Chapter 9 Kristin woke up the next morning feeling rather refreshed. She took in her new surroundings, realized her parents were probably wondering where she was, and smiled at the dawning of a new day. She sat up in bed and stretched her arms high over her head. This was going to be a good day, she thought. Hotohori and I will be able to spend a whole day together doing cool things in Konan, like a Star Festival, or something of the like. Just then, the door slammed open and Caitlin stumbled in with a scared look on her face. "K-Kristin! You're not going to believe this, but there's someone out in the courtyard who's claimed herself. she's claimed herself. to be. to be the Priestess of Suzaku!" Kristin jumped out of bed. "What?! When and why did this happen?" Kristin ran after Caitlin down the long halls of the Konan palace and found herself panting and sweating at the entrance of the courtyard where Hotohori and his Officials were already standing. Hotohori turned on Kristin's arrival, and said in a soft voice, "There appears to be a problem." Then, he gestured for her to come on out, and Kristin almost screamed at the sight in front of her. A girl in a Japanese school uniform of brown stood there, with two buns on her head. At first, Kristin thought this was a perfect replica of Miaka becoming a real life human, until she realized that she was staring at Katie. "K-Katie?" Kristin stammered. "What are you doing here?" "I'm the Priestess of Suzaku," Katie said. "I guess I accidently was sucked through that link and landed in Taiitskun's palace. She told me that I was the true Priestess, and that I had to remove you from your position before things go wrong. Besides, I want my Tamahome, wah!" Kristin could feel herself go faint. NO, she cried in her mind. Today was not supposed to go like this. She was the Priestess and she was going to make the right wishes and not become enemies with Martha just for being the Priestess of Seiyru! She was going to become the Empress of Konan when she was done summoning! This couldn't be happening! "Kristin," Hotohori said in a soft voice, "is this. true? Are you who you say you are, or is this the one whom is destined to save my kingdom?" Kristin couldn't speak. She felt tears welling up inside, but she was good at keeping them back. It was Caitlin who spoke up. "It's true," Caitlin said, "Katie probably is the more appropriate Priestess, but. she won't become your Empress. Kristin here loves you! Your sire, I think you need to choose who your Priestess is going to be." "I should have to choose?" Hotohori asked. He gave Kristin a big smile and was about to say her name when his Royal Magistrate spoke up. "I don't think this is right," the old man said. "I think these girls should go through some sort of test to prove which one will be the more proper Priestess." The rest of the Officials nodded their heads in agreement, and Hotohori sighed. "You do have a point. But what kind of test should be made?" "Let us see whom Suzaku chooses," the men chorused. They led the girls to the shrine of Suzaku, and burnt candles all around the great shrine of the bird-god known as Suzaku. Hotohori knelt down in prayer, and prayed aloud as everyone grew silent in concentration around him. "Dear Suzaku, great god of our land, we have a crises! Whom of these two girls is the rightful Priestess who will save our land from Kutou?" Suddenly, a choir of voices sang from no where in particular, and the statue's mouth opened and began to talk to Hotohori. "As far as I can see," said the deep voice of the god, "both are suitable as Priestesses to Suzaku." "But how?" Katie interrupted with a whine. "Taiitskun told me that I was the Priestess!" "Yes," the god said, "that's what Taiiutskun says. But Naiidoska says that Kristin is the rightful Priestess of Suzaku. Do you see where I'm getting at?" "No," Katie mummbled in confusion. "He's saying that we're both Priestesses but depending on whose eyes you look through," Kristin explained. "To Taiiutskun, you're the real Priestess (probably because of Miaka) but to Naiidoska, I am the real Priestess. Get it?" Katie thought a moment, then breathed out, "Oh, yeah! But then. who's going to be Priestess?" "That is up for the seven celestial warriors to decide," the god answered. "If they choose to follow Taiitskun's dictation, then Katie will be the Priestess who will summon the great god Suzaku. But, if they decide to follow Naiidoska - which I hope they do -" "What was that?" some of the Officials asked, but the god quickly cleared his throat. "Nothing, nothing," he said before continuing. "If they choose to follow Naiidoska then Kristin shall resume the role of the Priestess." "So, we have to gather all of the celestial warriors, first, then?" Kristin asked. "Yes," Suzaku said. Then, he added as an after thought, "Oh, and watch out for that Lone Wolf Warrior. He may prove to be a greater obstacle in you course than you originally thought." Kristin gulped, then shivered. "I understand." "Wait a minute," Caitlin said, "What about the Priestess of Seiyru? Does this have any effect of her? Like, if Katie becomes the Suzaku no miko, then does Martha continue to be the Priestess of Seiyru?" The god thought for a moment before replying, "I think Taiitskun would probably replace her with some bitch, yes." All eyes looked at the statue as the mouth closed and spoke no more. The choir of angelic voices stopped abruptly, and all was silent. "So, we oughta go find those celestial warriors, no da," Caitlin said. "The mountains will be a good place to start looking for them!" "Oh, are you interested in--?" Katie started before Kristin stomped on her foot. "Could you excuse us for a minute?" Kristin said, as she dragged both Caitlin and Katie out of the shrine. Once out in the hall, Kristin whispered furiously in Katie's ear, "Don't let them know that we know about the whole thing! How do you think they'd react when they realize we've seen what's going to happen to them in bunch of videos?" "Don't forget to stop Nakago from killing Hotohori," Caitlin reminded Kristin. "There's a person I won't mind him killing, though," Kristin muttered through clenched teeth. "Oh, who?" Katie asked. Kristin shook her head. "Never-mind. Listen, it looks like the both of us are going to be searching for the other celestial warriors, but before anything happens I'm going to warn you, that if you even dare to share the same room with Hotohori at night, you are going to find your self dead the next morning!" "And no touching of MY Tasuki when we find him," Caitlin said. Katie nodded her head, whimpering, "I just want my Tamahome." "Then you can have him," Kristin said, taking a step back. "I'm going back to my room now. I need a bath to freshen up." "So. the Priestess of Seiyru is Martha?" Katie asked as Kristin turned to head for her room with Caitlin at her heels. "Isn't she the author of this story?" "Yep," Kristin said as she walked away. "Don't let Tamahome get in the way of Nakago, or this story is going to have a bad outcome for you." Katie flinched as Kristin and Caitlin departed from her in the hall.

Meanwhile in Kutou.

*thanks for reviewing, everyone! Don't forget to spread the news! if this story gets enough fans, I might try to get a midi file down (with help from Kristin) so that all the viewers can hear the wonderful Phil song, if it's possible to put up a midi file in here. Me and Kristin might have a soundtrack coming along.( the more reviews, the more I write, so please spread the joy!! Cheez-its for all, and to all a good box of cheez its!*