Yuuki Miaka stood in a phone booth approximately five blocks down the road from the National Public Library where she had been returned to after getting help from her best friend, Yui. Deciding that since she hadn't seen Yui in the library that her friend must have headed on home. Holding the receiver in hand, Miaka placed the calling card into the slot and dialed the number for Yui's place.
The phone rang a good couple of times before Yui's mother picked up on about the third or forth ring.
"Moshi, moshi, Hongou residence."
"Konnichiwa, is Yui-chan home?"
"Oh, Miaka-chan. No, Yui said she was out with you, and hasn't returned yet. It's unusual for her to be out this late and not call."
"Oh, arigatou. Ja."
Miaka despondently hung up the receiver, placing it back in the vertical cradle and stepped out of the phone booth, trotting in the direction of her own place of residency. There was a little less bounce to her usually optimistic step, as she made her way by foot to her apartment that she shared with her single Mother and Oniichan, Keisuke.
Entering, she was surprised to find her college brother home. He stood behind the stove cooking some Chinese noodles.
"Oniichan, what're doing home?!"
"Studying for midterms, Miaka."
She pursued her lips before going on with her next question. She remembered her Oniichan studied Ancient History and wanted to ask him about the book that she and Yui had stumbled across in the secret document room at the library.
"Oniichan, ever heard of Shijin Tenchisho?" she inquired, with hopeful eyes, as she gazed lovingly at her beloved older brother.
He sighed. He knew he was about to be in for an ear full from his Imouto-chan.
After a very long-winded account, Keisuke finally spoke. "Hmm...so let me get this straight. You were at the library and got sucked into a book called 'Shijin Tenchisho'? And if you find all seven people, who make up these 'constellations of Suzaku' then this god, 'Suzaku' will appear and grant you a wish? And because you wanted to pass your entrance exams, you accepted this role as 'Suzaku No Miko'?"
Miaka nodded in vigorous agreement. "Hai and it was Hotohori, Konan-koku no Heika who asked me to protect his empire...and then we went to Taiitsu-kun so that I could return home..."
Through the duration of this next part, Keisuke placed a hand on Miaka's brow. 'Hmm...fever?! No signs...'
His expression then grew dead serious as he flatly stated with an underlying tone of concern, "Let's just say your account's true...that this book is pretty dangerous. The story must be some sort of curse. If you translate the Sutras, there's a continuing story there, too." He paused for a brief moment before continuing, "It doesn't seem like your book's a Sutra. Must be some variety of Magic Tome. I know that girls like to read book with mystical charms. The older the spell the more powerful is can be. So many of them are dangerous. There's always a sacrifice to go with the wish!"
Miaka gulped reflexively, as she felt something tear in her heart. She tried to deny that there was any potential danger. 'No, Tamahome and the others can't be dangerous...they can't...' She tried to convince herself, as various images of a smiling Tamahome, Hotohori and Nuriko came before her eyes.
Transforming, Keisuke came up without warning dressed in weird black robes and exclaimed in a haunting voice that was full of life, "In the extreme cases when practitioners of black magic in the west wanted their wish granted, they sacrifice a WOMAN!! WHOA that's so scary!"
Miaka freaked out at her brother's act. "WAH! Oniichan! I'm scared of your face!!"
Keisuke continued his demonstration of western black magic and knelt before an altar and chanted weird prayers and bowed repeatedly.
Miaka profusely sweat-dropped. "You may say that, but you don't believe any of this! And Tamahome and the others aren't dangerous."
Keisuke sighed and stood up, he rested a hand on his be loved sister's pretty little head. "Miaka, you are aware of the position you're in as a junior high school student with entrance exams coming up?! You're under a lot of pressure, please, try not to upset Okaasan." He half-smiled. "I'm worried about you." He sighed. "But whether or not all of this is true, stay away from that book."
Miaka sighed and nodded.
A while later, she was in the midst of her studies, as she absentmindedly wrote down the Kanji for "oni". She found her thoughts slipping off towards a certain blue-black haired handsome young man. She sighed. 'Gomen ne, Oniichan, I can't forget about...'
She gasped suddenly, as something came to light. 'Yui-chan! Yui-chan must have...'
"Miaka, telephone!" her mother called.
Getting up, she headed out to the living room. "Hai?!"
"Miaka-chan, have you seen Yui?! She still hasn't come home yet."
Her mouth was agape with worry and shock. 'Yui must have got sucked into Shijin Tenchisho in my place! I've got to go find her!'
Before leaving to go back to her room, her mother spoke up. "Miaka..."
"Hai, Okaasan?!"
"Don't stress yourself out over studying! You don't want to become like Keisuke who lost it and started reading pornography."
Miaka giggled at the thought of her brother when he had to take his entrance exams. "Hai, I will, Okaasan."
Leaving, she headed back to her room. She quickly changed into her school uniform and snuck out to the kitchen to take some good from the fridge, as her mother's back remained turned to what was being done. Once that was accomplished, she silently slipped out of the house.
Miaka walked as fast as she could, with the heavy backpack, to the National Library. Sneaking into the Library, she headed for Important Documents room. Approaching the bookshelf, she pulled out the book.
Behind her, she heard a sound. Turning around, she saw her brother. She shook her head. "No Oniichan! I have to find Yui-chan! I know she's in the book! I have to find her! And I feel I can't escape until its finish, gomen ne."
"Miaka! Don't! Its too dangerous!" Keisuke cried, reaching for his sister.
But he was too late. Miaka, opening the book, was engulfed in a bright red light. Seconds later, the book fell to the floor. Miaka was gone.
Keisuke could only stare in profound awe, as the red light that surrounded his sister engulfed her and absorbed her, as she had told him. The book remained surrounded by the red light till it dropped to the floor, opening up at a section, starting three months later within the time line of the book.
'No...no, I didn't see that...'
"MASAKA!" He exclaimed.
A group comprising of Shunkaku, Koutoku and Yui, were out on horseback, or rather, the twins each had one and Yui rode with Shunkaku. They had left in search of the remaining three seishi about two week prior to Miaka re-entering the world.
Yui felt like there was no hope in ever finding her friend. The countryside had been scouted; they had even dared to venture near Konan-koku. Still, no signs.
'Three months, I don't believe it, three months and Miaka hasn't shown up, or found a way to contact me...she must either be here or something's happened to her...' Yui thought sadly, as she leaned back against Shunkaku.
Koutoku rode next to his brother and Yui. So far, they had had no luck in finding any more seishi.
After the group had stopped for a break at a riverbank shoreline, he took out his flute and began to play. The song he had chosen to play was not sad; it was actually one of his more optimistic ones, one that didn't make the listener feel like bawling their eyes out.
Shunkaku looked over, smiling. 'For once he's playing something happy.'
Koutoku leaned back, playing a sweet tune. Suddenly, he stopped. He looked up. "Did you hear something?"
"What do you..." Shunkaku cut his inquiry short but a piercing shrill scream.
Koutoku stood up abruptly. He turned to Yui and his brother. "Stay here and guard Yui-san! I'll check it out! I'll call you if I need help!"
Shunkaku didn't heed his brother, as adrenaline took over his body. He broke into a run, calling back over his shoulder, "Stay, I'll go, Aniki!" And with that, the younger, more stubborn twin vanished into the thick forest, in the direction of the scream.
He came upon a girl, who was trying to fend off a man-eating tiger. Before it leapt, or rather as it did, he threw his weapon, taking out the animal. He nodded and picked up his ryuuseisui. Turning to the good, he went to offer her a hand up but backed up in surprise. 'Shit, she's wearing the same outfit as Yui-san...' He sweat-dropped and muttered. "Crap, not another scantly dressed girl."
She, or rather Miaka looked up and glared. "I'm not scantly dressed!"
He shrugged. "Well anyway, you're Yui-san's friend?!"
She blinked in surprise. "How-"
She was cut off short by Koutoku, who didn't bother to stay back, who had Yui trailing closely behind him. Unlike her friend, she was dressed in more traditional clothing for this particular world.
Yui stopped in mid stride, once they came into the clearing. She stared in disbelief. 'It...it couldn't be...' "M...Miaka?"
"Yui-chan..." Miaka blinked trying to prove that it really was. "Yui-chan!" She exclaimed throwing the bulk of her weight into her dear friend, knocking the two of them to the ground.
The twins sweat-dropped. Shunkaku made a hand gesture to indicate how insane these girls were.
Koutoku nodded his assent enthusiastically. They were both incredibly nuts!
At that moment, a crashing could be heard along with a yelled, "MIAKA!" Running into the clearing was a tall, teal haired young man. His eyes flashed, looking around intently for any sigh of danger. Seeing Miaka and Yui on the ground, he sweated dropped profusely. "Oi...Miaka..."
The twins looked at each other in puzzlement. Who was this guy anyway?!
Miaka looked up. "Tamahome! I found Yui-chan!!!"
Shunkaku turned to his brother and sarcastically remarked. "Goody, we've got company! I wonder if all Seishi, including Suzaku's are as insane and as deranged as Chuin and Chang?!"
Koutoku shrugged. "Who knows. Maybe. I'm glad we're normal."
"Of course we are!" Shunkaku agreed enthusiastically. He eyed the young man that had approached and said to his brother. "Yep, he's definitely a Seishi, the chi's a dead giveaway."
Yui, meanwhile, along with Miaka had stood up. The two were in the middle of a joyous tearful reunion.
Tamahome eyed the twins, particularly the big-mouthed one who was making various insulting remarks. "So, who are you guys?! I know the girl is Yui."
Yui smiled. "You remember."
Shunkaku snorted and shrugged. 'I'll say nothing about being one of Seiryuu's.' He limply shrugged again. "We're Shunkaku and," he pointed to his brother, "Koutoku. And you are..."
"Suzaku Seishi, Tamahome."
Koutoku nodded. "We were just..." He looked at his brother. "Uhm...we were just out helping Yui look for her friend."
Tamahome sceptically in utter disbelief eyed the twins. He felt that he shouldn't entirely believe their story, after all, he had felt a chi emitting from this very spot before he arrived moments later. He didn't say anything yet. He figured it would just be best to nod in agreement. "Well, at least she's safe, and Miaka won't have to go to Kutou..." He pointedly eyed his Miko.
She blushed. "Hai, hai, Tamahome."
Shunkaku, being the perceptive pickpocket he was, sensed this guy had some. He subtly moved in. He made it appear as though he was just being friendly. Second before he made his swipe, he spoke, "so, Suzaku's, eh?!"
"Hai."
"Better keep a closer eye on Miaka." He advised, quickly taking the change purse from the bigger and older Seishi so quietly that it vanished unbeknownst to Tamahome.
Tamahome nodded. "Hai. I'll put a leash around her neck next time."
"TAMAHOME!" Miaka cried indignantly. He grinned.
Koutoku groaned. 'Not another pair...Kuso! Can't I ever get away from them?! Shun and Yui are bad enough...'
Shunkaku grinned evilly. 'Perfect!' He turned to his brother. "Is Aniki too outnumbered?!" He drawled sweetly, draping an arm around his brother's shoulders.
Koutoku glared at his brother and punched him in the arm. "Shut up, baka."
"Itai!" Shunkaku exclaimed, rubbing the spot and glaring indignantly at his brother. He whined, "Aniki...that hurt!" His lip quivered on the brink of a pout.
"Then quit acting like a spoiled brat!" Koutoku replied. He sniffed. "It's so hard having a moron for a brother."
"I'm not spoiled, nor am I a moron!" Shunkaku exclaimed, crossing his arms over his chest and turning away. He stepped over to Yui and rested his head on her shoulder. "Aniki's being mean!"
Yui looked at Shunkaku and sweat dropped. "Oi...someone save me from this torture."
Shunkaku glared. 'Great. I get no sympathy...' He eyed the older young man. 'He doesn't seem too bad, as long as he doesn't find out I swiped his change purse...' He took to striking up a conversation with Tamahome. "So, how's finding Suzaku Seishi coming?!"
"How did you...Never mind. Fine." Tamahome replied. He was still a bit wary of this boy. "Which reminds me...we have to go Miaka." He turned to Yui. "Come with us. We can travel together, now that you've found Miaka."
Yui bit her lip and looked to the twins. They had to find the other Seiryuu Seishi...but for some reason, the twins didn't want to say that. "Uhmm...sure! Okay."
Shunkaku placed his hands on his hips. "I'm not trusting anyone alone with Yui-san." He protectively drew her against him. Unconsciously, she agreed to the embrace. "So, I'm staying with her."
Koutoku sighed. "Fine. Let's go. Where we headed anyway?"
"Konan." Tamahome replied in one word.
Shunkaku shook his head. "Well, you're far from home, Tama-chan, this is Kutou-koku."
The character of "oni" began to glow on Tamahome's forehead. "I'm not a cat!"
The twins blinked.
"Uhhhh...down boy. Down. He didn't mean anything by it." Koutoku replied.
Tamahome glared. His character grew brighter. "I don't like that name! I'm not an animal!"
"Okay! Geez...someone has a temper..." Koutoku groused.
Shunkaku turned an eye on his brother. "And you thought I had a short fuse..." He gestured towards Tamahome.
"Forgive me, otouto. I was wrong."
"Of course it's forgiven, you're allowed being wrong, Aniki."
"Why, thank you. You are so very kind, Otouto."
"You're very welcome, my dear, Aniki."
Yui, Miaka and Tamahome all mildly sweat-dropped.
Koutoku blinked. "What's wrong with them, do ya think?"
Shunkaku shrugged. "I have no idea."
"Me either."
Yui shook her head. "I am cursed. I am. I know it now for certain."
"You aren't my beautiful nymph." Shunkaku replied, cupping her face in his hands, kissing her ever so lightly.
Yui put her arms around his neck, holding him close.
Miaka's eyes widen. "Whoa...go Yui-chan!"
Koutoku groaned. "Not again..."
Miaka gazed at the disgusted looking twin and sighed. "What's wrong with Yui-chan being happy?!" She then made a face. "Mou...I lost the bet..."
Koutoku blinked. "What bet?"
"Who would get a boyfriend first." She blushed mildly and didn't look Tamahome's way. She remembered that he did say that he had missed her with his entire soul, but still, that didn't constitute as being anywhere near what she hoped for.
"Oh." Koutoku shrugged. "If you ask me, it's overrated. I don't have a girlfriend, and I'm perfectly happy the way I am."
Miaka scowled. "That's unromantic! Sure you are happy, but it's not overrated!"
"Okay! Okay! Geez...*mutter* what I get for being around love struck idiots *mutter*" Koutoku replied.
Miaka's knuckles cracked as they made contact with Koutoku's chin, sending him into orbit! "No one calls Yui-chan an idiot! Nor are any of as you perceive us to be!! There's nothing wrong with romance in your life!!" She growled.
Tamahome sweat-dropped. 'Am I glad that wasn't my jaw coming in contact with her fist.' He thanked his lucky stars.
Meanwhile, Shunkaku and Yui had ended their small necking session and just stood, watching this charade and massively sweat-dropped at the exchange between Miaka and Koutoku.
Koutoku feel to the ground. In agony, he stood up. He looked around. "Oi...what carriage hit me..." He then fell flat on his face in a dead faint.
Yui blinked. "Oi...Miaka. You didn't have to hit him so hard!"
Miaka innocently blinked then nervously giggled. "Looks like I underestimated my strength again..."
Shunkaku meanwhile, pulled himself away from Yui and held his poor, helpless unconscious brother. "Aniki...Aniki!"
Koutoku shook his head and blinked. He looked up at his brother. "Oh...hi...otouto...is it time to get up now...."
Shunkaku face-vaulted. 'OI! He's so out of it.'
Shaking his head, Koutoku stood up. "I am better now!" Brushing his pants clean, he glared at the assembled people. "All of you are mean. I make an innocent little comment and I get beaten for it! Che! All of you are mean!"
"I'm not the one with the lethal fist!" Shunkaku exclaimed. "I said nothing! Now you're yelling at me...Aniki!!!"
Yui sighed; it was going to be one of those days.
Koutoku crossed his arms and pouted.
"There, there, it's all right, Aniki." Shunkaku replied, embracing his brother.
Tamahome sweat-dropped. "Uh...which is which?!"
Yui face-vaulted and Miaka's stomach growled.
Koutoku quit pouting, looking around. "What was that?! Its another tiger coming this way!"
"Ah shit, can't they back off for a while?!" Shunkaku cursed, putting his Ryuuseisui into motion.
Seeing the strange weapon, Tamahome's eyes went large with shock. 'It's him! It's his chi I felt before! He's got to be a Seishi...but from which...he's a Seiryuu!!'
Koutoku looked around, eyes wide. He pulled his flute out, ready to help his brother.
Miaka's stomach growled again.
"There it is again! It's coming this way!"
Tamahome quirked an eyebrow at the flute. 'Okay, the first weapon was weird enough, but a flute?! What the hell's the kid going to do, serenade the animal?!' He thought dryly.
"THERE!" Shunkaku pointed, hurling his telekinetically controlled ryuuseisui, catching the roaming tiger that had been lurking in the thicket, waiting to pounce on the group.
Koutoku raised his flute to his lips. Sending out a piercing series of notes, the tiger screamed. A loud pop could be heard, followed by the tiger falling to the ground, dead.
Tamahome finally stated. "Both of you, you both have unusually strong chi...you've both got to be Seishi..." He eyed both twins, shuddering mildly at the flute. 'That thing's mighty lethal!'
"Uhh....hai, we are..." Shunkaku replied reluctantly.
Koutoku nodded reluctantly. "Uhm...Hai. He's right. We are...seishi."
"Then why didn't you just state so?!" Tamahome pressed.
"Because I didn't want to tell! And I have a damn good reason!" Shunkaku assertively remarked.
"Which is..."
"Er..."
Koutoku rolled his eyes. "Because its too dangerous out to go around telling everyone your a seishi, that's why!"
"And so the friends don't have the threat of becoming enemies because they're Miko's for different gods."
"Uh...yeah. Something like that." Koutoku replied.
"Hai." Shunkaku nodded.
"But if Yui-chan is Seiryuu No Miko...isn't she..." Miaka then bawled huge rivers of tears, as she sat on the ground.
The other four massively sweat-dropped. "Oi..."
Yui reached down and patted her friend on the back. "There, there, Miaka. It's okay. We don't have to be enemies. We won't let it affect our friendship, ne?"
"We...we don't?! WAI!" An enthusiastic Miaka glomped her friend, thus knocking them back down to the forest floor.
The three young men all profusely sweat-dropped and looked away.
"Ugh. Miaka...get off me!" Yui panted.
Miaka got. "Uhh...sorry, Yui-chan." Getting up, she dusted her skirt off.
At that moment, a very scary thing happened. It was so scary, so terrifying, that none of the others wanted to ever see it happen again.
Miaka got an idea.
She turned to Tamahome. "If Yui-chan and the twins are gonna be going with us, won't we need more water?"
Tamahome scratched his head. "Uhm...yeah I guess..."
"COOL! I'll go get some!" Miaka rushed over to the horse, that Tamahome had dragged along, taking out a pitcher. She then headed in the direction of the river, which could be heard not very far away.
Watching her scurry away with the pitcher, Shunkaku turned to Tamahome. "Are you sure you're comfortable with letting her near the river?! It's not Kutou's safest."
"No, actually." Tamahome shook his head. "I care about her, but she is a klutz. Maybe I should go after her..."
"Poor Tama-chan has a klutzy Miko-sama." Shunkaku snickered.
"Watch it, baka yo-yo boy!" Tamahome glared.
"HEY! Don't call me that!" Shunkaku glared back just as piercingly.
"Make me, yo-yo boy!"
"I'll be happy to, obake-chan!" Shunkaku countered, smirking rather deviously, being happy he found a second insult to use against this guy.
Tamahome's oni symbol began to glow again. "DON'T CALL ME THAT!!!!"
Shunkaku felt a surge of power course through him. He knew he had his short fused temper under control. "I'll call you what I want, obake-chan...Tama-chan!!"
Tamahome's symbol continued to glow at a fierce rate. Koutoku shook his head. He pushed his brother in the direction that Miaka went. "You go find her! Make sure nothing happens!"
The younger twin glared at his older one and scowled at the idea of being shoved, but went with the flow and went after the hopelessly useless Miaka. He sighed. 'Why me, why not obake-chan, she's his burden, not mine! Why the hell should I have to do this shit?! I mean, I'm...what?! Saving Suzaku no Miko and I'm a Seiryuu Seishi?! There's something extremely wrong with this picture, very, very wrong. But then again, she's an innocent, harmless girl, so what difference does it make whose she's working for?!' he rationalized calmly, whilst strolling in the direction of the river.
