Miko no Chikyuu, Gejo no Nihon
AN: ^_^ Well surprised again? I thought that this would be my own little Christmas present to all the reviewers! I love you all so much, thanx for reviewing so much so far into this story. And if my some miracle I finish this before the end of my Christmas vaca. I'll be one happy camper. ^_^
Usagi: 19
Hotaru: 17
Duo/Quatre/Heero/Wufei: 19
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It was a beautiful early spring day. Quatre was sitting in his alcove, which he hardly ever visited nowadays. Usagi was seated across from him and looking rather nervous like she had just mauled a man.
"Is something wrong Usagi?" Quatre sympathetically asked her. She looked at him rather shocked but quickly cast down her head not daring to talk about her experience the night before, which thankfully ended quickly.
"What are you doing?" Usagi cautiously said barely above a whisper.
"Just checking his Majesty's accounting, making sure we have enough money to fund our own army. So far it looks to be a close call." He flipped through some parchment when Usagi decided it was time to return to Milliardo since she now had information for him.
"Pardon me Quatre-san but I think I'm going to go take a walk." Quatre knew it was a lie but let her leave anyway, he didn't want to make whatever problem she had more stressful.
'I should go see Wufei-sama, maybe he'll have some solution for our money shortage.' Quatre dejectedly sighed.
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'What should I tell Milliardo?' Usagi thought full of melancholy. 'I am I have to tell him something with at least some truth or else he won't believe it.' She continued on her dismal trek to Milliardo's military room, as she was told he was almost always in.
'Maybe I could tell him that they have all the money? Wait a minute Usagi! He would never think they would have enough money to pay for a full-fledged army!' She continued to search her mind for a clever idea that might just luckily pop up but never did.
She ended up right in front of his door without a plan of her own. She let out a heavy sigh, knowing he would probably try and grope her, and reached out to open the door but something stopped her halfway through. At first all she heard her whispers but then she heard Milliardo's very loud commanding voice.
"I told you it's time we made a strike!" Milliardo boldly shouted to most likely a general of his own.
"But so soon? I mean at least give as a week to make out a plan of some sort." The mystery man in the room tried to reason but his arguments fell on deaf ears because Milliardo always had to have his way.
"There won't be a better chance than tomorrow! If I am to be secure about my position in this country we must assassinate my brother tomorrow!" Usagi let out a tiny gasp that she hoped would be drowned out by Milliardo's ranting.
"Aye Sire I shall find my best man for this job." The man said in a sulky voice.
"Good. It will take place tomorrow evening at my brother's wedding. I'll be able to sneak your assassin in but he must do the rest." Usagi began backing away from the door, she couldn't believe her ears! He was planning to assassinate Wufei tomorrow, at his wedding no less! She had to warn him, she hoped to all the gods that he would believe her.
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Wufei was sitting in his pavilion with Quatre discussing their plans for financial aid in case they would come short, and it looked like they would.
"Maybe if we close a few temples around here we could make up for the lost finances." Quatre suggested knowing that would cause a stir up among the upper class.
"No. I'll just have to sell my father's assets. It should fill the gap." Wufei suggested causing Quatre to stare at him as if he had grown ten heads!
"Sell your father's possessions?" Quatre couldn't believe this obedient son was suggesting to sell his father's legacy to pay for his brother's dethronement.
"It's the only way." Wufei gritted his teeth and dared not to look at Quatre.
"As you wish Wufei-sama." Quatre looked back at his parchment as Usagi came tearing around the corner as if all the world of demons were chasing her. By the time she reached them she collapsed from pure exhaustion, she had been running all over the palace looking for him.
"What is wrong with you knave?" Wufei bitterly demanded. Ignoring his blatant rudeness she continued to breathe heavily until she could talk once more.
"Milliardo he's-" She stopped to take a deep breath. "He's planning on murdering you Wufei-sama." Wufei took a step backward not only for the message but for her use of the connotation of sama. She never called him that before, in fact she never showed him any respect, in the end he supposed it was from being around Quatre so much.
"What are you talking about twit?" Wufei growled at her insinuation of such a treacherous act.
"At- At your wedding tomorrow. I overheard him saying he plans on hiring an assassin to murder you before you take your vows." Wufei contemplated a moment when he heard footsteps around the corner.
The three figures of Heero, Hotaru and Trowa emerged having overheard Usagi's declaration Heero and Trowa looked extremely irate while Hotaru had worry etched on her face.
"Is this true Usagi?" Hotaru asked in a breaking voice.
"Yes it true. I heard that an assassin will leap out of the crowd and murder Wufei when he least expects it."
"Tch." Everyone turned their heads toward Wufei with a look of distaste. "A bumbling oaf like yourself shouldn't be going around talking such nonsense." With that he left turned his back to all of them. "Quatre I give you my permission to sell my father's assets as soon as possible." Wufei then left them all and disappeared down the hallway.
"But-" Quatre put his finger to her mouth. "Don't make it worse Usagi." She silenced herself then.
"Usagi I don't know how often we'll see each other from now on but I've just been given a message from Mizurei to return to the temple. If you see Duo again please tell him not to visit me there, just send him to Wufei please." Hotaru politely asked her elder sister.
"Of course Hotaru but please don't talk like it's the end of the world, it's unnerving." Hotaru smiled at Usagi then turned to leave as well and Heero in tow. She stopped mid-step and stood with her back to Heero.
"Heero stay here, please don't follow me back." Hotaru woefully voiced.
"But it is for your best safety that I escort you." Heero stood as rigid as a statue when Hotaru grabbed his hand and pulled them away from all prying eyes and ears.
"Listen if Mizurei sees us together she'll go ballistic. I don't need you to aggravate the situation it's bad enough already." Heero finally lost his composure and reached out to grab her shoulders.
"Listen your problems are mine. I would never let you bear such a burden on your shoulders alone." Hotaru looked deep in his eyes and saw all sincerity in them.
"It would never work." Hotaru eyes began to brim with tears but she refused to let them fall. Hotaru felt a callused hand force her chin up to look him in the face.
"I don't care." His voice was deep. "As long as I have you by my side always." With that he could no longer contain himself and he tenderly placed his lips upon hers. He didn't expect much to come of it but she was full of surprises for she began to kiss back. He ran his tongue along her lips and she just nipped at it. Taking it as an invitation he pressed his tongue to her lips again and this time she opened her mouth and their tongues meet in an embrace. His own running across hers as if petting a delicate and divine creature of earth. They continued the kiss for but a moment when Hotaru finally decided to pull away from her safe haven.
"No. Heero-kun. I'm getting married tomorrow. We must let go of our emotions and accept what fate has given us. Nothing will come of this but hate and malice, I'm sorry." Her disheartened back was the last thing Heero saw as he came to terms with what was happening to him, to her-and what he cared about more than anything- about them.
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Hotaru stopped in front of Mizurei's study and knocked ever so lightly.
"Come in." With that Hotaru stepped inside and saw Mizurei meditating in the middle of the room. She approached Mizurei and sat in front of her.
"Don't think I've forgiven you, sad little whore." Mizurei bitterly said. Hotaru bit back her tongue and took the verbal abuse.
Mizurei-sama what is it you wanted?" Hotaru said in her usual submissive tone.
"You will not speak unless spoken to or have you already forgotten all the manners I once taught you?" Mizurei opened her eyes and bore down on Hotaru making her even more nervous.
"Of course not Ma'am."
"I just wanted to let you know that you shall reside in your quarters until the wedding tomorrow. And if I hear so much as one peep out of that room you will be licked until you cannot breathe." Hotaru squared her shoulders and bowed her head.
"You may escort her there and please keep watch over her door." The servants bowed to their master and escorted Hotaru out as Mizurei returned to her meditation.
TBC……………..
An: I know this chapter is pretty short but next one will have a lot more going on in it! ^_- You didn't think I'd show you what comes of Wufei's assassination or Hotaru's romantic indulgement of Hero. =P But if you do want to see what will happen you're gonna have to review please! v^_^v