Chapter 2: The Escape
"Mitsukake, I need your help," pleaded Miaka.
"I can't do it. Do you know what the punishment is for deceiving the Emperor? Besides, Emperor Hotohori is a fellow Suzaku Seven Star warrior. I can't lie to him."
"It wouldn't be lying," Miaka insisted. "I just need you to give me a sleeping potion and tell him that I can't see him because you have given me a sleeping potion. It's absolutely true."
"What if he asks why I gave you a sleeping potion?"
"Ummm, you could say I have some strange medical condition that can only be cured by hours of undisturbed rest."
"Now, that would be lying."
"No, it wouldn't. Because, because.I don't know." Miaka was drawing a blank so she decided to try switching tactics. "Please, Mitsukake. I really need you to help me stall Hotohori. Just buy us enough time, so Tamahome and I can elope. I don't want to marry Hotohori. I'm in love with Tamahome. You know how that feels. Wouldn't you do the same with Shoka, if you were in our position?"
Miaka knew she had hit the right string when Mitsukake's expression changed. It was sad and wistful at the same time as he thought of his long time love.
"All right. I'll help you. But I can't promise you I'll lie to the Emperor. "
Miaka gave him a big hug. "Thanks. Oh, thank you so much, Mitsukake." She finished off the hug with a quick peck on the cheek. "I still need the sleeping potion."
Mitsukake shook his head as he placed a small vial into Miaka's waiting palm, but kept a hold of it. "What are you going to do with it? This is a very potent mix. One drop will put the recipient into a deep slumber for at least six hours. Just half the bottle will totally knock him out. In that case he will need the antidote to awaken."
"Don't worry," Miaka said as she plucked the vial from his fingers. "It's back-up, in case we need to feign dead." At Mitsukake's scowl she added. "Just kidding." ~*~ "Are you ready to go?"
"Why are we doing this, again?" Tamahome was still a little fuzzy on the details of his elopement. Miaka had returned from her visit to the Emperor in a hurry to leave the palace. She had mentioned something about a royal betrothal being unethical, and announced that they were going to elope. She then proceeded to pack.
"We're doing this because the only way we are going to get married is in my world or before the High Priest of Suzaku. How many times to I have to tell you?"
"I see." Tamahome wasn't any clearer on the subject, but he let Miaka push him into the windy Konan night. Bad omen, thought Tamahome for a fleeting second. It was summer, and the nights were usually balmy. He stopped to observe the sky. It was cloudless, giving him a clear view of the seven constellations.
"Come on, let's us. We have a schedule to keep." Miaka was using her head as a battering ram, trying to get Tamahome to move.
"When did we get a schedule?" he asked absent-mindedly.
"Stop talking and start walking." Miaka was now tugging on his arms, leading him forward.
"Are you in a hurry or something?"
"Hurry? No, I just want to make sure we get to the Enchanted Forest before the moon starts setting."
"Well, that makes sense." Tamahome was now cooperating. Miaka let out a sigh of relief.
~*~
The night was half over, when Hotohori suddenly awoke. "The ring. I forgot to give Miaka her engagement ring."
He rang the bell on his nightstand. A servant appeared almost immediately. "You rang, your Majesty."
"Go forth and fetch Miaka."
"Yes, sir. What should I tell her, sir?"
"Just bring her here quickly. Tell her it's important. And one more thing," he added as an after thought, "Tell her I love her."
"Yes, sir. As you wish, sir." The servant backed out of the royal chamber. It was only when he stood up outside that Chichiri's ever-smiling face was revealed in the moonlight. Two seconds later he disappeared into his kasa and reappeared in Miaka's room.
"Hmm, not here." He made another quick trip to Tamahome's. "Not here either. Hmm, to tell or not to tell?- that is the question. This is a tough one." Chichiri feigned deliberation. "Tell, of course, no da." He changed his mask into one with an evil grin.
Chichiri made one last visit to Chiriko's study. He found the scholar-boy resting on his desk, a stack of opened books as his pillow. Chichiri bent down to whisper into his ear. "Miaka has been kidnapped by Tamahome. Go tell the Emperor."
Chichiri was gone by the time Chiriko began his sleepwalk to the Emperor. He could be heard chanting "Miaka has been kidnapped. Tamahome did it. Must tell Emperor," under his breath.
He made it to the Royal Chamber and the guard standing watch over the entrance.
"What do you want?" The guard ordered.
"Must tell Emperor." Chiriko was still in a trance.
"Tell the Emperor what?"
"Miaka has been kidnapped."
"The priestess of Suzaku has been kidnapped?! Who did it?"
"Tamahome did it."
"The Emperor must know about this."
"Must tell Emperor."
"Sure, right this way." The guard ushered Chiriko in.
Hotohori was surprised to see Chiriko when he was expecting Miaka. However, he was first and foremost the Emperor. "How can I help you, Chiriko?"
"Must tell the Emperor."
Hotohori was only half-listening. He was after-all still a man and his thoughts were focused on a certain maiden. "Go ahead. By the way have you seen Miaka?"
"Miaka has been kidnapped."
"Kidnapped? That's impossible. She's in the palace." Hotohori was sure he had heard wrong. The land of Konan was currently experiencing a period of peace and prosperity. He couldn't think of anyone who would want to harm the Maiden of Suzaku.
"Tamahome did it."
Ah. Not an enemy of Konan or Suzaku but a rival in love. Hotohori was well aware of Miaka's feelings for the other warrior. Merely a passing interest on Miaka's part, he was sure.
Hotohori knew instantly what he must do. "I must go and save Miaka and deal with the hooligan Tamahome myself."
Turning to the guard he issued an order, "Ready my horse. I leave at once."
Hotohori turned to seek more information from Chiriko, but the boy was sound asleep in the Emperor's bed. Given the circumstances Hotohori decided to let the infraction slide. He did, however, check under his pillow to make sure the royal hand mirror was not broken. Since he had it in his Hotohori took a look. "Still handsome as ever, even in the middle of the night," he declared himself.
~*~
Outside his window, Nuriko was watching the evening's events from behind a tree. This is not in the plan, she thought. "He's not supposed to go after them. How am I going to win his heart if he's not even here? This leaves me no choice. I have to follow him." Resolved, Nuriko prepared.
~*~
Taiitsu-kun: So ends this second act in this Stupendous Play.
A/n: Love it or hate it, please review. Happy authors make efficient authors. Thanks to CAS & Pluto - I got some new ideas from you. And to Cerise.
"Mitsukake, I need your help," pleaded Miaka.
"I can't do it. Do you know what the punishment is for deceiving the Emperor? Besides, Emperor Hotohori is a fellow Suzaku Seven Star warrior. I can't lie to him."
"It wouldn't be lying," Miaka insisted. "I just need you to give me a sleeping potion and tell him that I can't see him because you have given me a sleeping potion. It's absolutely true."
"What if he asks why I gave you a sleeping potion?"
"Ummm, you could say I have some strange medical condition that can only be cured by hours of undisturbed rest."
"Now, that would be lying."
"No, it wouldn't. Because, because.I don't know." Miaka was drawing a blank so she decided to try switching tactics. "Please, Mitsukake. I really need you to help me stall Hotohori. Just buy us enough time, so Tamahome and I can elope. I don't want to marry Hotohori. I'm in love with Tamahome. You know how that feels. Wouldn't you do the same with Shoka, if you were in our position?"
Miaka knew she had hit the right string when Mitsukake's expression changed. It was sad and wistful at the same time as he thought of his long time love.
"All right. I'll help you. But I can't promise you I'll lie to the Emperor. "
Miaka gave him a big hug. "Thanks. Oh, thank you so much, Mitsukake." She finished off the hug with a quick peck on the cheek. "I still need the sleeping potion."
Mitsukake shook his head as he placed a small vial into Miaka's waiting palm, but kept a hold of it. "What are you going to do with it? This is a very potent mix. One drop will put the recipient into a deep slumber for at least six hours. Just half the bottle will totally knock him out. In that case he will need the antidote to awaken."
"Don't worry," Miaka said as she plucked the vial from his fingers. "It's back-up, in case we need to feign dead." At Mitsukake's scowl she added. "Just kidding." ~*~ "Are you ready to go?"
"Why are we doing this, again?" Tamahome was still a little fuzzy on the details of his elopement. Miaka had returned from her visit to the Emperor in a hurry to leave the palace. She had mentioned something about a royal betrothal being unethical, and announced that they were going to elope. She then proceeded to pack.
"We're doing this because the only way we are going to get married is in my world or before the High Priest of Suzaku. How many times to I have to tell you?"
"I see." Tamahome wasn't any clearer on the subject, but he let Miaka push him into the windy Konan night. Bad omen, thought Tamahome for a fleeting second. It was summer, and the nights were usually balmy. He stopped to observe the sky. It was cloudless, giving him a clear view of the seven constellations.
"Come on, let's us. We have a schedule to keep." Miaka was using her head as a battering ram, trying to get Tamahome to move.
"When did we get a schedule?" he asked absent-mindedly.
"Stop talking and start walking." Miaka was now tugging on his arms, leading him forward.
"Are you in a hurry or something?"
"Hurry? No, I just want to make sure we get to the Enchanted Forest before the moon starts setting."
"Well, that makes sense." Tamahome was now cooperating. Miaka let out a sigh of relief.
~*~
The night was half over, when Hotohori suddenly awoke. "The ring. I forgot to give Miaka her engagement ring."
He rang the bell on his nightstand. A servant appeared almost immediately. "You rang, your Majesty."
"Go forth and fetch Miaka."
"Yes, sir. What should I tell her, sir?"
"Just bring her here quickly. Tell her it's important. And one more thing," he added as an after thought, "Tell her I love her."
"Yes, sir. As you wish, sir." The servant backed out of the royal chamber. It was only when he stood up outside that Chichiri's ever-smiling face was revealed in the moonlight. Two seconds later he disappeared into his kasa and reappeared in Miaka's room.
"Hmm, not here." He made another quick trip to Tamahome's. "Not here either. Hmm, to tell or not to tell?- that is the question. This is a tough one." Chichiri feigned deliberation. "Tell, of course, no da." He changed his mask into one with an evil grin.
Chichiri made one last visit to Chiriko's study. He found the scholar-boy resting on his desk, a stack of opened books as his pillow. Chichiri bent down to whisper into his ear. "Miaka has been kidnapped by Tamahome. Go tell the Emperor."
Chichiri was gone by the time Chiriko began his sleepwalk to the Emperor. He could be heard chanting "Miaka has been kidnapped. Tamahome did it. Must tell Emperor," under his breath.
He made it to the Royal Chamber and the guard standing watch over the entrance.
"What do you want?" The guard ordered.
"Must tell Emperor." Chiriko was still in a trance.
"Tell the Emperor what?"
"Miaka has been kidnapped."
"The priestess of Suzaku has been kidnapped?! Who did it?"
"Tamahome did it."
"The Emperor must know about this."
"Must tell Emperor."
"Sure, right this way." The guard ushered Chiriko in.
Hotohori was surprised to see Chiriko when he was expecting Miaka. However, he was first and foremost the Emperor. "How can I help you, Chiriko?"
"Must tell the Emperor."
Hotohori was only half-listening. He was after-all still a man and his thoughts were focused on a certain maiden. "Go ahead. By the way have you seen Miaka?"
"Miaka has been kidnapped."
"Kidnapped? That's impossible. She's in the palace." Hotohori was sure he had heard wrong. The land of Konan was currently experiencing a period of peace and prosperity. He couldn't think of anyone who would want to harm the Maiden of Suzaku.
"Tamahome did it."
Ah. Not an enemy of Konan or Suzaku but a rival in love. Hotohori was well aware of Miaka's feelings for the other warrior. Merely a passing interest on Miaka's part, he was sure.
Hotohori knew instantly what he must do. "I must go and save Miaka and deal with the hooligan Tamahome myself."
Turning to the guard he issued an order, "Ready my horse. I leave at once."
Hotohori turned to seek more information from Chiriko, but the boy was sound asleep in the Emperor's bed. Given the circumstances Hotohori decided to let the infraction slide. He did, however, check under his pillow to make sure the royal hand mirror was not broken. Since he had it in his Hotohori took a look. "Still handsome as ever, even in the middle of the night," he declared himself.
~*~
Outside his window, Nuriko was watching the evening's events from behind a tree. This is not in the plan, she thought. "He's not supposed to go after them. How am I going to win his heart if he's not even here? This leaves me no choice. I have to follow him." Resolved, Nuriko prepared.
~*~
Taiitsu-kun: So ends this second act in this Stupendous Play.
A/n: Love it or hate it, please review. Happy authors make efficient authors. Thanks to CAS & Pluto - I got some new ideas from you. And to Cerise.