to make sure they don't. Amanda has to come back with me. She can't stay there. I don't trust that Nakago guy with her. The only one who can convince her to come back is me. I have to talk to her. She's my best friend and I'm not going to abandon her."
"It will be extremely dangerous." Sharon looked down at her food.
"Yeah. I know that. I know that as a miko I can't go there…but as a person I have to. I have to save my friend. You understand, right?" He sighed and closed his eyes.
"Yes. I understand. It's just that your life is at risk on a daily bases even in Konan and every time you leave you worry a year's worth of life out of me." Sharon didn't know what to say. She didn't want to worry him…but she had to go. She just hoped Amanda wanted to be saved.
---
Amanda stared at the blue pill Nakago had given her. He'd said it would make Tamahome all hers. She didn't know how it would…and wasn't sure if she wanted to give it to him. After all, Nakago didn't really like Tamahome and what better way to get rid of an adversary? But so far, Nakago had done everything she had wanted, exactly how she'd wanted…except for the whipping part.
Could she really do this to Sharon? She could yell at her, but did she really have the courage to go against her personally? Sharon had been her friend for eight years. Eight long years and could she really turn against her so easily? Amanda folded her arms and rested her chin on them. She had promised the Kutou emperor she would destroy the Suzaku no Miko…but could she really? She just…wasn't sure.
Stop before you go too far, a small voice inside of her said. This is real. Do you really want to do something you can never take back?
Amanda closed her eyes. She'd never had to worry about making these decisions before. She hated this world for making her do this. She wished she'd never come into the stupid book. If she hadn't the Trio would just be living their normal lives.
But did Sharon's feelings really matter? Sharon didn't go through half the stuff she went through. Amanda had been…had been…used and the most Sharon had gone through was a little head cold. Well…a fatal head cold…but she had survived it. Amanda had been scarred for life. How could Sharon possibly understand that? Sharon was so stupid and immature. Not at all like Ann and her. Sharon had always been the idiot of the Trio. The loudmouth. The lunatic. The one who all the other kids picked on.
How could Tamahome want someone like her? If he were in their world, his looks and charm would make him popular. He wouldn't look twice at Sharon then. So maybe making him hers was good for him in the long run. It would save him from something that he would only regret later. He would thank her for it. She was sure. But…was she brave enough?
---
Sharon slammed her locker shut and looked up at the clock. The bell would ring in five minutes. She shouldered her bookbag and started for the shrine room. She had to go to a class on summoning. Then she would have to see Tamahome.
She passed by a room with a bay window and looked in. Ann was sitting at a desk, feet propped up on a chair and reading "The Universe of the Four Gods". Sharon smiled and waved at her but Ann didn't see her. Sharon shrugged and continued on her way.
Turning the corner, she saw Tamahome. He was standing with Daniel, Shawn and Michael around him. He was wearing a light blue shirt and black jeans…he looked so good. She came closer to him. He laughed at something one of the others had said, then looked up at her, a wide smile lighting his face. She took a step closer. Amanda ran past her giggling and threw herself into Tamahome's arms. He laughed again and kissed her. Sharon froze.
"Tamahome, don't you love me?" she asked. She didn't want to ask but the words came spilling out. He looked at her.
"Well I did until I came here and found out how much of a loser you really are. Did you think you could hide it from me forever?" Sharon looked away, her eyes smarting.
"Aw…is the loser gonna cry?" Michael said.
"Why don't we give her something to cry about?" Shawn said, picking up a rock. He threw it and it scraped across her cheek. Sharon began to run as the stones clattered around her.
"Yeah. Run you little bitch!" Tamahome shouted and began to laugh. She turned around to see his face and a large stone hit her right in the forehead, she fell backwards and hit the bed.
Sharon opened her eyes and stared at the ceiling. Her heart was pounding and she felt wetness on her cheeks. She wiped her eyes free of tears and rested the back of her hand on her forehead. What a terrible dream. It just had to happen today didn't it? Right when she was going to get Tamahome. It didn't mean anything. It was just a silly old dream.
There was a knock on the door and Nuriko poked his head in.
"Good morning!" he said cheerfully. "Can I come in?"
"Uh-huh," Sharon said, sitting up. Nuriko sat on the edge of her bed and smiled at her.
"You know they're preparing the shrine for the summoning? We're going to do it tomorrow afternoon, so we have a chance to get Tama-kins back and rest for a bit. I never thought we'd be summoning Suzaku so soon. It's exciting!"
"Yeah," Sharon said, trying to sound cheerful. The dream still haunted her. Lurking in the back of her mind like an ominous shadow.
"Are you all right? You look a little pale," Nuriko said. Sharon smiled and waved dismissively.
"It's nothing. I'm still a little tired from all that traveling."
"Oh. Well I found the cutest thing for you. Here look." Nuriko put a doll on her lap. Sharon stared at it. The doll was actually a man and a woman, joined together.
"What is this?"
"It's a lovers-sweetheart doll. They say that if you write you and your lover's name on the doll and bury it where no one can find it; it will make your love eternal." Sharon sweatdropped. Eternity was a really long time.
"Do you think it'll work?"
"I doubt it. It's just a silly superstition. I used to believe in it though. When I was a little girl I spent my ryu on them constantly. Our garden is full of them." Sharon stared at him.
"You were a little girl?" Nuriko sweatdropped.
"Why don't you write yours and Tamahome's name on them, just for fun?"
"Does it count what language they're written in?"
"I don't think it really matters." Nuriko produced two pieces of paper and Sharon dug around in her bookbag for a pencil. Soon she had put her name on the female doll and Tamahome's name on the male. She felt kind of stupid for doing it. After all, forever was a really long time.
Suddenly a crack appeared at the bottom. It spread up through the doll, finally coming to the neck. Then the whole thing broke apart. Neatly apart. Male and female completely separated.
Run you stupid bitch! Tamahome echoed in her mind. No. It couldn't be true. He had just said he loved her and it couldn't be true! Could it?
"The dolls mean nothing…like I said, they're just silly superstition. Don't worry about them," Nuriko said, laughing nervously.
"Yeah. Right. They were probably cheaply made or something."
"That's it. That's exactly it!" She couldn't help staring at them. Gah. Nuriko picked them up and smiled. "I'll just get rid of these for you…okay?"
"But…what if…"
"No. Don't even think like that. Don't invite that kind of trouble," Nuriko said in a hard voice. "They were just cheap dolls. You're going to kill yourself thinking otherwise." Sharon nodded but she was beginning to feel her heart was in the middle of a Jozen road, just before dawn, and only waiting to get crushed.
---
Hotohori continued to watch the preparations, without really watching them. His heart was heavy with worry. He didn't want Sharon to go to Kutou. It was too dangerous for her to be there…but he knew that she had to go. Her friend was important to her and she had to go save her. Hotohori didn't have the heart to tell her no.
Any number of things could happen to her there. None of them good. But he had the feeling that something much worse was going to happen. Maybe it was just his anxious imagination running away with him. He hoped so. Sharon had already gone through so much. It was unfair for the heavens to put her through more. He couldn't help but think, though, that the heavens weren't very often fair. He closed his eyes and bowed his head.
"Please Suzaku," he murmured. "Just let her return safely from Kutou. That's all I ask."
---
Sharon was going to look nice for him this time. She was finally going to see him and she wasn't going to go looking like she had just gotten up, even if she had. She rubbed the soapy bubbles into her hair. It took a while since her hair was so long, but she didn't mind. She relaxed in the tub waiting for the shampoo to set in
She slipped further down into the warm water and sighed. This was nice. A hot bath, complete with bubbles. She could just relax the day away like this. She would just ignore the dream and those stupid dolls. Tamahome loved her. He said he had many times and she believed him. She wanted to believe him.
She closed her eyes and smiled. She'd be seeing him again soon. She had missed him so much. Then they would summon Suzaku and everything would be fine. She couldn't let herself think any other way. Nuriko had been right.
After rinsing herself off, she stepped out of the bath and wrapped a robe around herself. The plaid skirt was lying on a chair in the bedroom. Sharon wrinkled her nose. She was getting so sick of wearing that thing. Well, this was a special occasion…so she had to wear a special dress. Sharon slipped the red sleeveless Chinese dress over her head and buttoned it at the top. She smiled; it didn't look half bad…except for that slit up the side. It went a little past her knee. Well, maybe Tamahome wouldn't notice it. Why would he be looking at her legs anyway?
Still the outfit was missing something. Jewelry. She lifted the locket from a table and clipped it around her neck. The silver shone brightly in the sunlight coming into her room. She opened the heart and looked inside. She smiled at the picture of Ann's family. Then she looked over at the picture of the Trio and gasped. What…what had happened to it? She had seen only one other thing so neatly split in half. She shoved the love and affection dolls out of her mind and closed the locket. It meant nothing. She'd probably just broken the necklace somewhere along the way. All she'd have to do was replace the glass.
She sat by a table and began brushing her hair. She saw the note on the table and smiled. Tamahome had written this for her. Wo ai ni. She held the note to her and smiled. What a wonderful phrase. There was a knock and Nuriko came in again. He smiled at her.
"That dress looks really good on you." Sharon blushed at the compliment.
"Thanks. Would you do my hair 'Riko?"
"Sure."
---
Nuriko smiled as he brushed her hair. She really did have pretty hair. It was a rich dark brown, nearly black. He would make sure Tamahome would be stunned when he saw her. She would knock Tamahome right off his feet when Nuriko got through with her. He unbraided the velvet ribbon from her hair and ran his thumb along it. Hotohori had given it to her a long time ago. He didn't seem to love her any less now.
Strangely enough, that didn't matter anymore. He still loved Hotohori, but as far as Sharon was concerned, he wasn't jealous. She couldn't help it. Besides…her presence made Hotohori happy. He loved to see the emperor happy. Before Sharon had come, he had always looked so alone.
"You know, I think you're good for Konan."
"What does that mean?"
"You manage to make everyone happy…in one way or another." Sharon laughed.
"Oh please. The only three seishi I haven't fought with are Chichiri, Mitsukake and Chiriko. How can you call that making people happy?"
"It just takes a while."
"You didn't use to think that way."
"I know…but that seems such a long time ago. I was…a different person then."
"I think it's the other way around. Konan is good for me. I've never felt happier then I do here. I love all of you guys…even though I haven't known Mitsukake or Chiriko for very long."
"Yes and we love you too. Even Tasuki." Sharon wrinkled her nose.
"You just had to bring that bandit into this didn't you?" Nuriko grinned.
"Yes I did."
"You're cruel."
"I know…but you love me anyway."
---
Amanda folded her arms and looked away from Nakago's piercing blue eyes. The pill rested in his palm where she had placed it. She just couldn't bring herself to do it. She didn't know what it would really do and anyway…she didn't know if she wanted to do this.
"So you're giving up?" Nakago said.
"No…not really."
"You're going to let the Suzaku no Miko win?"
"It's not like that. This isn't about winning or losing. I just…don't want to do it to him."
"I thought you loved him, Lady Amanda. I thought you wanted him. Why are you giving him up to the Suzaku no Miko so easily?"
"Her name is Sharon."
"Sharon who is just coming here to take him back. Do you really think that she'll bring you back to Konan with her? That's just an excuse so you won't take Tamahome."
"But she wouldn't…"
"She left you before. You seem to have forgotten how she left you all by yourself. If she was really concerned about you, why did it take her three months to find you?" Nakago stood and put his hands gently on her shoulders.
"You can't let her walk all over you. She's using you, Lady Amanda. She's taking advantage of you. You can't let her do that."
"She's never used me before. She's not supposed to change. She's supposed to stay like she was. It was good that way."
"Then don't let her change. If you keep Tamahome with you, you can keep it the way it was. Don't you want that?" He put the pill back into her hand and closed her fingers over it. She clutched it tightly. Maybe he was right.
---
It was night. The moon was just beginning to rise. Suboshi was bored out of his mind. Kotuku had forbidden him to talk to him and there was no one else to talk to. He'd tried to talk to Soi, but she annoyed him. All she ever said was Nakago-sama this and Nakago-sama that. Tomo was back as well, but Suboshi didn't like him. The man gave him the shivers and always smiled at him like he knew something terrible that Suboshi didn't.
The Seiryuu seishi let his Ryuuseisui twirl around each other in the air. He wondered when Nakago was going to let him meet the miko. He wanted to meet the miko. He was curious about her. He clenched his hand into a fist. Well who was Nakago to tell him not to see her? He was a seishi too! He had every right! He would see her, but later tonight and he wouldn't let her see his face. That would show the blond bastard! Nakago would see that Suboshi wasn't afraid of him at all.
---
Sharon stood in front of the mirror, staring at herself. She could hardly believe it was her. Nuriko had made two braids on either side and tied them back with the ribbon. He had also painted bright red lipstick on her and blue and gold eye shadow. She looked… older.
"You're perfect," Nuriko said with a smile. "Tama-kins isn't going to know what hit him."
"I don't you how you managed to make me look like this…but thank you so much."
"I just worked with what was all ready there. Now come on. It's time to go." They went to the room where everyone had gathered. They stared at her like they had never seen her before.
"What's wrong?" she asked a bit nervously.
"Well…" Chiriko started.
"I never knew you could look so…" Tasuki said.
"Beautiful," Hotohori finished. Sharon smiled and looked down. More then a little flattered.
"Oh…well…thanks. So can we go now?"
"Yes," Hotohori said. "But remember to be careful."
"Now, Hori-kun. When have you ever known me not to be careful?" she said, trying to lighten the mood. Everyone except Chiriko fixed her with the look. "On second thought, don't answer that. Don't worry, Hori-kun…I'll be fine. What could possibly go wrong?" Now everyone including Chiriko was giving her a look…a rather exasperated look. Sharon blinked. Just what had she said to warrant that?
"You really shouldn't say things like that, no da," Chichiri said, a sweatdrop sliding down his cheek.
"Is it at all possible for anyone else to go with her?" Hotohori asked.
"That's not a good idea, no da. The more people, the harder it is to conceal our life force. One crack in the barrier could be disastrous, no da."
"I'll go," Tasuki said.
"I know you are concerned, Tasuki, but we cannot afford unnecessary risks," Hotohori said.
"I'm a bandit. I know how ta sneak around at night. Besides, if something should happen to Chichiri…or me…then she won't be stranded without help."
"He's got a point," Nuriko said.
"All right, no da. But you two better behave."
"Yeah, yeah, no problem," Tasuki said, flapping his hand. Chichiri took off his kesa and spread it on the ground.
"Hop on, no da!" he said cheerfully. Sharon shrugged and did so, Tasuki behind her.
"If anything happens, I'm here," Mitsukake said. Sharon smiled at him.
"Don't worry, Mitsie-chan. I won't get myself hurt, I promise."
Chichiri touched his staff to the kesa and it started glowing with a white light. Tasuki disappeared first. Sharon had just enough time to wave a final goodbye before she fell through the white.
---
Hey! They were leaving without him! What did they think they were doing? Stupid humans! Tama scrambled from the tall one's tunic, put a paw over his nose and jumped into the light.