Chapter One
Prayers Answered
I changed into my pajamas, the usual black sweats and a red tank top. And just as the previous nights since the day I've returned, I knelt before my bed, put my hands together, and prayed. When I was finished, I climbed up into my bed, under the bed sheets, and closed my eyes, slipping into a deep sleep.
~*Dream*~
"Suzaku Animal Seishi, Mima," Suzaku's Avatar appeared before me, his arms wide open. He sent off a warm aura, making me feel the warmth and security. Upon his forehead was a symbol, that read 'Suzaku.' He represented Tamahome in a way, but still had his individuality. "I've heard your prayers, your voice reaching out to me every night before you slumber. Your divine love for the fifth seishi, Tasuki, I have acknowledged. And the way you feel comfortable in the Shijin Tenchi Sho, I have also noticed. I will answer your prayers, as I have answered Suzaku no Miko's wishes. Don't take this offering for granted, and use your time there wisely. For you might be pulled back when unexpected, but as you wish." He reached his hand out to me. "Come closer, Mima, and be one with me, as Suzaku no Miko is."
Graciously, I put my hand in his, and he pulled me to him, gently. I rested my head on his chest, feeling warm, and content. His red wings of power wrapped around us, and I felt myself fall into him, his body becoming one with mine. Another wave of warmth and security washed over me, the same feeling I had when I was coming in and out of the book, and back in again and back out.
"Arigatou, Suzaku," I whispered, feeling his power wash over me.
~*Dream*~
I shivered as I felt chills run through my body, all the way down to my feet. My hair was being thrown this way and that, especially before my eyes, practically blinding me. But when the winds settled down, I stood up and opened my eyes, looking about the surroundings that settled all around me. Trees, all over the place, stood wherever I looked. The singing of birds reached out to me, a morning song.
'Where am I?' I thought, yawning, rubbing my eyes. But as it dawned on me by remembering the dream the night before, I must be back in the Shijin Tenchi Sho, in a forest that lay before a mountain.
I will answer your prayers, as I have answered Suzaku no Miko's wishes.
Suzaku's words were repeating in my head, endlessly. His warmth, his touch… it was all so real to me, that I could hardly believe it. But then, I had to, because why else would I be here? In Mt. Reikaku's forest?
My eyes were too tired to look straight ahead anymore, so they settled down on what I was standing on. It was green grass, with flowers decorating the ground. The place seemed to be more beautiful than I remembered, when I first met Kouji…
"Kouji!" I exclaimed, excited about the blue haired, tanned skin bandit. He was the first person I met when I came inside the book, and he was the person who took care of me when I fell ill. But remembering him made me remember Tasuki, the man being the reason for my being here, and for my entire existence.
I walked along the forest, when I passed by a pool of rainwater. When I saw it, I realized the smell of rain that must have fallen the night before. I shuffled my feet, realizing the ground was soft and squishy.
"Gross, and I'm not wearing any socks," I sighed, looking at my tiny, Filipino feet that I acquired from my mother. But my eyes went back to the puddle, and I peered into it. I saw my reflection, and realized that Kouji and Tasuki might not be able to recognize me. My hair was dyed purple, and as it went towards my ends, it went from black, to gold, to silver, each color at least taking up an inch or two. My hair grew fast as soon as I came back home. Some of the girls didn't like my hair at school, because they thought it was weird. But my friends sure did, because they knew I wanted individuality, and my need of being different. They respected my being different from everybody else. When I came back from the Shijin Tenchi Sho, Ikusa told me that she felt something very different about me. Like, I sent off some sort of power and 'maturity.' I was certainly shocked, because I didn't know that I changed so much that Ikusa would bother to take notice and tell me. But one thing she was right about was that I did mature. I no longer wanted to rebel against the school, though every so often I do when I wanted to speak my mind. And I took my schooling and education seriously. But, when I hang out with Miaka and Yui after school, I return to the way I was during the time we were helping Miaka summon Suzaku.
I looked more into my reflection, and a lot of my features have changed in the past year. I've grown taller, breasts became bigger, figure became slimmer, and my eyes no longer showed that I starved for excitement. It only showed that I starved for Tasuki, and the sights of Konan, or Mt. Reikaku.
---
"Mima, you no longer look as if you're our age," Ikusa stated, finishing spraying 'Principal Jukon is Satan' on the school's blacktop. "Something about you changed, as if you're aging faster than the rest of us, like three months faster. You look more of seventeen, than just fourteen. Mima, something's changed, and I don't like it. But I need to respect it."
Ikusa was the most mysterious out of us, but most rebellious. She was also a very deep thinker. Sometimes I wished I were more like her. I used to be, but not anymore.
I wanted to tell her that Suzaku blessed me, being Suzaku no Miko's Seishi, but I just kept my mouth shut. Maybe I'll tell her another time.
---
My green eyes became more of a light, spring green, revealing flecks of blue in them. Surely, Tasuki would know who I am by the character Suzaku had given me a year ago.
I rolled my eyes, and moved on, deeper into the forest, hoping to see the village that became before Mt. Reikaku.
'Why am I noticing all of this about me now?' I thought, biting my bottom lip. 'It's kind of strange. When I look into the mirror back at home, I just see… me. But when I look at my reflection here, I notice more new things about me than I can ever notice at home.' I picked up a flower up off of the ground, and started fiddling around with it, thinking of the bandits, and Kouji being the great leader of them.
When I looked ahead, I saw sunlight beaming down on a boulder, and upon that boulder, was a boy, who looked maybe, nineteen? He wore red clothing to match his wild, dark orange (that looked almost red) hair. A red fan, a halisen, was strapped on his back, the reflection of the sun bouncing off of its surface.
The boy slightly turned, letting me see his profile. I saw a fang hang out of his mouth, which its corners were turned down, showing he was deep in thought. His eyes were the color of amber, and I could almost see the flames dancing in them. He wore earrings and two beaded necklaces around his neck.
It was just too good to be true.