Unseen Melody 6: The Dark Priestess of Suzaku

*pahoua(akimi)xiong*

Chichiri and Hotohori are in Hotohori's room talking. Nuriko, Mitsukake, and Chiriko stood outside of Miaku's room. While Tamohome, Miaka, and Tasuki stood next to Miaku's side along with Taiitsukun. After what happened to Miaku, she past out and slept throughout the whole day. Now, it's dark outside and the day for summoning Suzaku was long over.

"Will she be okay?" Miaka asked in concerned.

"Miaku should be waking up any minute now." Taiitsukun replayed.

"I still don't understand," Tasuki pouted while he leaned on the post next to Miaku's bed. "How could this be?" In his heart he could not accept the fact that Miaku is the dark priestess of Suzaku, and, also the daughter of Miaka and Tamohome. Taiitsukun's words repeated itself in his mind whenever he looked at Miaku's face.

******************Flashback to Taiitsukun's explanation********************

"Behind each priestess lived a darkness. If it's to be awakened, then a girl from the priestess world would be taken in, to become the dark priestess. Whether she chose to be the dark priestess or not, the dark priestess is born inside of her once she entered this world. I researched it when Miaku first appeared and found that Miaku is Miaka's daughter. But, that could not be the answered to how the dark priestess was awakened."

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"*Ugh*" Miaku slowly opened her eye. Miaka's face was the first thing she saw then Tamahome, and Tasuki. "Ahhhh!" She jumped when she saw Taiitsukun's face.

"Miaku! Miaku!" Miaka shook her. Miaku relaxed when she realized that it was only Taiitsukun.

"I thought I just saw the ugliest thing in the world." She wiped the back of her hand a crossed her forehead in relief.

"Oh, is that so?" Taiitsukun said. "Well set that aside. I need everyone in here now!"

Outside Hotohori and Chichiri had just joined the group. Tamahome opened the door, and they entered.

"Since you've failed to summoned Suzaku and you've burned the scroll. It is rather hard to summon Suzaku again. Are you willing to try?" Taiitsukun asked.

"Yes, I'll do it. I must, everyone here tried so hard, and I screw it up for them. It's the only way for them to forgive me."

"I've seen that over the time...you've grown more matured Miaka. If you all are willing to try it I'll tell you. In each other Empire that had had a priestess, there is a flame to represent them, once they leave this world. You must travel to Hokkan, the land of Genbu, to get the flame of Death. After that is done you must go to Sailou, the land of Byakko, to get the flame of Desire. Is that clear?"

"Yes." Miaka answered.

"And as for you Miaku." Taiitsukun turned to her. "You must go with them as well."

"Why? I would be in the way and beside what is my use?" She questioned.

"That I can not answered. You must discovered that yourself...but in the meantime would you not want to be with your parent?"

Miaku looked at Tamahome and Miaka them then nodded yes. "Umm about the dark priestess in me-"

"I do not know all the detail, Miaku. It's a great mystery to everyone, even to me. Although the role of the dark priestess is rather powerful, I believe that as long as there's nothing to endanger you or anyone you cared for, there should be nothing to worry about. I'll get back to all of you on this, once I learned more." Taiitsukun answered Miaku then she vanished once she finished.

"I need sometime to think." Miaka said. Everyone nodded but Tamahome. Miaka stood up and walked quietly out. Tasuki sighed in frustration.

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Miaka threw a rock into the spring before she dropped herself onto the grass, lying down. She sighed deeply when she saw that a star was blinking in the sky. Miaku, my daughter and also the dark priestess of Suzaku. How can this be? I don't get any of it.

"Hey, can I join you?" Tamahome's face came over hers and blocked her view of the shinny star. She smiled and nodded. He planted a kiss on her lips before he got off her. "Are you alright Miaka?"

"I don't really know." She sat up. "Miaku she's-"

"Our daughter." Tamahome interrupted.

Miaka looked at him. "Y-Yeah. She's also the dark priestess of Suzaku...meaning I have to go against my...my own daughter. First Yui; now Miaku. Tamahome, what should I do?"

Tamahome pulled Miaka into his arm and hugged her tightly. "Miaka, everything is going be okay. Miaku is our daughter and I know it's weird of me, but, I'm kind of happy that Miaku is here. Her being here means that our future is safe and we're going to be with each other."

"Tamahome."

"Shhh. All we have do now is gathered the two flames Taiitsukun told us, then we could summoned Suzaku. Let's not think about that now. There's a festival tonight...let's go and have fun, okay."

Tamahome let go of her and their eyes met. Her beautiful face glitter in the dark as fire flies flew next to her. He slowly cupped her chin and brought it up to his face. Their lips touched and soon they were lock in a tight sweet kiss.

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"I say let's all just have fun tonight. There's a big festival tonight. Why not set everything aside and have some fun!" Nuriko yelled out in joy. "Right, Tasuki?"

"That's right!!." He responded, with his usual happy tune, then he turned to face Miaku. She switch her gazed, quickly, when their eyes met.

"I think so too, you know." Chichiri added. "We could drive our brain dead if we keep on worrying ourselves too much."

"That's the spirit!" Nuriko laughed. Hotohori smiled and nodded his head.

Are they going crazy around here or what? Miaku asked herself.

"So what do you say we go now?" Miaka's voice interrupted them from the door. Tamahome and Miaka stood side by side at the door.

"Miaka." Hotohori stated.

"Come on guys!" Tamahome encouraged. "We should have some fun before leaving tomorrow."

"Come on Miaku." Tasuki stepped in front of Miaku with his hand on his hip. "You could hang with me." He winked at her. She pulled back a little then smiled in blushed.

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The street, in the village, were covered in bright beautiful lanterns, little strings of cloth hung from people's houses, and kits swung in the air from the roofs, many of them are shaped in animals and creatures of many kind. Fire works flew into the sky and exploded into figures and patterns. Outside of each house, families and friends gathered to celebrate the wonderful evening. Children were let lose to roam in the street and explored the festival.

Young ladies dressed in their best gowns and carried circle fan as they happily enjoyed the evening. Many of them are looking for fun while others looked for a partner. Couples walked hand in hand as they smile and passed other couple like them in the street. Acrobatics performed on the street, market of clothes and food surrounded the place, clam music were heard throughout the village. Laughter, of both high and low, filled the atmosphere.

Miaku and Tasuki stood next to a food market, looking for something funny to try. Miaku bend down to something that looked like a fried fish in some sort of green coating. She wrinkled her nose then looked up at Tasuki. He smiled at her and gave her a little shoved on the shoulder. Miaku almost fell over the food, from his little shoved, but she found her balanced.

"What do you think?" Miaku asked.

"Looks kind of funny." He teased.

"That's what's fun about this."

"Sure." Tasuki pulled some coin out of his pocket and handed to the man standing in front of Miaku. Tasuki picked up two fried fish and handed one to Miaku. "Okay, what next?"

"We went through most of the food markets," Miaku answered as she took a big bite out of her fish and swallowed. "How about some-"

"Hey! Guys!"

Tasuki and Miaku looked up from their fish to find Nuriko waving at them from the other side. "Oh Nuriko!" Miaku shouted in surprised.

"Look what I found, hurry!" Nuriko yelled in excitement. She lifted up a shinny silky silk black cloth up to show them.

"Wow, how beautiful. Come on Tasuki!" Miaku dropped her fish and grabbed on to Tasuki's hand, dragging him toward Nuriko. Tasuki were shocked at first by her movement, but then he liked it.

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Tamahome and Miaka were down a couple of market from Tasuki, Miaku, and Nuriko them. Miaka and Tamahome stood next the edge of the bridge where Amiboshi had fallen into. A bouquet of flowers were in Miaka's hand.

"What are you doing here?" Tamahome asked.

"Amiboshi...I just thought I should pay him a visit."

"Miaka." Tamahome stated.

"He is a good person even if he is a Seiryuu. I-I...."

"Miaka." Tamahome pulled her into his arms, allowing her to cry without shame.

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Back in the Empire it's highness, Hotohori, watched the fire works in the sky, as he stood outside of his room. I am happy that everyone is having a wonderful time tonight. He thought to himself.

"The fire work are beautiful this evening, are they not?"

Hotohori turned around. Chichiri walked up to him and looked up at the sky.

"I have to agree." He answered with a smile. "Why aren't you enjoying this evening, Chichiri?"

Chichiri sighed. "I need sometime to think things over." He responded.

"Many things had happened but I'm happy that Miaka them are enjoying their time tonight, before they start tomorrow."

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"Now wait a minute." Miaku commanded. She lifted up the dress Nuriko had picked out. "You can't wear this this is a lady's dress."

"No one will know I'm a guy." Nuriko pointed out.

"Umm...I don't think so." Miaku said. "But go for it if you think so." She crossed her arm and smirked at him. Nuriko hurried into a trying room, made of wood.

"Boy, don't you think he's funny Tasuki? Tasuki?" Miaku glanced around but found no signed of Tasuki anywhere. "Tasuki!" Miaku hurried outside of the market and down a couple of market in search of him. Then out of the corner of Miaku's eye, she spotted Miaka and Tamahome, they're locked up in each other's arms. The light around them wasn't as bright and seemed to faded away more passed them mainly because the festival didn't go that far. What are they doing there? She thought as she watched them walked away.

Miaku gasped when she noticed the place, it was where Amiboshi had fallen into the raging river. Her heart skipped a beat at the thought of him. Her face lost its brightness and became empty. Two children ran passed her carrying white flowers one of them accidentally dropped a flower next to her feet. Miaku stared at the white flower.

"Roses! Beautiful white roses!" A kid shouted. Miaku looked toward the direction of the voice, a boy probably of age 7, who's dressed in ripped cloth and had a bucket of white roses in front of him, tied around his neck by a rope. She approached the boy and bend down, to get leveled with him, when she reached him.

"I'll buy all of them." She said. The boy looked at her, surprised, then nodded yes, in agreement.

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"Miaku! Miaku!" Tasuki called from the cowards. "Are you sure you didn't see where she went?" Turned back to faced Nuriko.

"I'm sure of it." Answered Nuriko. "I was trying on my dress beside where did you go anywhere?"

"I was busy with something." Tasuki responded. Nuriko glared at him then he ignored Tasuki and searched on. Tasuki pulled out a clay doll from his bag and then put it back into his bag before following Nuriko.

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"Thank you, beautiful lady, my mom will be very happy with these money." The boy said.

Miaku smiled at him as she wrapped the roses together with a piece of indigo cloth she had bought earlier. The boy gave her a quick kiss on the cheek before he runs away, excited to show his mom the money. Miaku looked up at him, in shocked, then smiled. She finished wrapping the roses and made her way toward the bridge. A while after Miaku left Tasuki and Nuriko appeared in the same place. "Where could she have been to?" Tasuki asked, a bit angry.

"Maybe she came back to the market. We should go and check there." Nuriko suggested.

"Maybe." Tasuki said. He glanced around once more before he turned around and headed back to the clothing market, with Nuriko behind him.

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Miaku looked over the bridge into the now clam river. The moment when Amiboshi fell into the river rushed into her mind, a burning feeling burned deeply inside of her heart. Slowly tears formed in her eyes and soon traveled down her face and onto the bouquet roses in her arm. Amiboshi's name echoed in her ear and nagged at her heart.

"Amiboshi." Miaku spoke once she found her voice. "If only you were here...I could...I could tell you how much I-I...." She ended the sentence with tears. Then before she said anymore Miaku tossed the roses into the river, trailing behind it the long strapped of the indigo cloth. She watched as the wave slowly carried the bouquet of roses away from her, like how the river had taken Amiboshi away from her. As hard as Miaku tried to keep the tears from coming, they still forced their way out of her eyes. Miaku sniffed back her tears then brought her face up to meet the gentle breeze that brushed against her body. She closed her eyes and listened to the very sound of her heartbeat as it beat accurately to the rhythm of the chilled breeze. Her body shivered as a burst of breeze rushed passed the back of her hair and touched her naked neck.

From behind an alley near by, two figures stood. The tall well built figured in all black had its head down. "Tasuki." Nuriko stated.

"Shut up." Tasuki warned. He looked up at Miaku, in his eyes, it spoke of sorrow with a little glittered of jealously. The little clay doll in his hand shattered and the remaining of it fell onto the ground as Tasuki loosen his gripped.

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