Fushigi Yuugi - The Next Generation: Part 5
Disclaimer: I don't own Fushigi Yuugi. I do own the new characters.
Author's Note: Yes, that was a long start. Wasn't it? Now we are finally in the Universe of the Four Gods. I am still drawing from the TV series, and maybe a little from the OVAs. Like Watase, I'll be over looking the whole how can they speak Japanese in ancient China thing.
Emperor Boushin of Konan was getting ready for yet another council. His servants were dressing him. He couldn't stand it. One of the servants attempted to put on the headdress that his father had always worn for the council meetings.
"I won't wear that. I'll just tie my hair back," said Boushin with an exasperated voice.
"But, your Majesty, the council says that you must wear it," said the servant girl timidly.
"No. It looks ridiculous. Go away all of you. I can dress myself," ordered Boushin. All the servants scrambled to get out of the Emperor's chambers. Boushin sighed. He finished dressing himself, and tied his hair back. He didn't even bother to look at the mirror before he went off to the council meeting.
Things in Konan were actually quite peaceful since the summoning of Suzaku and Seiryuu. Boushin's father, Saihitei, died before he was born. Boushin had been emperor since he was less than ten years old. The council was used to running things. At the age of nineteen, Boushin couldn't stand it. They never listened to him during the council meetings. They ignored him. The fourteen old men were obviously unaware that the Emperor was perfectly capable of making decisions on his own, and for his own kingdom. The council had been running things all his life. They weren't about to let him tell them what to do.
Boushin found some way to pass time at the incredible boring council meetings. He was a student of Chichiri. Boushin was well trained in the magical arts. He was an illusionist. His skill was almost as high as Chichiri's. But, not as high. After all, he is still the student, and Chichiri is the master. Chichiri got even better after the summoning of Suzaku, and had Mitsukake's scrolls for healing. Chichiri trained Boushin in that as well. Boushin was an eager student. He consumed knowledge like food and drink. During the meetings, Boushin wrote out more incantations. He would later test them, and perfect them. The council didn't seem to notice or care that the Emperor never really paid attention during the meetings.
When the Emperor entered the throne room, the council stood up out of respect for him. Boushin sat down at his throne. He got up again abruptly to see if they would do the same, and they did. Boushin sat back down. He was satisfied with that. When one is bored, then one should get away with what they can.
"What is on the agenda today, Vice Minister?" asked the Prime Minister.
"We must discuss the latest marriage arrangements for the Emperor. Then, we must attend to the complaints of the natural disasters that have besiege the land, " said the Vice Minister.
"Can't we talk about the natural disasters, first?" asked Boushin.
They ignored his request, and started to talk about the last marriage meeting. Apparently, it was a complete and utter disaster. The daughter of one of the outer nobles ran out of the dining room after she saw a mouse in her soup. When it was investigated, there was nothing in her soup. The council knew very well that the young emperor was the one who was sabotaging all the marriage meetings. He was adamant about not getting married.
"It is your duty to marry and produce an heir, your Highness," beseeched the Prime Minister.
"Great. The one thing you actually let me do, and I don't want to do it," answered Boushin smugly. He hated these meetings. They thought they could choose the person he had to marry. Well, they were wrong. They had been trying to marry him off since he was fifteen with no success. He had in one month scared off five potential empresses. Boushin was very proud of his track record. He did everything from impersonating a woman to pretend that there was already a fiancée for the Emperor (a skill that he thanked Chichi for) to that latest incident with the illusionary mouse in the soup.
Boushin was really against getting married. He was already being tied down. He didn't want something else to tie him down. The council thought that he lacked discipline, but when it came to magic Boushin could focus on nothing else.
Boushin's mother was an empty shell who never recovered from the death of his father. She never really talked to him. It would have been bad, but his father had two very special friends who practically helped raise him. The Suzaku seishi known as Tasuki and Chichiri. Chichiri taught him many things other than magic. Tasuki gave him the discipline that he needed. Tasuki was the one who made him go to the council meetings.
"It is your responsibility to know how they run things. You serve your people by going to the meetings. They serve you out of respect. Therefore, you should respect them as well," Tasuki would always say.
Tasuki was married to a beautiful woman named Ling. He had triplet identical sons who were just a little younger than Boushin. About two years younger. The apple of Tasuki's eye was his youngest child, a daughter. Boushin and Tasuki's sons would practice sword together. It was one of the few activities the council approved of. They had problems with the magic lessons.
~*~Flashback~ *~
Tasuki trying to get fourteen year old, Boushin to go to the meeting. Tasuki has been running all over the palace looking for him. He sees Chichiri sitting on the floor in one of the many rooms.
"Have you seen the Emperor? He has to go the council meetings?" asked Tasuki frantically.
"I think he went that way-da!" answered Chichiri as he pointed to a certain direction.
"Thanks, Chichiri!" shouted Tasuki as he ran off to find the Emperor.
Chichiri goes superdeform and runs off. He takes off his mask.
It's Boushin.
"I guess I can go riding!" exclaimed Boushin as he ran for the stables.
Chichiri is watching all this and is shaking his head. "Maybe, I taught him that trick too soon, da."
~*~End of Flashback~*~
Of course, the Emperor could no longer do that. Tasuki caught on after awhile. Now, he was stuck at these horrible meetings.
'Maybe, if I take this quill and stab my eye with it, then maybe this meeting will be cut short,' thought Boushin. He was now writing more incantations. He was left handed, and his right wrist was laid out on the table. He was so very bored.
Then something strange happened. There was something glowing on the pulse point of his wrist. Boushin looked closer. It was a red kanji. The kanji for serene. "Odayaka."
The Prime Minister must have actually notice the Emperor wasn't listening to them. He cleared his throat. Boushin looked up and found the entire council was staring at him.
"My apologies. I didn't get the last thing you said, Prime Minister. Please repeat," said Boushin. He winced inwardly. 'I can't believe I am making them repeat themselves,' thought Boushin as he rubbed his forehead.
There was something strange going on. Perhaps, his eyes were deceiving him.
* * *
Mariko and Sei had arrived at Konan. They landed in a discrete spot. Actually, when they landed, Mariko landed on top of Sei. Mariko blushed furiously, while Sei was laughing hysterically.
"I can't believe you are laughing this," said Mariko angrily. Mariko got off Sei.
"Hahahaha. Okay. I'm fine, " said Sei with a more serious look on his face.
"What do we do now that we're here, Sei?" asked Mariko.
"I don't know. You're the Miko," answered Sei.
"Well, I'm sorry. But, I don't believe I was given any instructions. You are the one you can't figure out the power that he's supposed to have," said Mariko with her hands on her hips.
"You have bracelets that you don't know how to use," Sei fired back.
They are superdeformed and locked into a staring contest.
"Okay. Okay. This won't get us anywhere. I want to go back home as soon as possible. So, here's what we're going to do: we'll split up and look around, " said Mariko with a sigh.
"Your enthusiasm is absolutely encouraging, " said Sei sarcastically.
"Do you have a better idea, Sei?" demanded Mariko.
"No. But, it's not a good idea for us to split up, Mariko. I can't protect you if I'm not with you," stated Sei.
"Oh. Everything will be fine. Besides, we're in Konan. My mother was the original Miko. Konan is a friendly place. So, nothing could possible go wrong," said Mariko with the utmost confidence.
"All right. We'll meet back here in one hour. I think I'll check out the temple," said Sei as he looked at his watch. Mariko did the same, she had a timer, and so she set that.
"I'll check the palace. Remember, the book said that the failed ceremony took place there. It's a good a place as any to start," said Mariko.
"Do you think that's a good idea, Mariko?" asked Sei questioningly.
"Well, I think I have a better chance of getting into the palace than you do, Sei. I mean I could just look like one of the servants. They would probably stop and question you," said Mariko logically.
Sei nodded, and they went their separate ways. Sei stole a cloak off a clothesline, and put it on. So, that he could blend in better.
Mariko was wearing a light, long, and silky skirt. She was wearing a light short sleeve blouse. There were lots of people in the market. Mariko tried to blend in, but did it unsuccessfully. There were some men leering at her. Mariko moved away from them quickly. Mariko so stole a cloak off a clothesline herself. She asked around and found out were the palace was.
Mariko saw the large and imposing building. It was enormous. The palace was so beautiful on the outside. Mariko wondered how it looked on the inside. Was it as beautiful on the inside as it was on the outside?
Mariko took a deep breath, and tried to find an entrance that wasn't too obvious. She didn't want to use something as obvious as the front doors of the Imperial Palace. She found an entrance through the side that lead to a very busy kitchen. The staff was so busy that she was able to slip out without being noticed.
There was the large statue of Suzaku that her father had described to her mother many years prior. Mariko reached out to touch the statue. It was cold to her touch. Mariko moved on to find her way through the palace.
* * *
Meanwhile, Boushin was still at the council meeting. He was now listening to the reports from the all over the Empire about some natural disasters.
"This is not right. There must be something that can be done," said the Minister of Defense.
"At this rate, the borders between the Empires will dissolve," said the Minister of Planning.
"The crops on the outer providences are dying. People there will not have enough to eat," intoned the Minister of Agriculture.
Boushin was listening to this with great concerned. He didn't care about trifle things like the need for him to marry. He cared about his people. He didn't like to hear about their suffering. Boushin had a burning pain in his chest. He had to do something.
"Perhaps, we can make an appeal to our god, Suzaku," said the young Emperor quietly.
"Your Majesty, the Suzaku was already summoned. He was when your father was emperor. There is no way to contact the god," said the Vice Minister.
"With magic almost anything is possible, Vice Minister. We must have faith," said Boushin, "Suzaku is the most benevolent of the Four Beast Gods. Surely, he will not stand idly by while his people need him. I won't do that either."
The ministers looked at their young Emperor. There were times when they questioned his ability to rule. He wasn't very much like his father. His father was a great Emperor. What they didn't know was that Boushin was never given the chance to prove his worth. At that moment, the council was reminded that Boushin was Saihitei's son. The son of a seishi of Suzaku. Perhaps, the god would show favor to Hotohori's son as well.
* * *
There was an angry man who was near the throne room. His family was killed during one of the floods. He was going to kill the one person who wasn't doing anything about any of the disasters. The Emperor.
The man had a cross bow and he was getting ready to shoot it through one of the slits designed in an upper area above the throne room. 'Yes. This will solve all our problems. The weak Emperor deserves this kind of death,' the man thought. He licked his lips and placed his finger on the trigger. He waited until the right moment.
* * *
Mariko was at another part of the palace. She could hear a very articulate speaker talk. She heard other voices. Mariko's eyes widened when she realized that the speaker was the Emperor himself.
She walked over to one the doors. She had to take a peek at the son of the seishi that loved her mother even before he had met her. Mariko opened up the door a crack to take a look. The council was very busy, so they didn't noticed her.
There was a young man sitting in the throne. He had some beautiful features that were almost feminine. The features gave him a gentle bearing. He wore his long purplish colored hair tied at the back on the nape of his neck. He wore some very beautiful silk robes. His voice was firm and gentle. He had the aura of power around. One could immediately tell that he was the Emperor.
Mariko watched his movements. Mariko also watched the council as the went back and forth. They were discussing the troubles all over Konan. She listened intently. Her eyes then spotted something.
There was a man on one of the upper balconies. He had a crossbow. He was targeting the Emperor of Konan. Mariko's eyes widened. She burst into the room. The council was thrown in to a upheaval.
"Who are you? What are you doing here, young lady?" shouted the Prime Minister.
"Get out at once!" ordered the Vice Minister.
Mariko ran as quickly as possible. She got in front of the Emperor just in time for the arrow to be fired by the assassin.
"Ah," gasped Mariko as the arrow entered the her back.
The arrow ripped through her flesh. The pain spread across her body. Her eyes widened.
A pair of strong arms caught her.
Mariko closed her eyes.
~*ClareBear's Omake*~
Nuriko: Well, Hotohori, you son isn't any better off than you!
Hotohori: That's what I get for leaving the council in charge. At least, I can trust Tasuki and Chichiri. Wait…Chichiri taught him how to avoid the meetings.
Tamahome: Stop talking about your son. My daughter just got shot! She was defending your son.
Nuriko: She's just like you. Stupidly saving people without thinking.
Miaka: I hope that she's alright. Would ClareBear kill off my daughter?
Hotohori: I don't think so.
Nuriko: It could happen.
Tamahome: Stop that!
Mitsukake: If I were there I could heal her.
Tamahome (hysterical): But you're not!
Mitsukake: Hey! I was trying to make you feel better.
Disclaimer: I don't own Fushigi Yuugi. I do own the new characters.
Author's Note: Yes, that was a long start. Wasn't it? Now we are finally in the Universe of the Four Gods. I am still drawing from the TV series, and maybe a little from the OVAs. Like Watase, I'll be over looking the whole how can they speak Japanese in ancient China thing.
Emperor Boushin of Konan was getting ready for yet another council. His servants were dressing him. He couldn't stand it. One of the servants attempted to put on the headdress that his father had always worn for the council meetings.
"I won't wear that. I'll just tie my hair back," said Boushin with an exasperated voice.
"But, your Majesty, the council says that you must wear it," said the servant girl timidly.
"No. It looks ridiculous. Go away all of you. I can dress myself," ordered Boushin. All the servants scrambled to get out of the Emperor's chambers. Boushin sighed. He finished dressing himself, and tied his hair back. He didn't even bother to look at the mirror before he went off to the council meeting.
Things in Konan were actually quite peaceful since the summoning of Suzaku and Seiryuu. Boushin's father, Saihitei, died before he was born. Boushin had been emperor since he was less than ten years old. The council was used to running things. At the age of nineteen, Boushin couldn't stand it. They never listened to him during the council meetings. They ignored him. The fourteen old men were obviously unaware that the Emperor was perfectly capable of making decisions on his own, and for his own kingdom. The council had been running things all his life. They weren't about to let him tell them what to do.
Boushin found some way to pass time at the incredible boring council meetings. He was a student of Chichiri. Boushin was well trained in the magical arts. He was an illusionist. His skill was almost as high as Chichiri's. But, not as high. After all, he is still the student, and Chichiri is the master. Chichiri got even better after the summoning of Suzaku, and had Mitsukake's scrolls for healing. Chichiri trained Boushin in that as well. Boushin was an eager student. He consumed knowledge like food and drink. During the meetings, Boushin wrote out more incantations. He would later test them, and perfect them. The council didn't seem to notice or care that the Emperor never really paid attention during the meetings.
When the Emperor entered the throne room, the council stood up out of respect for him. Boushin sat down at his throne. He got up again abruptly to see if they would do the same, and they did. Boushin sat back down. He was satisfied with that. When one is bored, then one should get away with what they can.
"What is on the agenda today, Vice Minister?" asked the Prime Minister.
"We must discuss the latest marriage arrangements for the Emperor. Then, we must attend to the complaints of the natural disasters that have besiege the land, " said the Vice Minister.
"Can't we talk about the natural disasters, first?" asked Boushin.
They ignored his request, and started to talk about the last marriage meeting. Apparently, it was a complete and utter disaster. The daughter of one of the outer nobles ran out of the dining room after she saw a mouse in her soup. When it was investigated, there was nothing in her soup. The council knew very well that the young emperor was the one who was sabotaging all the marriage meetings. He was adamant about not getting married.
"It is your duty to marry and produce an heir, your Highness," beseeched the Prime Minister.
"Great. The one thing you actually let me do, and I don't want to do it," answered Boushin smugly. He hated these meetings. They thought they could choose the person he had to marry. Well, they were wrong. They had been trying to marry him off since he was fifteen with no success. He had in one month scared off five potential empresses. Boushin was very proud of his track record. He did everything from impersonating a woman to pretend that there was already a fiancée for the Emperor (a skill that he thanked Chichi for) to that latest incident with the illusionary mouse in the soup.
Boushin was really against getting married. He was already being tied down. He didn't want something else to tie him down. The council thought that he lacked discipline, but when it came to magic Boushin could focus on nothing else.
Boushin's mother was an empty shell who never recovered from the death of his father. She never really talked to him. It would have been bad, but his father had two very special friends who practically helped raise him. The Suzaku seishi known as Tasuki and Chichiri. Chichiri taught him many things other than magic. Tasuki gave him the discipline that he needed. Tasuki was the one who made him go to the council meetings.
"It is your responsibility to know how they run things. You serve your people by going to the meetings. They serve you out of respect. Therefore, you should respect them as well," Tasuki would always say.
Tasuki was married to a beautiful woman named Ling. He had triplet identical sons who were just a little younger than Boushin. About two years younger. The apple of Tasuki's eye was his youngest child, a daughter. Boushin and Tasuki's sons would practice sword together. It was one of the few activities the council approved of. They had problems with the magic lessons.
~*~Flashback~ *~
Tasuki trying to get fourteen year old, Boushin to go to the meeting. Tasuki has been running all over the palace looking for him. He sees Chichiri sitting on the floor in one of the many rooms.
"Have you seen the Emperor? He has to go the council meetings?" asked Tasuki frantically.
"I think he went that way-da!" answered Chichiri as he pointed to a certain direction.
"Thanks, Chichiri!" shouted Tasuki as he ran off to find the Emperor.
Chichiri goes superdeform and runs off. He takes off his mask.
It's Boushin.
"I guess I can go riding!" exclaimed Boushin as he ran for the stables.
Chichiri is watching all this and is shaking his head. "Maybe, I taught him that trick too soon, da."
~*~End of Flashback~*~
Of course, the Emperor could no longer do that. Tasuki caught on after awhile. Now, he was stuck at these horrible meetings.
'Maybe, if I take this quill and stab my eye with it, then maybe this meeting will be cut short,' thought Boushin. He was now writing more incantations. He was left handed, and his right wrist was laid out on the table. He was so very bored.
Then something strange happened. There was something glowing on the pulse point of his wrist. Boushin looked closer. It was a red kanji. The kanji for serene. "Odayaka."
The Prime Minister must have actually notice the Emperor wasn't listening to them. He cleared his throat. Boushin looked up and found the entire council was staring at him.
"My apologies. I didn't get the last thing you said, Prime Minister. Please repeat," said Boushin. He winced inwardly. 'I can't believe I am making them repeat themselves,' thought Boushin as he rubbed his forehead.
There was something strange going on. Perhaps, his eyes were deceiving him.
* * *
Mariko and Sei had arrived at Konan. They landed in a discrete spot. Actually, when they landed, Mariko landed on top of Sei. Mariko blushed furiously, while Sei was laughing hysterically.
"I can't believe you are laughing this," said Mariko angrily. Mariko got off Sei.
"Hahahaha. Okay. I'm fine, " said Sei with a more serious look on his face.
"What do we do now that we're here, Sei?" asked Mariko.
"I don't know. You're the Miko," answered Sei.
"Well, I'm sorry. But, I don't believe I was given any instructions. You are the one you can't figure out the power that he's supposed to have," said Mariko with her hands on her hips.
"You have bracelets that you don't know how to use," Sei fired back.
They are superdeformed and locked into a staring contest.
"Okay. Okay. This won't get us anywhere. I want to go back home as soon as possible. So, here's what we're going to do: we'll split up and look around, " said Mariko with a sigh.
"Your enthusiasm is absolutely encouraging, " said Sei sarcastically.
"Do you have a better idea, Sei?" demanded Mariko.
"No. But, it's not a good idea for us to split up, Mariko. I can't protect you if I'm not with you," stated Sei.
"Oh. Everything will be fine. Besides, we're in Konan. My mother was the original Miko. Konan is a friendly place. So, nothing could possible go wrong," said Mariko with the utmost confidence.
"All right. We'll meet back here in one hour. I think I'll check out the temple," said Sei as he looked at his watch. Mariko did the same, she had a timer, and so she set that.
"I'll check the palace. Remember, the book said that the failed ceremony took place there. It's a good a place as any to start," said Mariko.
"Do you think that's a good idea, Mariko?" asked Sei questioningly.
"Well, I think I have a better chance of getting into the palace than you do, Sei. I mean I could just look like one of the servants. They would probably stop and question you," said Mariko logically.
Sei nodded, and they went their separate ways. Sei stole a cloak off a clothesline, and put it on. So, that he could blend in better.
Mariko was wearing a light, long, and silky skirt. She was wearing a light short sleeve blouse. There were lots of people in the market. Mariko tried to blend in, but did it unsuccessfully. There were some men leering at her. Mariko moved away from them quickly. Mariko so stole a cloak off a clothesline herself. She asked around and found out were the palace was.
Mariko saw the large and imposing building. It was enormous. The palace was so beautiful on the outside. Mariko wondered how it looked on the inside. Was it as beautiful on the inside as it was on the outside?
Mariko took a deep breath, and tried to find an entrance that wasn't too obvious. She didn't want to use something as obvious as the front doors of the Imperial Palace. She found an entrance through the side that lead to a very busy kitchen. The staff was so busy that she was able to slip out without being noticed.
There was the large statue of Suzaku that her father had described to her mother many years prior. Mariko reached out to touch the statue. It was cold to her touch. Mariko moved on to find her way through the palace.
* * *
Meanwhile, Boushin was still at the council meeting. He was now listening to the reports from the all over the Empire about some natural disasters.
"This is not right. There must be something that can be done," said the Minister of Defense.
"At this rate, the borders between the Empires will dissolve," said the Minister of Planning.
"The crops on the outer providences are dying. People there will not have enough to eat," intoned the Minister of Agriculture.
Boushin was listening to this with great concerned. He didn't care about trifle things like the need for him to marry. He cared about his people. He didn't like to hear about their suffering. Boushin had a burning pain in his chest. He had to do something.
"Perhaps, we can make an appeal to our god, Suzaku," said the young Emperor quietly.
"Your Majesty, the Suzaku was already summoned. He was when your father was emperor. There is no way to contact the god," said the Vice Minister.
"With magic almost anything is possible, Vice Minister. We must have faith," said Boushin, "Suzaku is the most benevolent of the Four Beast Gods. Surely, he will not stand idly by while his people need him. I won't do that either."
The ministers looked at their young Emperor. There were times when they questioned his ability to rule. He wasn't very much like his father. His father was a great Emperor. What they didn't know was that Boushin was never given the chance to prove his worth. At that moment, the council was reminded that Boushin was Saihitei's son. The son of a seishi of Suzaku. Perhaps, the god would show favor to Hotohori's son as well.
* * *
There was an angry man who was near the throne room. His family was killed during one of the floods. He was going to kill the one person who wasn't doing anything about any of the disasters. The Emperor.
The man had a cross bow and he was getting ready to shoot it through one of the slits designed in an upper area above the throne room. 'Yes. This will solve all our problems. The weak Emperor deserves this kind of death,' the man thought. He licked his lips and placed his finger on the trigger. He waited until the right moment.
* * *
Mariko was at another part of the palace. She could hear a very articulate speaker talk. She heard other voices. Mariko's eyes widened when she realized that the speaker was the Emperor himself.
She walked over to one the doors. She had to take a peek at the son of the seishi that loved her mother even before he had met her. Mariko opened up the door a crack to take a look. The council was very busy, so they didn't noticed her.
There was a young man sitting in the throne. He had some beautiful features that were almost feminine. The features gave him a gentle bearing. He wore his long purplish colored hair tied at the back on the nape of his neck. He wore some very beautiful silk robes. His voice was firm and gentle. He had the aura of power around. One could immediately tell that he was the Emperor.
Mariko watched his movements. Mariko also watched the council as the went back and forth. They were discussing the troubles all over Konan. She listened intently. Her eyes then spotted something.
There was a man on one of the upper balconies. He had a crossbow. He was targeting the Emperor of Konan. Mariko's eyes widened. She burst into the room. The council was thrown in to a upheaval.
"Who are you? What are you doing here, young lady?" shouted the Prime Minister.
"Get out at once!" ordered the Vice Minister.
Mariko ran as quickly as possible. She got in front of the Emperor just in time for the arrow to be fired by the assassin.
"Ah," gasped Mariko as the arrow entered the her back.
The arrow ripped through her flesh. The pain spread across her body. Her eyes widened.
A pair of strong arms caught her.
Mariko closed her eyes.
~*ClareBear's Omake*~
Nuriko: Well, Hotohori, you son isn't any better off than you!
Hotohori: That's what I get for leaving the council in charge. At least, I can trust Tasuki and Chichiri. Wait…Chichiri taught him how to avoid the meetings.
Tamahome: Stop talking about your son. My daughter just got shot! She was defending your son.
Nuriko: She's just like you. Stupidly saving people without thinking.
Miaka: I hope that she's alright. Would ClareBear kill off my daughter?
Hotohori: I don't think so.
Nuriko: It could happen.
Tamahome: Stop that!
Mitsukake: If I were there I could heal her.
Tamahome (hysterical): But you're not!
Mitsukake: Hey! I was trying to make you feel better.
