CHAPTER Four: In which an unexpected visitor arrives




It was hot. Gods, was it hot.
It was one of those hot, dry, drowsy days where time just crawls by and nothing interests you. There was no wind. There were no clouds. Even the shade was sweltering.
The usually cool, airy palace was stuffy and unbearable. I was driven outside to the gardens, but even the cool shade of the ponds and trees were no help.
Hotohori was trapped inside, listening to his advisors argue with his other advisors over some stupid new crop that could bring in profits, but no farmers seemed to want to plant.
Last I had seen, Hotohori was inconspicuously taking a catnap on the throne.
I pitied him today.
Because I had been with him originally this morning, I was trapped in my whore paint and clown costume ensemble. Dear Gods, I hate the way these rich people dressed!
I sat wearily on the steps and sighed.
Suddenly, something caught my attention. There were two men standing in the courtyard. One was middle-aged, balding, and finely dressed. After a few moments of wracking my brain for his name, I reconized him as Ambassador Shonchi, who was an ambassador to Kutô.
The other was shorter, obviously from my social class, definitely younger, and definitely dirtier. It was this one who held my interest, because something about the way his hair was tied back, the manner in which he stood, and the way he held the reins of the nearby horse all seemed shockingly familiar. I stood and began to walk closer, as the ambassador pointed to Kin Chi's older sister, Anako, who was carrying water from the well to off somewhere in the palace. The dirty boy shook his head, and spoke to Ambassador Shonchi again.
Now I was nearer, and managed to catch some of the conversation.
"--REALLY short, like two feet tall. You might not even see her unless you tripped over her or something,"
Ambassador Shonchi smiled and nodded in understanding, and then pointed to me. Just as the young man was about to turn around and look, I cracked him over the head with my fan, and he fell to the ground, rolled over, and squinted up at me.
"I'm right here, baka," I growled, grinning.
I knew now why the young man had seemed so familiar. It also made sense that he was so dusty, because he had just ridden here from Tir Hoki. I hid my overwhelming excitement the best I could.
"Now get up, Suki," I said, nudging him with my toe.
He grinned and stood up, dusting himself off as he did. He was still way taller than me.
Gods, how I had missed my Tadashi!
He was talking about something when suddenly he gasped in horror.
"What?" I demanded in fear, turning around and praying Hotohori was still napping in the throne room.
Hotohori was thankfully no where to be seen. So what was Tashi so worked up over?
"You...you..." he stuttered.
"What? What!?" I demanded again.
"YOU LOOK LIKE A DUCK!" He cried, doubling over with laughter at his own cleverness.
"You look like a field mouse with a New Year's dragon costume on!" he mumbled between hoots of hysterical laughter, adding insult to injury.
I was not amused. I decked him again, then put my hands on my hips and glared my best.
"Gods, Miyoko! That's my head there!" he cried teasingly.
"Not like you're using it!" I retorted, smiling again.
"Miyoko," a new voice said softly from behind me.
My heart leaped into my throat and I almost choked as Tashi stopped laughing. I prayed he didn't have Betsey, his silver katana on him at the moment(although why anyone would name a sword "Betsey" was beyond me!), but of course, he did.
I bit my lip. I had a very bad feeling about this....
Tashi stood glaring as Hotohori put his arm around my shoulders and was saying something about me beating up his guests. I continued biting my lip and resisted the urge to go for a fingernail. Tadashi Suki was no guest Horichan would want in his palace!
Then suddenly, Horichan noticed Tashi.
I began to pray silently to all the Gods I'd ever heard of.
"Who are you?" he demanded quietly, his cheerful mood gone. I realized with a start that he had his sword, too.
Oh, good Gods....
"Your majesty," I said, bowing because Ambassador Shonchi was present, even though he was smelling the dirt right now....Tashi glared at me and I glared right back.
"Um...this is my.... best friend from Tir Hoki, Tadashi. Tashi, this is Hotohori.... the EMPEROR,"
I elbowed Tashi as a signal to leave Betsey in her place. I prayed he would understand. He just glared at me again, so I glared back...again. Then I held my breath as Horichan said something to Tashi.
Tashi said something rough in reply and Hotohori grabbed my arm and pulled me aside.
"That's Tadashi Suki? Your sweet little Tashi? You played dolls with that guy!? He looks like he eats spear heads for breakfast! He looks like he wants to kill me!" Horichan whispered nervously, his head close to mine. Tashi was pretending to look with great interest around the courtyard, although I knew he was really listening to every word Hotohori and I said.
"He probably does," I replied offhandedly as Hotohori jumped and looked over his shoulder at Tashi.
"Is he here to take you back to Tir Hoki?"
"Why else would he be here? He hates royalty!" I said, unable to mask my joy at the thought of going home. Horichan looked very upset.
"Well...I mean...since you're going home...with our bet...you want him to stay here?"
"Oh, Horichan! That was just a dumb joke! And he'd only be staying here for the night. I'll keep him in my room. I'll say he's my brother. Relax!"
Hotohori still looked upset.
"Will he kill me if he stays here?"
"If he has the chance, probably. But he won't get the chance. I won't let him,"
He snuck another glance at Tashi, who was examining the sharpness of Betsey's edge.
"If you say so," he muttered as I turned back to Tashi, who quickly put Betsey away.
"I'm afraid I have duties to attend to. It was my pleasure to meet you at last, Suki Tadashi," Hotohori said sarcastically. I wish I could smack that boy without getting myself beheaded!
Tashi's hand was still resting on Betsey, and I gave him the infamous "Loki-look-of-death" that I'd inherited from my mother. Tashi was eyeing daggers at me, but to my surprise, he put his hands together and made a short, graceful bow to Hothori. My eyebrow went up. Was this some kind of sick joke?
Hotohori was quick to notice that Tashi was uncomfortable, and gave me a smug little smile as he turned and strutted off the best his awful boat-like shoes would let him.
I breathed a sigh of relief.
I watched Hotohori as he walked away, lest Tashi nail him in the back. Then I grabbed my childhood friend's arm and dragged him up the palace steps with me.
Then I decked him.
"OW! Gees, Miyoko! Quit hitting me! It actually hurts now!"
"What the hell do you think you're doing!?" I demanded.
"Me!?"
"You don't see any other thick skulled imbeciles around, do you?"
Tashi turned back to look at Ambassador Shonchi, who was still bowing even though Horichan was long gone and probably back in the throne room by now. Tashi raised and eyebrow, but said nothing.
"Gods, Tashi! What were you thinking? I mean, were you thinking? He's the ruler of Konan. Konan is an empire, and that would make Hotohori the EMPEROR! I mean, I know you hate royalty and all, but that doesn't mean you can just waltz in here looking like crap--and smelling like it too, I might add--and insult him to his face! DO THAT BEHIND HIS BACK!"
Tashi's face was a perfect mask of ice.
"And what about you!" He demanded.
"What about me? I live here! I'm supposed to be here!"
"Yeah, you, here, living in a palace, trussed up like a pig, playing footsie with the emperor, while your mother is at home dying in a hovel!"
"I never---" I started, but whatever snappy comeback I'd had had suddenly left my mind.
"What?" I whispered, looking fearfully up at him, praying I'd misheard.
Tashi looked down, and all the anger visibly left his face. He sighed, and when he looked back at me all his usual cocky-ness was not there, and an old, tired stranger stood in his place.
"That's what I came here for. Your mother, she's... she isn't going to get better, Miyoko. She wanted to see you---"
All his words faded and blured as my eyes filled with tears. How could Mother be dying? When had she gotten that sick? My Mother...she was dying?
I collapsed into Tashi's arms and sobbed.
How could this be happening? All these months, I had waited, I had hoped, and I had prayed that soon I'd be called for so I could go home. Now that time had finally come. This was supposed to be a happy moment! Instead it was terrible. Mother's smiling face flashed before my eyes. Tashi was murmuring some sort of comforting words at me until I was calm.
Tashi hooked his finger under my chin and made me look up at him. His eyes were filled with tears as I wiped mine away.
"There's not much time. Get what you need, and we leave as soon as possible,"
I nodded numbly again, then took his arm and led him into the palace.





It was getting dark fast. I was exhausted.
I had spent an hour and a half trying to get Tashi to take a bath. After that was done, I made him put on clean clothing. Unfortunately, the only thing I had that fitted him was a flowing fuscia night robe embroidered with pale pink flowers and lavender peacocks.
Tashi was not happy.
He was obviously beat, though, because he put the robe on with minimal arguing and glaring.
At the moment, Tashi was passed out in his fuscia robe on the carpet beside my bed. Poor guy fell asleep just as he was pulling back the covers. I tucked a pillow under his bed and covered him with a blanket. I dimmed the lamp and walked to the door, glancing back on him for a moment to make sure he was asleep. Of course, with Tashi, you could never really be certain.
I left to find Hotohori.
Horichan was in one of his counsel rooms with two advisors. They were talking about relations with Kutô, which meant it was not a good time to interrupt.
Hotohori noticed me in the doorway, though, and seemed to welcome the distraction.
His eyes twinkled mischieviously as the two advisors bowed politely and greeted me.
"So you are going back to Tir Hoki, Lady Miyoko?" Hotohori stated in a very melodramatic voice.
"Yes, your Majesty," I replied, trying to figure out what he was up to now.
He sighed deeply and turned to stare out the window.
"So you will simply leave, is that it? After everything Konan has done for you?"
"Your Majesty...I-I.....I never...I'm not...wha--?"
"What am I to do about the wedding, Miyoko?" he interrupted me.
I almost grinned. I knew what he was up to, now. It was an old game we called "Scare the advisors senseless". It was not the first time we had done this, and yet they never seemed to catch on....
"I do not know, your Majesty," I whispered, also melodramatic.
"What am I going to do without you by my side? Who will be Konan's Empress?"
"I'm sorry, your Majesty, I must return to Tir Hoki. We both knew this day would come,"
"It wouldn't have if you had married me two months ago like I'd wanted to," he muttered.
It was getting too hard not to laugh. One of the advisors had sunk to the floor in a dead faint, and the other was dangerously pale.
"I'm sorry, your Majesty, but my mother believes there is better for me. You will heal, you will go on, and you will find someone far better than the likes of me," I sighed, looking at the floor and biting my lip to keep from laughing.
Hothohori walked towards me and put his hand on my cheek, leaning towards me as if he would kiss me. We were both struggling not to laugh. The remaining advisor swayed dangerously and grabbed a chair back to regain his balance.
"I just don't understand, Lady Miyoko. Most mothers would be thrilled to have a beautiful emperor for a son-in-law,"
"Mother Michi is smarter than most mothers," a new voice growled behind me.
The other advisor turned to the doorway, squeaked, and passed out, his legs straight up in the air.
"T-T-Tashi!" I gasped, spinning quickly to face the hot pink-clad figure in the doorway. Betsey was out and gleamed in the lamplight, and Tashi looked hungry for blood.
I swallowed nervously and stepped back quickly. Hotohori had his hand on his sword.
"Tashi! This isn't what you think! I swear to the Gods! It's only a--"
"I don't care if you're the Emperor of Konan. Keep your hands off Miyoko," Tashi whispered, staring straight past me to Hothohori, his voice ominiously low.
"Tashi! I--we--It was only a joke!" I cried, beginning to panic. Oh, this was not good....
He turned to me.
"Stay out of this, Miyoko. I'll deal with you later,"
"If you harm her in any way, you will live to regret the day you were born," Horichan threatened, his voice just as low and just as ominous.
Tashi grabbed my arm and pulled me farther away from Hotohori.
I resisted the urge to cover my face with my hands. My two best friends stood facing each other in the middle of the imperial council room, one in full royal attire and the other in a woman's night dress, both with swords, both angry, and both an equal danger to the other.
"Tashi! Stop it!" I cried, grabbing his arm and trying to pull Betsey away from him.
He shook me easily off, and then he ignored me.
"What do you see in Miyoko? A few good laughs? Bringing her here, dressing her up like a doll....what are you going to do when you're done with her? Dump her back out to the life she came from?"
"Tashi!" I cried again.
"I would never hurt Miyoko. You were the one who didn't want her around! You were the one who sent her to me!"
"Hotohori!" I gasped. I was ignored again.
Tashi's face was darkening with each passing second. This was going to get very ugly very soon if I didn't do something fast!
"We never sent her to you,"
"And now you've come to take her back to her old life?"
"She'd rather be there than here!"
"Is that so?"
"She's loved there!"
"She's loved here, too!"
"It was a stupid joke!" I screamed, grabbing the sides of my face. I was ignored. Again.
"Really? So how many times have you slept with her? Is she any good?"
I didn't even have time to slap Tashi for that crude remark.
"You son of a---" Hotohori hissed low under his breath.
All I saw was a blur of metal and scarlet as Hotohori drew his sword and swung at Tashi. Tashi blocked just in time, and the next thing I knew there were swords flashing, furniture shattering, and tapestries being shredded everywhere I turned.
I ducked out of the way and cowered in a corner, screamimg at them to stop fighting.
This was getting out of hand! I had to do something before someone was killed!
Luckily, Hotohori 's movement was hampered by his layers of proper clothing, and Tashi thankfully was not used to wearing a woman's robe. I think these were the only reasons they weren't both dead already. I dodged a vase that flew my way.
After one particulary accurate, narrowly missed swing on Tashi's part, I forgot all fear and charged into the fray.
"Stop it! Hotohori! Tadashi! Stop it!"
I don't remember which one caught my arm, but I cried out as I was thrown to the ground.
"MIYOKO!" The men cried at once.
"You hit her!" Hotohori bellowed.
"Don't throw your blame on me!" Tashi yelled right back.
The fighting began again, more reckless than ever.
I clutched my wounded arm and dragged myself up.
"Oh my Gods! You men are hopeless!" I muttered.
Tashi dove, catching Horichan high in the chest, which caused Horichan to swing a retaliating blow that sliced Tashi's cheek open.
I grabbed a scroll off the table and lept between them, swinging wildly. I didn't stop until Hotohori was leaning against a wall panting and Tashi was leaning on one arm on the table, also panting.
"What has gotten into you two!?" I yelled, dropping my roll of parchment and grabbing Betsey from Tashi before he could swing again.
"He called you a whore!" Horichan replied, glaring at Tashi.
"He was trying to steal you!" Tashi returned, glaring right back.
"I never tried to steal her!"
"You did to! You said---"
"Enough!" I bellowed, and they went silent, staring sukily at the ground. I looked heavenward for patience. Good Gods, did I need patience......
"You two almost killed each other over a stupid joke! Now, put your swords away and come on. We're going to Hotohori's chambers and I'm cleaning you two up. You two boys will just have to suck it up and hate each other in silence. Is that understood?"
They glared at each other. I crossed my arms over my chest and tapped my foot. Silence.
"We are not leaving this room until you two agree to stop fighting!" I warned. They just went right on glaring.
"Fine, unless you two agree to stop fighting tonight. Here, put that away," I said, handing Betsey to Tashi.
Nothing.
I treated them to a death glare.
"Fine,"
"If I have to,"
They both muttered a few other choice things about the other under their breath, but they finally put their swords back into their sheaths.




Niether wound was deep, I noted with relief.
I had already bandaged up Tashi, because Hotohori insisted I care for him first. Tashi was too busy strategically plotting Hohohori's demise to object. Once he had been cleaned, bandaged, and sent back to bed, I turned to Hotohori. Tashi's may have been deeper, but Horichan's wound worried me more.
Horichan sat before me in a chair clad in nothing but a pair of pants and socks.
I was examining his cut.
It wasn't as bad as I thought. It was closer to his shoulder than his chest, and while it was realitivly deep, it would heal without scarring. His ego would be thrilled.
I had just finished washing the blood away when I noticed something on his neck. Another wound? Upon closer inspection I discovered it was a symbol of some sort. It looked like the astrological symbol for the water snake, but I wasn't quite sure.
"Hotohori, what is this?" I asked, frowning. Whatever it was, it definitely looked unhealthy.
He turned his head slightly and put his fingertips near the little symbol.
"This? It's my seishi symbol," he said offhandedly.
"Ooh kay....and that means what to me....?"
He smiled.
"Every man, woman, and child in Konan knows about the legend of Suzaku,"
I sighed in exasperation and reached for the ointment. Suzaku....the name sounded vaguely familiar, but I was unfamiliar with the folklore of Konan. Ask me something about Tir Hoki, on the other hand.....I sighed again.
"Hello? Earth to the Emperor! I'm not from Konan! All I know about Konan is their ruler is a complete headcase!"
"That may be, but I hear he's also amazingly beautiful," Hotohori teased. I rolled my eyes.
"So, who is this Suzaku character?" I asked, dabbing carefully at the slice Tashi had taken out of his skin.
"The god that Konan prays to. Suzaku is our protector. OW! That stings!"
"Good. That means it's working." I reached for a roll of bandages.
Horichan frowned for a few more minutes while I finished wrapping him up. I was thinking all the while about this Suzaku, and this seishi symbol, and what all this exactly meant for Hotohori.
I had absolutely no idea.
"So I take it Suzaku is that chicken you have a shrine to?"
"PHOENIX! Suzaku is a PHOENIX!"
"Sorry! Gees! Talk about touchy!"
He laughed a little despite himself, stood and put a new robe on.
"That's okay. Just don't call my god a chicken,"
"Some people worship chickens,"
"Well we don't,"
"Yeah, you worship a chicken that catches fire every few years and rises from the ashes as a new, totally different chicken!"
"MIYOKO!"
"Agk! I'm sorry! I can't help it!"
"Suzaku is not a chicken!"
"Fine, fine. Suzaku is not a chicken. Don't feel bad. We worship a guy with a winged dragon carved in his back,"
"Dragon? Did you say dragon?"
"Yeah. Why?"
"Tir Hoki isn't in Kotû, is it?"
I rolled my eyes.
"Would I have ever made it into the palace if it was?"
"No... but it' s just that Kotû worships Seiryu, the dragon. And Kotû doesn't like us very much,"
"Why not?"
He shrugged. "It's always been that way, for as long as anyone can remember,"
"What's the matter?" I teased. "Is Kotû jealous because Konan is prettier than them?"
Hotohori flipped some hair over his shoulder and sniffed.
"We are much prettier than they are!"
I buried my face in my hands.
"That was a joke, Horichan!" I muttered.
"I know. I just like making your face turn all those neat colors,"
"HOTOHORI!"
He laughed at me and patted his bandage.
"Thanks, Miyoko. What would I do without you?"
"You'd make friends with your mirror,"
"Oh, Miyoko, you're so silly. I did that a long time ago,"
"ACK!"
He started laughing again.
"Well, I'm glad you think it's funny!" I crossed my arms over my chest and pouted.
He shook his head, his cheerful demeanor fading. He sat down next to me.
"I mean it, Miyoko. I'm really going to miss you,"
I sighed.
"I'm going to miss you too, Horichan, but this is for the best. I don't belong in a palace, and my mother needs me at home, now. She's dying, Hotohori. She's dying and I have to see her before....you understand, don't you?"
He nodded. "That doesn't mean I like it. I'm sorry about your mother, but I'm afraid I'm a little selfish. You're my only excuse for having fun,"
I smiled softly.
"Don't worry, Horichan. I'll come back someday,"
He hugged me suddenly.
"I know you will. No matter what you say, you love it here in Konan. You won't stay away for too long. You'd be a liar if you said you didn't love it here."
I nodded. He had me there. I grinned.
"Yeah, and I'll bring you a present from back home,"
He sat back and smiled.
"A present? Believe it or not, I don't get many presents,"
I raised a brow.
"I don't! Honest! The best present I ever got was from you,"
I paused. I didn't remember giving him any gifts!
"And what is that?" I asked suspiciously.
He smiled faintly and pointed to the tiny scar near the corner of his lip.
"This. It means someone cares about me,"
My eyes filled with tears as I smiled.
"Oh, Horichan...."
He held up his hand to stop whatever it is I was going to say.
"You'd better get to bed, Miyoko. You have a long journey ahead of you,"
I nodded, blinking rapidly. I refused to cry in front of him. Mother needed me.
I had to go. I stood up and walked to the door.
"Miyoko...?"
I turned.
"Yeah?"
"Give you mother my greetings,"
I grinned.
"She'll like that, Horichan. Goodnight,"
"Goodnight,"
I walked out the door and started down the hallway, tracing my hand along the familiar moldings and tapestries, commiting them to memory so I could tell Mother and Mother Suki all about them when I got home.
I was about to open the door to my bedroom when I heard the sound of footsteps running behind me. I turned, half ready to leap and attack, and sighed with relief to see it was only Hotohori.
"Miyoko!"
"Hotohori! What are you doing?"
"I have to know! What kind of present will you bring me?"
I laughed a little to myself as I opened my door and stepped inside.
"A chicken!"
And with that, I shut the door.