Too Many Mikos
By: Arysa
Chapter 3: Confusing Closeness
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"Well ... maybe Arysa was too busy reading Fushigi Yuugi to notice I'm late." prayed Terry as he crept into Arysa's apartment. He found Arysa curled up in a little ball on the floor. He decided to let her sleep, at least this way she wouldn't notice how late he had arrived! He went to Arysa's computer and began to rifle through her anime collection.
"Who on earth needs this many pictures of Tamahome anyway?" Terry grumbled.
Tamahome had brought Arysa/Miaka back to the Mayor's house and given her into Nuriko's hands. She hadn't said a single word since Tamahome's proposal and looked visibly upset. Tamahome was worried that perhaps they had gone too far too fast, but didn't she love him? Of course she did, he reasoned. But when was the last time she had said so? He wandered back to his house to make final preparations for his family's move more confused than satisfied.
Nuriko took Arysa into the room they shared. "What happened?" she asked gently as he helped her into her nightgown and bed. Arysa responded by hugging Nuriko tightly, the two fell into bed and lay there embracing.
"Tamahome doesn't want me." Arysa confessed into Nuriko's chest. "I've never felt so used. But how can it be used when I wanted him so badly? I'm so ashamed."
"Hush now, Arysa. It'll be all right." said Nuriko as he lightly brushed her hair from her face. "It's less painful if you think of something else, why not tell me about your world?" Nuriko suggested.
The two spent the night talking quietly about cross-dressing, sexuality and equal opportunity in the world of the Miko's. Nuriko was happy to hear that Arysa didn't consider him abnormal, and seemed to accept him for who he was. Nuriko told Arysa more about his sister Korin, but couldn't answer when Arysa asked him if he was attracted to men as part of his Korin-guise, or because of a natural response. Soon Arysa fell asleep in Nuriko's arms, but Nuriko couldn't sleep. He had never articulated his position before, and now that he had, he wondered about his own sexuality. He looked down at Arysa/Miaka and gave her a little hug.
Arysa squirmed away from Nuriko and said "Terry, stop that. We'll play later, I'm sleepy."
"Who's Terry?" Nuriko said. Arysa was sleeping and didn't answer. Was Terry a man or a woman, and why did that answer concern Nuriko so much. How come Arysa understood his cross-dressing so well? Nuriko rolled away from Arysa/Miaka and tried hard to sleep but like Chichiri, sleep escaped him.
Since Chichiri hadn't really slept well, he was up long before Ayn, had a fire going and some oatmeal cooking. Ayn woke slowly; she had slept surprisingly well considering it was her first night on the ground.
Chichiri served Ayn breakfast and asked, "How did you come to this world?" Ayn again told the story about the book and the library.
"I'm sorry Mamoru. That wasn't the question I wanted to ask." Chichiri said as he moved to sit directly in front of Ayn. He looked into her eyes and saw the person behind the lies.
Ayn immediately understood what Chichiri meant. After all, Ayn was well endowed, she correctly reasoned that lying in his arms last night must have given away her true identify.
"My name is Ayn." she said.
"The Miko is named Ayn." repeated Chichiri. "I have long since known I was a Seishi of Suzaku meant to protect you, a visitor from another world. I apologize for not recognizing you directly Suzaku no Miko."
"Huh?" said Ayn. "I'm not a Miko, Miaka is Suzaku no Miko."
"Miaka?" wondered Chichiri. "I have not heard of her, no dah!"
"Yes, Miaka. She's probably at the palace right now trying to figure out how to find her Seishi." said Ayn. "And besides," she continued, "I am not a Miko."
"You are a Miko, a maiden from another world." Chichiri said affirmatively. "I will take you to the palace. It is rumored that the emperor has the mark of the sea snake, Hotohori, on his neck. He is another Seishi of Suzaku. Together we will determine your place in this world."
They finished their breakfast and began the journey to the palace. Along the way Ayn removed her Tensor bandage from her chest and put it back on her ankle. As it was a beautiful warm day she took of her jacket. It was clear to an appreciative Chichiri, and all who passed, that Ayn was a woman.
Arysa/Miaka and her companions reached the palace mid morning. Chiriko, whom Hotohori had summoned to the palace via a messenger from Tamahome's town last night had arrived and proven to be the fourth Seishi. The three of them closeted themselves in Hotohori's conference room with the scroll of Suzaku and worked to decipher the hints for finding the next Seishi. Morning passed into afternoon without any of the party noticing.
Tamahome, however, knew the time. He also knew that his Miaka was not capable of losing herself to a problem if it meant ignoring lunch. In fact, Miaka had been doing many strange things recently. It had all seemed to start right after that failed attempt to send her back home.
"Hey Tama-chan! What's wrong?" asked Nuriko. He had been watching Tamahome pace for most of the day. Nuriko suspected that Tamahome might know Miaka was not Miaka and this worried him. He wasn't sure he wanted to loose Arysa just yet ... he might not want to let her go for a long while.
"I think Miaka might be pushing herself too hard." stated Tamahome coldly. "She forgot lunch."
Warning bells went off in Nuriko's head at Tamahome's tone of voice. He immediately sent for lunch and Arysa/Miaka and her four Seishi sat down to a late afternoon meal.
Arysa/Miaka was concentrating on the last riddle in the scroll. She knew that in the real Fushigi Yuugi universe Chichiri should have been the next Seishi. Miaka had found him by accident. Arysa reasoned that sending out search parties for a wandering monk would not be particularly helpful. She was eating more by habit than by wish and refused a second helping though the food was delicious.
"Miaka?" Tamahome asked as he picked at his food. The fact that Miaka wasn't gulping down her meal confirmed his suspicions. He needed to find out where his true love had gone and this creature that possessed her body was his only clue.
"Yes Tamahome?" asked Arysa/Miaka.
"Let's take a walk after lunch. You've been stuck inside all day." stated Tamahome.
Arysa pleaded with Nuriko with her eyes from across the table. After last night she didn't think she could be alone with Tamahome safely.
"Sure, I haven't spent time with you or Nuriko all day. Let's the three of us go into town." said Arysa/Miaka.
"No." stated Tamahome unemotionally. "Just the two of us, if you don't mind Nuriko."
"Oh ... all right." said Nuriko worriedly. Tamahome's attitude just confirmed to Nuriko that he wasn't the only one who knew that Miaka was not quite Miaka.
Chichiri and Ayn were nearing the palace. They had spent the day getting to know each other. It felt great not having to pretend anymore that she was a man. They laughed and just enjoyed the day. They stopped on the edges of town at a hotel for lunch and a bath before heading to the palace.
The hotel was famous for it's hot baths. Ayn luxuriated in the warmth of the water. It was nice to see so many women of so many different sizes enjoying the baths without fear of being criticized based on their looks. Ayn soaked for a good half hour and gradually noticed that she was the only one in the bath. She closed her eyes and listened to the calming sound of the water lapping the shore.
Though she was physically relaxed, mentally she just could not unwind. She knew that Chichiri was on the other side of the natural rock barrier enjoying the same water. She wished they were bathing together. She thought about Chichiri as she had seen him earlier in the water, she thought about Chichiri as she had seen him the night at the hotel in bed with the moonlight caressing his body, she thought about how nice it was to spend the night in his arms.
She let her hands fall underwater and trace the outline of her thighs. She thought about Chichiri running his hands down her thighs to the space between. She began to stroke herself softly calling his name. Very quickly waves of pleasure ran over her body and she threw her head back.
To her surprise her head hit a person rather than her towel and she was quite embarrassed. Her embarrassment ended as she was pushed down and held under water. She struggled roughly with her attacker and managed to get far enough above water to scream "Chichiri! Help Me!" before she was pushed back into the bath. She was rapidly running out of oxygen and the world was going black. She felt herself go limp and wondered if this is what death was like.
After lunch Tamahome took Arysa/Miaka by the hand and led her through the beautiful castle grounds to her room. He closed and secured the door behind them and smiled at Miaka.
Arysa/Miaka was, well, nervous...to say the least! She had often fantasized about what she would do trapped in a room with Tamahome, but now she was finding that she just didn't want to be near him when his love for Miaka was so apparent. Each touch reminded her that he didn't belong to her; he was Miaka's.
Tamahome threw Miaka onto the bed and roughly took all of her clothes off.
"Stop it, Tamahome!" Arysa/Miaka screamed. She couldn't believe what he was doing. Did Tamahome know who she was? What was he going to do? She kicked him in the face and tried to knife at his neck with her hand, but he caught it and pinned her to the bed.
Tamahome stared at Miaka's naked body. "I don't understand," he began, "you look like Miaka but you're not Miaka. Miaka would never play with me like you do, she would never choose the scroll over lunch and she wouldn't know how to protect herself from an attacker." He let go of Arysa/Miaka but sill hovered over her body. "I don't know who you are but please return Miaka to me." he begged.
The door bust into slivers. Nuriko took Tamahome by the back of his shirt and flung him to the floor. A red light seemed to shine from Nuriko as he stood shaking in anger. "Get away from her." he commanded.
Tamahome picked himself up and made to leave the room. "This isn't over ... Miaka." he said over his shoulder as he retreated.
"Are you OK Arysa?" Nuriko asked with a concerned voice.
"I'm fine Nuriko, but what are we going to do now?" Arysa said. "I'm worried."
Nuriko pulled Arysa/Miaka into his arms. "I'll protect you for sure Arysa." he said as he reached down and kissed the trembling girl on the mouth.
Miaka slowly regained consciousness, she had the worst dream ... well, maybe not all parts were bad ... after all, there was this handsome man named Tamahome who made her heart race. Hmmmnnn .... Tamahome. Just saying his name gave her the shivers.
"Arysa, don't you think this obsession has gone a little too far?" asked Terry. Terry was sitting at Arysa's computer and randomly flicking through her Fushigi Yuugi picture collection.
"Nah ni?" said Miaka/Arysa. Miaka was quite confused. Her surroundings weren't recognizable at all and they now included a strange man who was looking at her sadly and speaking English. Where on earth was she now?
"Na ... nee?" Terry asked. What kind of game did Arysa think she was she playing? Terry lay down beside Miaka/Arysa and put his arms around her. Even though she was damn strange he loved her as he had everyday for the past five years.
Miaka panicked. She began to struggle away from Terry. He laughed. Terry knew that if Arysa really wanted to get away from him she could in a heart beat. Arysa had taken Tae Kwon Do lessons for as long as he'd known her, and she was some level of black belt. He could never remember which! He figured she was just playing hard to get and all her struggling was rubbing him in all the right places. He laughed again, this time lower in his throat and rolled on top of Miaka/Arysa and kissed her full on the mouth.
"Tamahome!" Miaka screamed as she disappeared into red light.
A rather confused Terry landed hard on the floor where Miaka/Arysa used to be and knocked himself out cold.
To be continued ...