Change of Heart
Disclaimer: Sadly enough, I don't own the FY characters.
Funniest thing happened at the beach. My dad forgot to bring his laptop! _ So I didn't do any writing during that entire week. But I think I've made up for it by getting this chapter done in 1 day. ^_^ I sorta like this one, I think. A lot of the dialogue goes along with the dubbed version, but I've tweaked some of the lines so that they'd sound good, and so they'd fit with the altered storyline.
Chapter 2: Priestess
The imperial city loomed ahead, tall and colorful in the mid-afternoon sun. Nuriko was ecstatic; she had finally arrived! She dashed into the city, feeling like a good meal would be first, and finding the Miko could wait until then.
After all, a half-starved seishi was no good in times of need.
She ate her fill and went to ask around. The Miko was from another world, and Nuriko figured that her clothes would make her stand out most.
Walking all over the city, Nuriko barely heard anything of the girl she sought. No one knew anything except she had been there three days ago and had disappeared after that. Nuriko frowned; it would be impossible to find her like this.
While taking a short rest, Nuriko heard something.
"Yeah, the city was in a panic a few days ago."
"Oh, really? What for?"
"Well, you know, the emperor came through and a girl attacked him!"
"You're joking!"
"No way! She tackled him, I swear it!"
"Was she arrested?"
"Sure was! So was this guy with her…both of 'em were pretty odd. The girl was wearing foreign clothes and the guy had a red symbol on his forehead."
"You're making that up."
"I am not!"
Nuriko looked at the two men who had been talking. A girl wearing strange clothes…a boy with a red symbol. Could it be…
And they had been arrested?!
She ran to the palace at once.
~*~
"Sorry, sir, but we can't let you through," said one of the large guards at the palace gate. Nuriko sighed.
"Please! It's an emergency! I need to see that girl that was arrested a few days ago…Let me through!"
"The girl who was…the Miko?"
"Yeah, her! I'm one of her seishi, now please let me through!"
"You're what?!" The guard demanded. He frowned and said, "What's your name, boy?"
"I- I'm Chou Ryuuen…Suzaku shichiseishi Nuriko."
"Yeah? Prove it!" Nuriko sighed; what if her symbol didn't appear? They would call her a liar and arrest her. Well, one way or another she would get into the palace. She held her breath as she revealed the skin where her symbol would appear from time to time. Praying to Suzaku, she willed it to appear.
A dim flash of crimson lit on her skin, and slowly, the symbol appeared. The guards gasped as they watched it flash, and flicker away again. They looked at Nuriko and slowly stepped aside.
"I- I'll send someone to announce your arrival to his Highness immediately," the same ill-tempered guard stammered.
~*~
The emperor was assisting the Miko in finding the other five seishi as Nuriko walked through the palace. Unfortunately, the young Miko had gone just a bit too far while insulting the warriors (why? Nuriko didn't want to know), and had gotten herself –and Tamahome, another seishi- into a lot of trouble.
Nuriko took a moment to look at the scene. There was a collapsed building nearby, a few warriors out cold, and the emperor himself digging at the rubble. She smiled to herself; what an entrance to make!
"E-excuse me," she said to one of the advisors. "I hate to stick my nose into other peoples' businesses, but you look like you need a bit of help. I can do this." Shooing people out of her way, she grabbed a piece of the collapsed building and lifted it with no trouble. Letting it stay balanced in her hand for a moment, she threw it backwards, hoping she didn't have the bad luck to hit anyone with it.
She began digging through the rubble, picking it up and throwing it away with ease. Soon she came to the two captives. One, a boy, was situated in a protective stance over the other, obviously a girl. Both looked a bit startled when the sudden weight was removed. The boy swayed to the side and fell onto his back, breathing hard.
"You're still alive," Nuriko muttered, relieved. "You have the devil's luck." She helped the two to their feet.
"I'm relieved that you two are alright," the emperor said to them. Nuriko stepped back and studied the three.
Of course, she knew what the emperor looked like. But nonetheless, she was taken aback by his beauty. As she looked at him, she found herself breathing difficultly. He hadn't yet acknowledged her presence, and she looked at the other boy, who had been trapped under the rubble.
He looked a bit younger than her…sixteen or seventeen. He had long teal hair, bound tightly at his neck, and gray-violet eyes. He was also taller than she was.
The girl, who Nuriko assumed to be the Miko, was even younger. She appeared to still be a child, wearing an odd, short brown dress. Her reddish-brown hair was styled in buns at the sides of her head, almost giving her head the shape of a heart.
The emperor turned his attention to Nuriko while the boy and the Miko were being attended to.
"Amazing," he whispered, almost unheard by the violet-haired seishi. "How did you come by that astonishing strength? What is your name?"
"My name is Chou Ryuuen, but some people call me Nuriko."
"Nuriko?"
"Y-yes, Highness." That's when the emperor noticed a glow on Nuriko's chest. He pointed to the same position in his own chest and asked,
"What is that mark?" Nuriko tugged at her shirt a bit to reveal the willow symbol.
"This?"
"You are a Shichiseishi," the emperor whispered. Nuriko nodded.
The Miko stepped forward and extended her hand in greeting.
"Thank you for saving us!" she said cheerfully. "I'm Miaka Yuuki!" Astonished by this girl's cheerful disposition, Nuriko didn't speak for a moment. She glanced at the other boy, who was looking at Miaka.
"Don't mention it," she told the Miko. "After all, it's my job to protect the Miko." She grinned, looking back at the boy, and continued, "And I'm so happy that the Miko is such a lovely girl." The boy narrowed his eyes at Nuriko, who grinned again. She took Miaka's hand and, like a proper gentleman, kissed it softly.
The boy, whom she later learned was Tamahome, looked as if he was about to go into hysterics. Nuriko fought the urge to fall over laughing and gave him a teasing smile. This would certainly be interesting…
~*~
As a Shichiseishi, she was allowed to stay in the palace until the other warriors were discovered and Suzaku was summoned. As for what she would do after that, well, she figured she would take things as they came along.
Boredom soon overtook the young seishi. Throwing herself upon her bed, she stared at the ceiling with a blank mind, waiting for the inspiration to do something.
After about an hour of staring at the ceiling, Nuriko was still bored. Very bored. She sighed and stood up, leaving her small –but elegant- room.
The sun was setting as she went to explore the palace. After passing the kitchen and its delicious smells, as well as one of the inner gardens and a few locked doors, Nuriko found herself outside of the emperor's chambers. This was where she stopped.
She stared at the door for a moment, wondering why she had chosen to stop there. Telling herself that she hadn't come to see him, she shook her head and started to walk. This was when she heard speaking from inside.
"Do you have someone that you love?" The first voice was the emperor's.
"Well I…" That was Miaka. "But we're not talking about me, are we?" There was a strange, nervous tone in her voice. Nuriko frowned as she listened.
Tamahome was looking for Miaka. After all, he was supposed to be her protector. He had made a promise to her.
He saw Nuriko standing outside of the emperor's chambers.
"Nuriko?" he asked, startled and surprised to see the seishi standing there so quietly. Nuriko put a finger to her lips, a signal for him to be quiet. He walked towards her and listened as well.
"For all of my life, I have been waiting for only one woman."
"What's going on in there?" Tamahome asked quietly.
"Miaka and His Highness are talking," Nuriko whispered in reply. Suddenly, all talk ceased inside. Suddenly, the wall in front of them fell apart. Hotohori was standing behind it, sword drawn. Nuriko and Tamahome blinked in surprise, then started to walk away innocently.
"What are you two doing?" Hotohori asked, a bit angry at the intrusion. Tamahome looked further into the room and saw Miaka sitting on the bed, looking at the floor.
"We, uh…" Nuriko began, looking at Tamahome.
"We came to pick up Miaka, sire," the teal-haired seishi explained. Hotohori nodded, still frowning.
"I see."
"I- I really should be going," Miaka muttered, walking quickly towards the door.
"Miaka," Hotohori said. "I meant everything I told you. You say that your wish is to return to your own world…but when Suzaku is summoned, I want you to become my empress." Miaka stopped and looked at him, eyes wide.
"You want me for what?" she asked, startled.
"Of course, it isn't an order. You can't force someone to change their heart." (a/n: I did NOT mean to type 'heat) He smiled. "I will find a way to make you fall in love with me."
Tamahome glared at the emperor silently. Nuriko noticed this, and elbowed him lightly.
"Come on, we should go," she said. They both walked away, and Miaka watched them leave silently, then returned to her own room.
~*~
"So, how'd you sleep?" Nuriko asked the next morning after breakfast. Miaka yawned in reply, rubbing her red, sleep-deprived eyes. "I see." They were walking aimlessly through the palace, and Miaka ran into someone.
"Oh! Excuse me!" she said, still tired.
"You're so clumsy," Nuriko told her, grinning. She then looked at the poor victim of Miaka's gracelessness. "Oh, good morning Tamahome!"
"T-Tamahome!" Miaka gasped. "Where are you going?" The young seishi sighed.
"I have to get back to work. I've been slacking off around here," he muttered.
"I'll come too!" Miaka offered.
"No, I'm sure you're busy finding the other seishi," Tamahome pointed out. "No time to lose, right?"
"Right," Miaka whispered, disappointed. She turned and started to walk away.
"I'll come with you, Tamahome," Nuriko offered. "I don't have anything better to do. This place is pretty boring." Tamahome shrugged.
"Fine."
So, just like almost ALL OF THE OTHER GUYS IN THE SHOW, Nuriko seems to have fallen for Miaka. (I guess she's just irresistible… *grumblegrumble*) Wait till they find out…! Next chapter picks up where this one left off and I don't exactly know where it ends. Reviews are greatly appreciated and will encourage me to write more!!! ^_^ Or you can send comments by e-mail to Starseeker__1@hotmail.com.