************Chapter Twelve***********
**********The Emperor of Konan*******
*************************************
--Two days later--
The Emperor of Konan was talking to his ministers when Miaka popped
into the room.
"Hiii Hotohori!"
He smiled. "Hello Miaka."
"I have a surprise for you! Don't go anywhere!"
Hotohori smiled, but inwardly prayed that Miaka's surprise would have
nothing to do with her cooking.
A few moments later, Miaka returned to the throne room leading a man
cloaked and hooded in black behind her. Hotohori's eyes widened in surprise. This man was obviously no good, how did Miaka know someone like this?
"Hotohori, I would like to introduce to you the Eighth Warrior of
Suzaku!"
Hotohori gasped. Miaka had told him the story when she had returned to
Konan. Was it true? This man? At least they had him on their side. . .
even though he looked dangerous.
Miaka continued. "The Warrior has agreed to help us defeat Seiryuu. She
will summon Suzaku whenever you are ready, Hotohori."
"Yes, the sooner the better." Hotohori agreed. "Wait, Miaka, did you
say. . . she?"
A voice sounded from within the black coverings. "Yes, she did."
The robes fell to the floor, and Hotohori found himself staring at the
beautiful Nousatsu. Before Hotohori could say or do anything, she knelt
before the Emperor, hand on the hilt of her sword.
"I am the Eighth Warrior of Suzaku. I pledge my allegiance to you and
will protect and serve you under all circumstances, be it war or peace.
I promise to summon Suzaku to conquer the Seiryuu, to use the three
divine wishes to serve the land of Konan and the peace of China. I will
to protect the priestess of Suzaku with my life."
As Nousatsu rose, all Miaka and Hotohori could do was stare. Both were
shocked at her vow of loyalty. Miaka was touched.
Finally, Hotohori remembered who he was and responded to Nousatsu's
pledge. "I accept your vow, I accept you as a Warrior, and I accept you
as a friend. You are welcome to stay in the palace for as long as you
wish."
Nousatsu smiled as thanks. "Before we knew I was the Eighth Warrior, I
searched the Seiryuu camp for the Warrior. Instead of the Warrior, I
found this."
She handed the Emperor the attack plans that she had stolen. To say the
least, Hotohori was impressed.
"How did you manage to steal these? It's rumored that Nakago keeps all
battle plans in his armour."
Nousatsu's wicked smile appeared once more, indicating that she had
done something naughty.
"That shall be my little secret, if you don't mind, your Majesty."
Hotohori was still trying to figure out how she had done it when they
heard the familiar sound of a certain Warrior entering the throne room.
"Hey, Miaka! What's going on in-" Tasuki stopped dead in his tracks as
Nousatsu came into view.
'What the. . .'
"Nousatsu?"
She laughed. Truth was, anyone of the seishi would have been shocked.
Nousatsu was wearing a dress.
**********The Emperor of Konan*******
*************************************
--Two days later--
The Emperor of Konan was talking to his ministers when Miaka popped
into the room.
"Hiii Hotohori!"
He smiled. "Hello Miaka."
"I have a surprise for you! Don't go anywhere!"
Hotohori smiled, but inwardly prayed that Miaka's surprise would have
nothing to do with her cooking.
A few moments later, Miaka returned to the throne room leading a man
cloaked and hooded in black behind her. Hotohori's eyes widened in surprise. This man was obviously no good, how did Miaka know someone like this?
"Hotohori, I would like to introduce to you the Eighth Warrior of
Suzaku!"
Hotohori gasped. Miaka had told him the story when she had returned to
Konan. Was it true? This man? At least they had him on their side. . .
even though he looked dangerous.
Miaka continued. "The Warrior has agreed to help us defeat Seiryuu. She
will summon Suzaku whenever you are ready, Hotohori."
"Yes, the sooner the better." Hotohori agreed. "Wait, Miaka, did you
say. . . she?"
A voice sounded from within the black coverings. "Yes, she did."
The robes fell to the floor, and Hotohori found himself staring at the
beautiful Nousatsu. Before Hotohori could say or do anything, she knelt
before the Emperor, hand on the hilt of her sword.
"I am the Eighth Warrior of Suzaku. I pledge my allegiance to you and
will protect and serve you under all circumstances, be it war or peace.
I promise to summon Suzaku to conquer the Seiryuu, to use the three
divine wishes to serve the land of Konan and the peace of China. I will
to protect the priestess of Suzaku with my life."
As Nousatsu rose, all Miaka and Hotohori could do was stare. Both were
shocked at her vow of loyalty. Miaka was touched.
Finally, Hotohori remembered who he was and responded to Nousatsu's
pledge. "I accept your vow, I accept you as a Warrior, and I accept you
as a friend. You are welcome to stay in the palace for as long as you
wish."
Nousatsu smiled as thanks. "Before we knew I was the Eighth Warrior, I
searched the Seiryuu camp for the Warrior. Instead of the Warrior, I
found this."
She handed the Emperor the attack plans that she had stolen. To say the
least, Hotohori was impressed.
"How did you manage to steal these? It's rumored that Nakago keeps all
battle plans in his armour."
Nousatsu's wicked smile appeared once more, indicating that she had
done something naughty.
"That shall be my little secret, if you don't mind, your Majesty."
Hotohori was still trying to figure out how she had done it when they
heard the familiar sound of a certain Warrior entering the throne room.
"Hey, Miaka! What's going on in-" Tasuki stopped dead in his tracks as
Nousatsu came into view.
'What the. . .'
"Nousatsu?"
She laughed. Truth was, anyone of the seishi would have been shocked.
Nousatsu was wearing a dress.