Chapter 15: Shining Girl
"Okay, let's hear it then." Before anyone could answer Kitsune's question a few more Seishi came down the steps, each of them restraining Tamahome and Ichidou. "I am the Seiryuu no Miko." Ichidou said. "Mihara-" she jerked her head toward Mihara, who was clutching Tasuki to her, looking a bit frightened. "She's a great friend, but sometimes her mouth runs away from her good judgement. She claimed to be the Seiryuu no Miko in order to save me. I ordered one of my Sichiseishi to take the Shinzaho. I need it to summon Seiryuu. I don't think I can wait much longer for my last seishi to appear. And if I do, Nakago will piss me off to the point of homicide." Ichidou chuckled, then turned serious again. "Do what you will to me, but don't harm Mihara." Kitsune was looking at all of them deeply. "I'm gonna regret this," she said. She looked to her seishi. "Release them." The guards and the seishi backed away from the group. "Are you sorry for what you have done?" Kitsune whispered to Ichidou. Ichidou closed her eyes and sighed. "I truly am. I admit it, I often think of myself before others. I had no idea that the honorable Genbu would be so mad. I apologize." Kitsune smiled warmly. The first real smile any of them had seen. She walked to Ichidou and put a hand on her shoulder. "Then don't worry about it. I'm sure you needed the Shinzaho for good intentions, you're just going the wrong way about it." Ichidou's eyes sprang open. "That's it! I'm not going to be punished." Kitsune laughed. "No I didn't say that." Everyone glared at the short Miko. The girl cringed. "Ah gomen gomen. Just kidding." She turned, beckoning everyone to follow, and walked up the stairs. Everyone looked at each other and then followed Kitsune upstairs. She led them down the dark hallway and into her thrown room, where she sat down, looking exhausted. "Let's started over," she said, smiling. "My name is Kitsune, the Genbu no Miko." "I'm Ichidou," she said grinning, holding the peace sign to her cheek. "The best Seiryuu no Miko of all time." Everyone looked at her for a moment then they're gaze shifted to Mihara. "My name is Mihara." Kitsune looked at her. "And?" "And that's it." Kitsune's face turned bewildered. "You mean... you aren't... a miko?" Mihara shook her head. Tasuki looked at Mihara. "Well I'm Tasuki," he said, covering Mihara's awkward moment. "The coolest Suzaku Sichiseishi." He was bopped on the head by Chichiri's staff. "I dunno what he's thinking, saying he's the coolest, no da. But I'm Chichiri, Suzaku Sichiseishi." "Nuriko!" Nuriko said brightly. He poked Tamahome in the ribs. "And this is Tama-chan!" Tamahome glared daggers at Nuriko. "We're both of the Suzaku seven as well." Kitsune beamed. "These are my Sichiseishi," she said, waving a hand at the men and few women that we're standing behind her. "And now that we've all been properly introduced, I won't keep you any longer." Ichidou bowed, and the others followed suit. "Arigatou Kitsune-sama. Your kindess here won't be forgotten." The six bowed themselves out of the room, and left the temple. "Her kindness," Tasuki scoffed. "What kindess?" "She did let us go with no punishment just because Ichidou apologized," Mihara reminded him gently. "Well then why didn't she make you apologize? We could have been done with her sooner." Mihara sighed. Tasuki put her up on his horse, then climbed up beside her. Ichidou looked up at them from the ground. "And just how am I supposed to ride? We don't have enough horses!" "Well how did you get here?" Tasuki asked sarcastically. "Hitch a ride with one of the others." He started to ride off. Nuriko pulled up beside Ichidou, laughing, and gave her a hand up. "That's Tasuki for you." Ichidou looked at Tasuki's horse which was pulling far ahead. "Shouldn't we go after them?" "Nah. I think Tasuki needs some alone time with her. She gave him quite a scare. You saw how he 'bout went nuts after you said she was captured. Besides-" he finally started to ride. "Mihara's gonna be getting her memory back soon. Tasuki knows she's gonna hafta move on, whether she wants to or not. He needs these last moments with her to himself."
They had been riding in silence for far to long. Tasuki had to break it. "So... what are you gonna do once you... you get your memory back?" Mihara shifted her weight and leaned against Tasuki's chest. "Well I was thinking I'd probably go home. You know back to where I came from, reunite with my family. If I have any family. Tell them what happened. About my adventures with you guys." She yawned, nestling her head onto his shoulders. "Why do you ask?" "I just don't want to lose you," Tasuki said vaguely. Mihara yawned again. "Silly. Don't let my old life tear us apart. Wo ai ni to the end, remember?" And then she was asleep.
By the time Ichidou and the others caught up with Tasuki and Mihara, they were all nearing on Sairo. Mihara was asleep, her head resting on Tasuki's shoulder. Tasuki had slowed his pace. Whether it was to keep Mihara from waking, or to let the others catch up, that was unclear. The sun was just coming up as they entered the capital city of Sairo. Mihara opened her eyes and stretched. "We're here already," she asked in the middle of a yawn. Tasuki yawned also. "Yup. I'm going to the bar first." "I'm going to bed," Ichidou moaned. "Me too," Nuriko agreed. Mihara looked at her companions. "And you're gonna make me go get the shinzaho by myself." "You're the only one that got sleep, Mihara." Ichidou pointed out. "You can do it. Plus she likes you better than me so just ask and I'm sure she'll give it to you." They found an inn and Nuriko and Ichidou went inside. "I'll take you to the Temple," Tasuki said reining his horse in the direction of the beautiful building. "Ask for a ride back here when you're through. I'll prolly be asleep as well. I stayed up late the night before also." They rode in silence all way to the temple. Just as Mihara was getting off the horse she leaned over and kissed Tasuki quickly on the lips. "Thanks for the ride. I'll be back soon." She hopped down to the ground. "Try to get some sleep, okay?" Tasuki smiled and nodded. He reared the horse back and galloped away in the other direction. Mihara turned on the heel of her foot and walked up the steps and into the temple. The first impression she got when she went inside was if anything was dirty in the temple, they would know about it. It was completely white. And quiet. Even as Mihara tiptoed down the unusually bright hallway, the sound of her footsteps echoed loudly in her ears. "What are you doing here," an unfamiliar voice said. Mihara turned. To her right was a man clothed in all white with long dark hair. "Oh, forgive me." She said bowing her head. "I need to know where I can find Kyuu-Sama." The man's eyes wavered for a moment, as if Mihara said something he didn't expect. "She is not here. But if you stay a moment I can go and fetch her." Mihara nodded. The man lead her to a small room off to the side. "Make yourself comfortable. I will be back with Kyuu-sama." He left and shut the door behind him. Mihara could hear the lock click. She sighed. "I knew they wouldn't trust me half as well as Ichidou thought." She looked about the room. Although it was dimly lit, it too was all white. Mihara sat on a chair, staring off space. It was coming. The end. The end of everything was coming. She knew it. And Tasuki knew it too. She had told him not to worry, but she knew that there was a slim chance that the two could stay together after she regained her memory. The only thing she could do was hope. And reassure Tasuki. Light flooded the room as Kyuu came in with the seishi that Mihara had met earlier. "Mihara," Kyuu said, as Mihara stood. "Its great to see you. Come, tell me what your business in Sairo is." She beckoned Mihara to follow her and left the room. "Well actually, I need a favor," Mihara said, following Kyuu awkwardly. "You see my friend, Ichidou, is the Seiryuu no Miko. She's a bit impatient, and she didn't want to wait for her last Sichiseishi to arrive. So she sent me hear to ask if she can borrow your shinzaho so she can summon Seiryuu." Kyuu chuckled. "And how is this a favor for you," she asked. "She's returning my memory with one of her wishes." Kyuu nodded. "I see." She stopped in front the door at the end of the hallway. "Very well. I will allow her to use the Shinzaho. And I do hope everything goes well for you." She pushed the doors open and entered the room. Two more seishi were in the room. A boy and a girl. They were on the ground poking at something. When Kyuu came in the room, they were on they're feet quicker than a flash, and standing at attention. Kyuu chuckled softly, shaking her head. She walked to the small alter at the back of the room, and lifted a mirror off of it. "Here it is," she said, placing it sofly in Mihara's hands. "The Byakko Shinzaho."
End Chapter 15 Ohayo! Stuff and or things. I'm gonna try and hurry up and finish the series, because my brain is overflowing with chapter ideas for the next series. I am completely overloaded! I mean, me and the other Mikos are making a soundtrack for this series. Its crazy. The songs range from Metallica to Kansas! Okie well...yeah. I hope you like these last few chapters. Ja mataa!
"Okay, let's hear it then." Before anyone could answer Kitsune's question a few more Seishi came down the steps, each of them restraining Tamahome and Ichidou. "I am the Seiryuu no Miko." Ichidou said. "Mihara-" she jerked her head toward Mihara, who was clutching Tasuki to her, looking a bit frightened. "She's a great friend, but sometimes her mouth runs away from her good judgement. She claimed to be the Seiryuu no Miko in order to save me. I ordered one of my Sichiseishi to take the Shinzaho. I need it to summon Seiryuu. I don't think I can wait much longer for my last seishi to appear. And if I do, Nakago will piss me off to the point of homicide." Ichidou chuckled, then turned serious again. "Do what you will to me, but don't harm Mihara." Kitsune was looking at all of them deeply. "I'm gonna regret this," she said. She looked to her seishi. "Release them." The guards and the seishi backed away from the group. "Are you sorry for what you have done?" Kitsune whispered to Ichidou. Ichidou closed her eyes and sighed. "I truly am. I admit it, I often think of myself before others. I had no idea that the honorable Genbu would be so mad. I apologize." Kitsune smiled warmly. The first real smile any of them had seen. She walked to Ichidou and put a hand on her shoulder. "Then don't worry about it. I'm sure you needed the Shinzaho for good intentions, you're just going the wrong way about it." Ichidou's eyes sprang open. "That's it! I'm not going to be punished." Kitsune laughed. "No I didn't say that." Everyone glared at the short Miko. The girl cringed. "Ah gomen gomen. Just kidding." She turned, beckoning everyone to follow, and walked up the stairs. Everyone looked at each other and then followed Kitsune upstairs. She led them down the dark hallway and into her thrown room, where she sat down, looking exhausted. "Let's started over," she said, smiling. "My name is Kitsune, the Genbu no Miko." "I'm Ichidou," she said grinning, holding the peace sign to her cheek. "The best Seiryuu no Miko of all time." Everyone looked at her for a moment then they're gaze shifted to Mihara. "My name is Mihara." Kitsune looked at her. "And?" "And that's it." Kitsune's face turned bewildered. "You mean... you aren't... a miko?" Mihara shook her head. Tasuki looked at Mihara. "Well I'm Tasuki," he said, covering Mihara's awkward moment. "The coolest Suzaku Sichiseishi." He was bopped on the head by Chichiri's staff. "I dunno what he's thinking, saying he's the coolest, no da. But I'm Chichiri, Suzaku Sichiseishi." "Nuriko!" Nuriko said brightly. He poked Tamahome in the ribs. "And this is Tama-chan!" Tamahome glared daggers at Nuriko. "We're both of the Suzaku seven as well." Kitsune beamed. "These are my Sichiseishi," she said, waving a hand at the men and few women that we're standing behind her. "And now that we've all been properly introduced, I won't keep you any longer." Ichidou bowed, and the others followed suit. "Arigatou Kitsune-sama. Your kindess here won't be forgotten." The six bowed themselves out of the room, and left the temple. "Her kindness," Tasuki scoffed. "What kindess?" "She did let us go with no punishment just because Ichidou apologized," Mihara reminded him gently. "Well then why didn't she make you apologize? We could have been done with her sooner." Mihara sighed. Tasuki put her up on his horse, then climbed up beside her. Ichidou looked up at them from the ground. "And just how am I supposed to ride? We don't have enough horses!" "Well how did you get here?" Tasuki asked sarcastically. "Hitch a ride with one of the others." He started to ride off. Nuriko pulled up beside Ichidou, laughing, and gave her a hand up. "That's Tasuki for you." Ichidou looked at Tasuki's horse which was pulling far ahead. "Shouldn't we go after them?" "Nah. I think Tasuki needs some alone time with her. She gave him quite a scare. You saw how he 'bout went nuts after you said she was captured. Besides-" he finally started to ride. "Mihara's gonna be getting her memory back soon. Tasuki knows she's gonna hafta move on, whether she wants to or not. He needs these last moments with her to himself."
They had been riding in silence for far to long. Tasuki had to break it. "So... what are you gonna do once you... you get your memory back?" Mihara shifted her weight and leaned against Tasuki's chest. "Well I was thinking I'd probably go home. You know back to where I came from, reunite with my family. If I have any family. Tell them what happened. About my adventures with you guys." She yawned, nestling her head onto his shoulders. "Why do you ask?" "I just don't want to lose you," Tasuki said vaguely. Mihara yawned again. "Silly. Don't let my old life tear us apart. Wo ai ni to the end, remember?" And then she was asleep.
By the time Ichidou and the others caught up with Tasuki and Mihara, they were all nearing on Sairo. Mihara was asleep, her head resting on Tasuki's shoulder. Tasuki had slowed his pace. Whether it was to keep Mihara from waking, or to let the others catch up, that was unclear. The sun was just coming up as they entered the capital city of Sairo. Mihara opened her eyes and stretched. "We're here already," she asked in the middle of a yawn. Tasuki yawned also. "Yup. I'm going to the bar first." "I'm going to bed," Ichidou moaned. "Me too," Nuriko agreed. Mihara looked at her companions. "And you're gonna make me go get the shinzaho by myself." "You're the only one that got sleep, Mihara." Ichidou pointed out. "You can do it. Plus she likes you better than me so just ask and I'm sure she'll give it to you." They found an inn and Nuriko and Ichidou went inside. "I'll take you to the Temple," Tasuki said reining his horse in the direction of the beautiful building. "Ask for a ride back here when you're through. I'll prolly be asleep as well. I stayed up late the night before also." They rode in silence all way to the temple. Just as Mihara was getting off the horse she leaned over and kissed Tasuki quickly on the lips. "Thanks for the ride. I'll be back soon." She hopped down to the ground. "Try to get some sleep, okay?" Tasuki smiled and nodded. He reared the horse back and galloped away in the other direction. Mihara turned on the heel of her foot and walked up the steps and into the temple. The first impression she got when she went inside was if anything was dirty in the temple, they would know about it. It was completely white. And quiet. Even as Mihara tiptoed down the unusually bright hallway, the sound of her footsteps echoed loudly in her ears. "What are you doing here," an unfamiliar voice said. Mihara turned. To her right was a man clothed in all white with long dark hair. "Oh, forgive me." She said bowing her head. "I need to know where I can find Kyuu-Sama." The man's eyes wavered for a moment, as if Mihara said something he didn't expect. "She is not here. But if you stay a moment I can go and fetch her." Mihara nodded. The man lead her to a small room off to the side. "Make yourself comfortable. I will be back with Kyuu-sama." He left and shut the door behind him. Mihara could hear the lock click. She sighed. "I knew they wouldn't trust me half as well as Ichidou thought." She looked about the room. Although it was dimly lit, it too was all white. Mihara sat on a chair, staring off space. It was coming. The end. The end of everything was coming. She knew it. And Tasuki knew it too. She had told him not to worry, but she knew that there was a slim chance that the two could stay together after she regained her memory. The only thing she could do was hope. And reassure Tasuki. Light flooded the room as Kyuu came in with the seishi that Mihara had met earlier. "Mihara," Kyuu said, as Mihara stood. "Its great to see you. Come, tell me what your business in Sairo is." She beckoned Mihara to follow her and left the room. "Well actually, I need a favor," Mihara said, following Kyuu awkwardly. "You see my friend, Ichidou, is the Seiryuu no Miko. She's a bit impatient, and she didn't want to wait for her last Sichiseishi to arrive. So she sent me hear to ask if she can borrow your shinzaho so she can summon Seiryuu." Kyuu chuckled. "And how is this a favor for you," she asked. "She's returning my memory with one of her wishes." Kyuu nodded. "I see." She stopped in front the door at the end of the hallway. "Very well. I will allow her to use the Shinzaho. And I do hope everything goes well for you." She pushed the doors open and entered the room. Two more seishi were in the room. A boy and a girl. They were on the ground poking at something. When Kyuu came in the room, they were on they're feet quicker than a flash, and standing at attention. Kyuu chuckled softly, shaking her head. She walked to the small alter at the back of the room, and lifted a mirror off of it. "Here it is," she said, placing it sofly in Mihara's hands. "The Byakko Shinzaho."
End Chapter 15 Ohayo! Stuff and or things. I'm gonna try and hurry up and finish the series, because my brain is overflowing with chapter ideas for the next series. I am completely overloaded! I mean, me and the other Mikos are making a soundtrack for this series. Its crazy. The songs range from Metallica to Kansas! Okie well...yeah. I hope you like these last few chapters. Ja mataa!