Sister to Miko
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Chapter Five: For Every Crime, A Punishment
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*Miaka*
"She's not Suzaku no Miko! I could've written that story in my sleep! Don't let her..." I froze as Kiku thrashed around in her bed. Did she not approve of me being chosen? But I relaxed when I heard her say next, "Unicorns will never exist! How can you believe her..." Kiku sat up in a cold sweat.
When she registered that the emperor Hotohori, Tamahome and I were by her bed, she asked, "did I fall asleep in the middle of the festival?"
The poor girl had passed out before the end of the festival.
"*Fainted*, more likely," Tamahome snorted. Oh, he was being his mean self again. The one that everyone saw, not his tender self that surfaced when he was with me.
"You really were too tired," Hotohori said.
"You mustn't fall ill, Ki-chan," I added.
"Uh, thank you all, but I think I'm fine. I guess it's just that I'm really not used to staying up so late. Too used to the six o' clock rule." Oh yes, one of the concubines had told me about that. Hiromi, was it?
The emperor smiled knowingly. "Would nine be better?"
"Thank you, Heika-sama!" she got on her knees on the bed and bowed. We all gasped.
"Kiku! Don't do that when you're not well! If you move from your position again I'll make it five!" he exclaimed.
"I'll get back into bed! I won't budge an inch!" she scrambled back under the covers.
I was laughing heartily and a reluctant smile crept upon Tamahome's face. Now that's my handsome seishi.
"Will you give me a moment?" the emperor turned to Tamahome and I.
"Of course, Hotohori," I bowed, and the two of us retreated. Meanwhile I wondered what they would talk about. Kiku was really strange. In there she'd seemed so like her age, but yet I'd heard from a guard that she hadn't even blinked when the other girl, Arvn, had bled on the throne room floor. How could anyone be so heartless?
*Kiku*
The smile faded from my face once Suzaku no Miko and Tamahome turned their backs. If the emperor noticed this, he didn't show it.
"It's about me writing, isn't it?" I finally asked. Even though I'd never known anyone else who spoke up as much as I did, it didn't stop me from doing so.
"Boku... boku wa..." he cleared his throat twice but didn't continue.
"...am bound to my word but cannot let you continue writing?" I finished.
"Not exactly -"
"Does this mean I can keep on writing?" I asked hopefully.
"Well, yes, as long as you don't tell *everybody*," he nodded. "But, well..."
"Yes, Heika-sama?"
"Hotohori please."
"I can't, Heika-sama!" I shook my head in fear. "What were you going to say?" I added, indicating the subject was closed.
"Forgive me for being blunt, but you and my advisor seem to know something that I don't."
Oh. *That*.
"Um, last year, does Heika-sama remember there being a scandal in the Imperial Examinations?"
"Of the second Imperial scholar being a boy? Why yes, but he escaped, so I never got to see -" he stopped, finally understanding.
"Shigetoshi Keiji? That was you?"
"Hai," I nodded slowly, for the first time in my life not daring to raise my eyes to meet someone else's. I didn't want to see the horror on his face. "I'm sorry, Heika-sama. I didn't mean to keep it from you - I didn't even know I'd be here - I was kidnapped."
There was an awful, awkward silence.
"For every crime, a punishment," he said finally. I closed my eyes serenely.
"Since you've come here with all this talent- why don't you become my assistant advisor?" Shocked, I looked up at that boyish face beaming down at me.
"I... you... you mean that? Of course, Heika-sama! It would be my greatest honour!"
As I kow-towed to him, I suddenly remembered my father. Oh dear, this would get difficult.
*Hiromi*
"Kiku has become the what?" I roared at the frightened servant girl, my fist landing with a crash on the table.
"Anou... Hiromi-sama..." she whimpered, practically in tears.
"Leave!" the girl didn't need me to tell her twice and hurriedly dashed out of my room.
Damn the gods, Kiku and her sly methods, pretending not to be interested in the emperor but...
"Chikushou," I growled. I knew it would be disastrous if anyone heard, but I was too angry to care. So the emperor liked those who played innocent, huh?