Conflicting Emotions:
Hotohori tightened his grip on Willow's hand as she lay, unconcious, in front of him. He looked up at the doctor, who had just finished examining her.
"The stress of being the Suzaku no Miko seems to be a bit too much for her. She has a great fever, and until it breaks, I'm afraid she might not wake up." The doctor bowed and shut the door quietly after Hotohori dismissed him.
The emperor stood, letting go of Willow's hand. He fixed his eyes on Tamahome, who had stood against the wall since the doctor entered. "Are you going to tell me what happened?"
Tamahome looked away, his eyes cloudy with the memory.
"Can't you realize that makes me love you too?"
"We were attacked, I fought. The men ran away and she passed out. That's all there is too it."
Hotohori realized he would never learn what happened, and turned back to Willow, who was mumbling in her sleep.
"Oz...no Oz" She fell silent again, sweat shining on her forehead. Tamahome looked at her, unable to place the feelings that threatened to overwhelm him, "You want to go back?"
***
Nuriko hurried to reach the Emperor private quarters, so as not to keep Hotohori waiting. "You summoned me sire?"
"Yes Nuriko. The Miko is under a great deal of stress, it seems her fever is not subsiding. Tamahome and I believe her only hope is to be sent back to her world."
"Oh, what a good idea." Nuriko smirked, looking over at the silent figure of her fellow seishi.
"There is no other choice then to travel to Mount Taikyoku and ask Taiitsukun for assistance."
"Taiitsukun?" Nuriko felt her jaw drop at the prospect. "THE Taiitsukun?"
Hotohori nodded gravely. Tamahome turned and left the room, lost in his own thoughts. He started to walk down the hall to his room, but a strong grip on his elbow stopped him.
"You didn't tell him?" Nuriko didn't look at him as she spoke.
"There is nothing to tell." He jerked his arm free.
"You didn't have to be so cruel to her!" Nuriko moaned, "And you didn't have to lie to her!"
Tamahome turned quickly, "Are you saying that I have feelings for her?" He glared, and Nuriko met his stare willingly. "I only have one love, o-kan-e." He turned again "and don't forget that."
Nuriko rolled her eyes before she walked down the hall to Willow's room to check on the Miko. When she slid open the door, she saw Hotohori speaking with Willow in hushed tones. "You're awake then?"
Willow smiled, "Barely. I woke up while Hotohori was telling me what we were going to do." Her smiled faltered slightly. She remembered that Xander was at her side the last time. The similarities were starting to eat away at her slowly. At least now they had a plan, and she would get to go back.
"Well then, I'll help you pack, if the Emperor would be so kind as to leave us to girl-business." Nuriko bowed at Hotohori, who left, tossing a smile over his shoulder at Willow.
***
Willow's health continued to fail throughout the journey. She tried to keep up a bright façade, but seeing her friends every time she looked around was only reminding her that she was not at home. Tamahome had not spoken a word to her, and Hotohori was being overly polite. She was tired, lonely, and irritated. Every look that passed between Hotohori and Tamahome was full of the distrust Xander and Oz had shared for those few long weeks. Before long, she simply couldn't take it. She had started riding with Nuriko more and more, and staying to the back of the group.
Nuriko had noticed the change in her Miko, and knew that it had something to do with the other seishi. She knew what Willow was feeling, and decided that there must be some way to help. After the group had settled in to camp for a night, she walked over to Willow, who was attempting to scrub her teeth with water from a flask. "You know, there's a hot spring near here, if you would like a warm bath." She smiled innocently, and pointed in the proper direction. "Don't worry, I'll stay nearby and make sure nothing happens. But I won't peak." She winked at Willow and pushed her towards the spring. "I'll follow you in a minute!"
"BAKA!" Nuriko whacked Tamahome on the back of the head as hard as she could, which sent him at great speed toward the nearest tree. "Willow wants to talk to you, and it's about time too. She wants you to meet her at the hot spring as soon as possible. And you'd better watch you manners!" With that, she was gone.
Tamahome stood, rubbing his head and mumbling, "What does she want to talk to me for?" But he made his way to the hot spring without being sure why he was following orders. He slowly picked his way through the underbrush, until he heard Willow's scream ring out through the surrounding woods.
***
Buffy sat up and felt her forehead, shocked to discover that she had a severe fever. She started gasping, suddenly finding it hard to breath. She paused for a moment, and then continued reading, determined to discover what was wrong with Willow.
***
Willow's throat was raw, and she tried to surface to gain at least another mouthful of oxygen. She had never expected to find a whirlpool in the middle of a spring. She struggled with the pull of the water, all the while wishing she had learned to swim better. As she sank under the water again, she felt something pull at her legs, and she kicked wildly, worried about strange creatures she had never seen. She barely saw the shape as she launched herself off of it towards the surface.
When she finally surfaced, she swam to the edge of the spring. Slowly, her mind registered what she had seen in the water. "Oh my god, Tamahome!" She scanned the water, trying to find some sign that he had broken free of the water. "He drowned...saving me..."
"Don't kill me off yet."
Willow jumped and turned, seeing Tamahome sitting behind her, partially leaning on the bank. She slowly made her way out of the water, her robe dripping wet.
The two sat facing each other for a moment, staring at the ground around them.
"Go...gomen!" "I'm...I'm sorry!"
They looked up at the same time, both blushing at their admonition. Tamahome cleared his throat. "I was rude to you. I've never had a girl tell me she loved me before, I didn't really know what to do about it. I should have had more manners."
Willow smiled slightly. "I've been told worse."
Tamahome blushed again, and stood, "Well, I wanted to tell you that. Now, I'll be sure to get you to Taiitsukun's so we can get you home again!"
Willow waved as he walked off, and stood. She rung her hair out, and searched the shore for where she had placed her dry robe. She found it next to a familiar pair of feet.
"NURIKO!" She fumed, "I thought you were going to be a look out!"
Nuriko grinned, "Nobody's perfect."
Willow rolled her eyes and grabbed Nuriko's blouse. "Nobody's perfect? You just caused me to get an apology from Tamahome!" She shook the seishi back and forth excitedly, not aware that the blouse was not tied in the tighest of knots.
She blushed instinctivly when the shirt fell off of Nuriko's shoulder, but what she saw caused her to turn an even brighter red.
"You're a MAN?"
Nuriko laughed haughtily, "Well then, somebody had to find out sometime I guess."
"You're a man?"
"Well, yes."
"And you love Hotohori? Not that there's a real problem with that, just want to make sure I have my facts straight." Willow continued to gape, blinking rapidly.
"Sex doesn't matter when it comes to true love." Nuriko laughed again, and placed a finger to his lips, "Shh, this will be between us, okay? The Emperor could have me killed you know."
Willow nodded mutely as Nuriko made his way back to the camp.
***
In a dark room, a figure loomed over a mirror which reflected Willow as she watched Nuriko walk back through the woods.
"So this is the the Suzaku no Miko?" A raspy voice echoed across the champer, "I shall have to check."
The figure waved its hand, and another mirror rose from a perk in the corner of the room. Strange words were chanted and the mirror glowed and spun until it dissapeared. "We shall see how you handle this 'Willow'"
***
Willow woke up feeling much better, and looked around to see that Tamahome and Nuriko were still sleeping soundly. She looked around for Hotohori, but could not find him. She stood, and walked quietly in the direction of the clearing she had passed the night before.
"I figured I would find you here." Willow smiled as she sat next to Hotohori. Xander had always loved to lay back in the grass of Willow's backyard and just stare at the sky. "What are you doing up this early?"
"Just...looking I suppose." Hotohori smiled. "I had this great urge to see what was out here. I don't get to just sit and look much, I've always been ruling my country."
"When did you become Emperor?" Willow sighed, reminded that this was not the carefree Xander she had grown up with.
"I was fourteen when my father died. I was not the next in line, but my mother had groomed me for the position. I've dealt with a great many who did not agree with what happened, including my older siblings." He sighed, "Because of that, I have had to devote every waking moment to taking care of my country, I must prove them wrong or else give them reason to dethrone me."
Willow smiled, "Well, now is your chance to relax, since you're out in the woods you should enjoy it. Stop thinking about family and obligation for a while. Just be carefree, have some fun."
Hotohori smiled at her, and reached out to hug her. "Thank you Willow."
"For what?"
"For being Willow I suppose." As Hotohori pulled back, Willow caught motion from the corner of her eye. Tamahome stood, holding Nuriko behind him. He glared at Willow, his eyes narrowing dangerously.
***
"What was that about?"
"What" Tamahome trudged forwad, trying to find his way in the fog. They had lost track of the other seishi only moments before, but he could feel they were nearby.
Willow rolled her eyes, "He hugged me. You don't have to get defensive." Belatedly, she realized she was taking out aggressions towards Oz on Tamahome.
"What do you mean get defensive? If you want to be a pampered little Empress, it's none of my business." Tamahome walked forward again, and Willow rushed after him. However, they were both soon lost in the growing fog. Willow wandered, shouting for anyone nearby.
"Try over here!"
She walked towards the sound, trying to place why it was so familiar. As she walked into a clearing, she saw a large oval portal hanging in front of her. The library lay beyond, and she hurried toward it. As she passed through, the image rippled, and she realized too late that this was not her library.
"What fun. Someone to play with."
Willow turned, her blood ran cold as she realized who stood behind her.
"I think I'll go play with your friends. It's no fun here."
***
Tamahome finally found Hotohori and Nuriko, and tried to explain what had happened to Willow. When he was only half finished with his explanation, Hotohori looked over his shoulder, jaw dropping slightly. Tamahome turned, shocked at the sight that greated him.
Willow looked at them and smiled, running her tongue across her teeth. "Bored now. Let's play."
Notes for Chapter Five:
Coming soon: Willow tries to find a way to rescue her seishi as they fight their first vampire. What can she do to help, and who is pulling the strings? She has to save them at any costs, but is she prepared to pay? Chapter 6: Even if I die...and come back.
Go back:
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
The Introduction