Unseen Melody 7: The Adventure Began

*pahoua(akimi)xiong*

The night of the festival was now over as the sun slowly made its way out of the mountain. But, something had happened last night, that left Tasuki looking out his window. Throughout the night, after they came back from the festival, he sat on the edge of his window just starring at the rain and the lighting cracking in the sky. Now it's morning and the storm had long been gone, but he was still sitting there. The little water drops from the roof dripped along his window and morning birds flew passed him but he only sighed.

"Miaku." Tasuki said.

********************************************************************

Tasuki looked...well strange last night. Miaku thought to herself as she turned the corner of her room. I wonder did something happen during the festival?

Suddenly her shoulder bumped into something. Miaku looked up and saw Nuriko. "Oh, I'm sorry Nuriko." Miaku apologized.

"It's alright Miaku." Nuriko said. "So where are you headed?"

"To see the ship."

"Can I join you?" He asked.

"Hai!" Miaku answered happily and then sighed deeply. "Don't you think it's a beautiful morning today?"

Miaku ran ahead and pointed to the little rainbow, next to the pole, cast by the rain dropped. Miaku stood up tall, her hands behind her, and her face faced side way, looking out into the sky. Then she faced back at him and smiled at him. Nuriko looked at her figured and smiled back as he walked up to her. Miaku and Nuriko stopped when they walked passed Tasuki's room. They noticed that he was starring outside and looked very depressed.

"Umm...Nuriko." Miaku began.

"Yeah."

"What's wrong with Tasuki? Did something happened during the festival when I was gone?"

"Oh no." Nuriko fake a smile on his face. "Not at all. He probably had a nightmare or something only."

Miaku nodded okay, but she didn't buy it. There was something about Tasuki now that's really bothering her. He, well, never looked like this before. Miaku and Nuriko went on their way but Miaku kept looking back once in awhile.

*************************************************************************

"Wow, this is really something." Tamahome said to Hotohori, excited, as he looked at the enormous ship in front of him.

"It's all yours once everything is loaded in." Hotohori said.

"Where's Miaka?" Miaku asked from behind them.

"Isn't she with you?" Tamahome asked.

"No."

"She's probably still packing." Nuriko interrupted. Miaku looked at him and then at Hotohori.

"Packing?" Miaku repeated confused.

"Yep, she always carries this big bag where ever she goes." Nuriko explained. " I don't get why, but Miaka said it's very important."

"Oh." Miaku said. Then she noticed Tasuki's head peeking out from behind a tree, he seemed to be hiding. "Tasuki?"

Tasuki pulled his head out of view. Water. I hate water. He said to himself, shivering.

"Hey!" Miaku yelled.

"Ah!" Tasuki jumped in shocked.

"Are you okay?" Miaku asked looking at him. Tasuki's clutching to his chest like he couldn't breathe and then he stopped and looked away from her. Miaku narrowed her browse and tabbed him on the shoulder but he did not moved. "Grr, what's wrong with you?!" She shouted into his ears.

Tasuki only covered his ears and ignored her. Miaku's temper exploded and her fist tightens up. She was ready to hit him but too late. Someone's fist had already landed on Tasuki's head making Tasuki bang into the tree and fell to the ground. Miaku sweat dropped as she stared at him. Who-

"Yo, Tasuki!" Tamahome screamed. "What are you doing so far over here?" Tamahome pulled Tasuki up by his collar and shook him, trying to wake him up.

"Alright! Alright, I'm up!" Tasuki snapped.

"Well?" Tamahome repeated.

"I-I was...."

"Say. You're not afraid of water, are you?" Tamahome smirked at Tasuki.

"Sc-scared of water. I'm a mountain bandit!!" Tasuki yelled back.

Tasuki is scared of water. Miaku thought, surprised.

"Hmmm...."Tamahome placed a hand on his chin and winked at Miaku. She smiled. Tasuki saw her smile and he's heart skipped a beat.

"Well Miaka is here Miaku. Let's go." Tamahome said to Miaku leading her away from Tasuki. Miaku walked away then looked over her shoulder and smiled at Tasuki. He turned away when he saw her smiled.

*******************************************************************

Miaku and Miaka stood on the ship. Tamahome, Nuriko, and Tasuki helped load things onto the ship.

"Miaka, is it okay if I called you...ummm...mama." Miaku asked, shyly.

Miaka looked at Miaku surprised for a while then nodded her head. Tamahome set his boxes down and came to Miaka's side.

"You could call me papa." He added. Miaka looked at him then gave him a little tab in the stomach. "I know it sound weird. I mean we're your parent but we're no older than you are, Miaku."

Miaku giggled at what her father, Tamahome, had said but she liked calling them mama and papa. It's been so long since she ever said those word and they mean a lot to her.

Down the ship, on the deck, Nuriko set his things down. Miaku came running down the ship followed by Tamahome.

"Hey guys." Nuriko said.

"Hi Nuriko." Miaku waved. "Don't you need help with those?" In front of Nuriko ten boxes of things were stacked untop of each other. Nuriko nodded no then turned around to check on Tasuki.

"Umm...Tasuki." Nuriko warned. "Look out for the puddle-"

"Ahhhh!!" *Splashed*

"Oh what the heck." Nuriko sighed. Tamahome and Miaku sweat dropped.

**********************************************************************

In the shrine of Seiryuu, Yui, stood. Nakago stood behind her. The room was dark and gloomy and water covered most of the area. An enormous statue of a golden dragon stood in the middle surrounded by candles.

In front of Yui, there was a pot, and above the pot was a dark blackish-blue flame. Yui gazed into the mysterious flames and then a pair of eyes appeared. She jumped back a little.

"Priestess of Seiryuu." A voice spoke.

"Who-who are you?" Yui asked.

"That doesn't matter for now. Listen to what I am about say. Since one of your seishi is now gone, you must gathered the flames I am about to tell you to be able to summon Seiryuu. Go to Hokkan, the land of Genbu, and get the flame of death. Then go to Sailou, the land of Byakko, and get the flame of desire. Is that clear?" The voice asked.

"Hai." Yui answered. Once everything was said the pair of eyes faded and the flames was gone. Yui looked down to the ground and thought. Soon her thoughts were interrupted by Nakago's voice.

"Are you ready to go Lady Yui?"

"Nakago, I'm not-"

"You're friend, the priestess of Suzaku, had already headed for Hokkan. Are you going to let her get the flames and summon Suzaku, Lady Yui?"

Yui gasped. Miaka. She-she's willing to fight and go on with this? Fine, if that's the way you want it Miaka. I'll give you a fight!

"Nakago, make preparation, we're going to Hokkan." She order.

"Yes, Lady Yui." Nakago answered with a smile on the corner of his lips as he left the shrine.

***************************************************************

"Bye! Bye!" Miaka shouted from the ship, to Hotohori, as it left the deck. Miaku, Tamahome, Tasuki, Nuriko, Mitsukake, and Chiriko all stood next to her.

Good luck my friends. Hotohori thought as he watched the ship disappeared into the distanced.

******************************************************************

It is now in the afternoon. The Suzaku's ship had been traveling for sometime now. On the ship each person was busy doing their things. Miaka and Tamahome are talking to each other behind a pole, Chichiri and Chiriko are busy checking the weather, Mitsukake prepared the medicine, Nuriko and Miaku are in the kitchen, cooking, and Tasuki is standing in the doorway of the kitchen.

"Is this right Nuriko?" Miaku asked before putting the onions into the pot of soup. Nuriko turned around and nodded yes. Miaku smiled and slowly dropped the chopped onions into the pot. "Smells great. What are you doing over there?" Miaku walked over to Nuriko.

In one corner of the cutting board were some pork meat and on another corner were red and green pepper. Next to him was a pot of something but it smells better than the soup pot. Nuriko looked at Miaku.

"What are you doing?" Miaku asked again.

"I'm cooking something my mom used to always cook for me and my little sis-" He stopped when he realized what he was going to say. Miaku starred at him confused.

"What's wrong?" She asked.

"Oh nothing." Nuriko went back to chopping up the pepper. "Could you get me some wood, Miaku?" Nuriko smiled at her.

"Hmm...." She gave him an unsure looked, then nodded yes, and headed toward the door. Miaku stopped when she saw Tasuki there. Tasuki looked up and at her. His looked sent a cold shivered down her spine.

"Umm...Tasuki. What are you doing down here?" Miaku asked clearing her throat.

"I was just watching you and Nuriko cook."

"I see. Well do you want to help me with the wood?" Miaku walked up to Tasuki and stopped, waiting for an answered.

"Sure." He said. Tasuki moved out of the way and Miaku climbed up the stair, followed by Tasuki. Down below Nuriko smiled as she watched them go. Tasuki's changed. Maybe he don't hate girl anymore?

*********************************************************************

Chichiri stood up to look at the weather. "Something's not right around here." Chichiri explained. "I feel a strong life force around this place."

Chichiri looked closely at the little pitch black thunder cloud up ahead of the ship. Just then lighten started to crack and thunder roared, loudly, in the sky.

"Chichiri what's going on?" Miaka asked concerned. Tamahome stood next to her. Nuriko came out from under the ship and joined them, Mitsukake as well.

"I don't know. Something is wrong around here, I sensed a strong Seiryuu life force near by. Everyone stand together." Chichiri commanded.

"Where's Miaku and Tasuki?" Miaka questioned glancing around the place.

"I'm here." Miaku answered from behind Miaka. "Mama, papa, what's going on?"

"Stay near me Miaku." Miaka said to Miaku as she pulled Miaku closer to her and Tamahome.

Miaku stared at the cloud ahead of them as the ship slowly moved toward it. Soon the cloud was no longer small but a large storm cloud which stood right above them. Miaku and Miaka soon were surrounded by their protectors, the seishis.

An enormous waved jammed into the side of their ship, knocking everyone off their feet, and jamming them into the wall of the ship. Their ship was thrown back and forth by the strong movement of the waves. Heavy rain poured out from the sky and stun their body. The wind current became stronger and rougher, what made things worse were the lightings. They seemed to know what to do. The flag on the ship burned on fire as a lighting struck it and soon the ship was covered in fire.

There were no signed of land anywhere by. Chichiri noticed that the wave was carrying them off trail. As the current and the wave became stronger, everyone held onto something, so they won't be thrown into the water. Miaku held onto a pole and around her left leg she tied a rope on it. Miaka and Tamahome are together holding onto a pole also. Miaku felt something coming at her, she looked up. The flag pole, next to her, was only a few second away from falling on her.

"Miaku!!" Miaka screamed as she tried to get to her daughter but Tamahome pulled her back just in time to dodge a lighting bolt.

"Miaku!!" Tasuki yelled.

Miaku lets go of the pole, that she's holding on, and made an attempted to jump. Just then the ship tilted and she was thrown into the water, head first. Tasuki managed to get to where she was last but found no signed of her. Then he spotted a rope hanging from the ship and started to pulled at it. Soon Miaku's body appeared above the water and was pulled onto the ship by Tasuki.

Miaka tried to get to Miaku once more but couldn't. So she stayed next to Tamahome and watched in relief when Tasuki pulled Miaku up. Miaku sat up and started coughing, throwing up the sea water she had swallowed. Then suddenly the weather was calmer and the lighting bolts weren't attacking. Everyone slowly let go the things they were holding onto and came together.

Then, standing on the tip of the ship, a figure appeared, wearing a long black cape. The Suzakus stared at this mysterious figure.

"Who are you?!" Chichiri questioned.

"I am of Seiryuu seven," She stepped down onto the wood floor and removed her cape. "Soi." She had long purplish hair and dressed in an armor. "You will all die here." She smirked at them with lighting bolts forming behind her.

****************************************************************