Chapter 7: the Wedding
"That fool had better gotten it right this time," thought Chichiri aloud as he shimmered into appearance. Tasuki was nowhere to be seen, but the four lovers remained still asleep. Beside Tamahome lay the blue poppy bud. "Good," he remarked satisfied.
"Time to rise and shine lovely mortals." Chichiri began to fade. The last glimpse of him was accompanied by a loud crash of thunder in the early morning sky.
Miaka was the first to awaken, her stomach growling. "Breakfast, need breakfast," she mumbled.
From behind her Tamahome complained, "Miaka, was that your stomach growling? It's so loud it woke me up."
Next to them Nuriko began to stir. "I've had the weirdest dream."
"Me, too," interjected Miaka. They exchanged sympathetic glances.
"It was more like a nightmare, really. Emperor Hotohori was playing a trick on me, and Tamahome tried to attack me," Realizing what she had just said, Nuriko backed away from Tamahome. "You don't still love me do you?" she asked warily.
Tamahome took a moment to consider. When he look up, Nuriko could tell he thought she was crazy. "Of course not, Nuriko. I love Miaka." To prove it he turned to his fiancé and gave a passionate kiss. Miaka returned the kiss with equal ardor as the insecurities of the previous evening slipped away with each passing second.
Three minutes later, they were still at it. "Enough already." The pair was giving Nuriko goose-bumps.
Her statement had no affect on the amorous couple. They were, however, loud enough to wake the emperor.
"Princess Kourin, is that your lovely voice I hear?" he sighed huskily. Nuriko turned her attention to him. A smile crossed his face even though his eyes remained shut. "It must be, for I smell your sweet fragrance."
Nuriko held the closest bit of fabric up to her nose and sniffed. She smelt like the dirt on which she sat.
Hotohori's hand blindly reached out, but still managed to catch a lock of Nuriko's hair which he rubbed between his fingers. "Yes, it can be none other than my amethyst goddess." With a gentle tug, he brought her lips to his. [censored: cuts have been made by author's request so that this fanfic might return to a PG13 rating]
'Oh yeah, the Emperor can kiss' was the only coherent thought in Nuriko's brain. With her mind in a euphoric haze, she almost missed her hot lip's next words.
"If only I could wake up to these sensations every morning - your sound, your smell, your feel, your taste, and most of all your sight." Now Hotohori's eyes opened so he could feast on Nuriko's beauty.
She was just how he remembered in his dream. Her expression, however, was not what he expected. Nuriko looked stunned. Her eyes could not contain the mix of joy, hurt, disbelief, and confusion.
"What is wrong? Don't you wish to be with me?"
"Yes," the affirmation escaped before she could catch it. That was her heart talking. Nuriko need to think with her head, but she could not bring herself to take back the agreement.
"Then you will be my bride. My Empress."
"Why would you want someone like me when you can have the Maiden?" Nuriko had to ask the question, if only to settle her disbelief.
"Why wouldn't I? Don't you think I am a gorgeous Emperor and deserve the best?"
Nuriko couldn't help but feel flattered at his remark: she answered automatically. "Of course, my Adonis Emperor."
"Then it's settled." He resumed kissing Nuriko, and this time she put all her concentration into matching her Emperor of Kisses.
"Ewwww," Miaka's face was screwed up in disgust. "I think I just saw Hotohori's tongue go down her throat." It was meant to look as if she was whispering to Tamahome, but the comment was loud enough to cause Nuriko to jump back. The princess was blushing so hard that she could have the moon thought the sun was coming up early.
Miaka had no intention of hiding her utter amusement. She laughed so hard that she was slipped right through Tamahome's arms and was wiggling on the ground. "N-n-nuriko-o, y-y-you *ha ha* look l-like a ap-apple *convulses in more laughter*."
The last jibe snapped Nuriko out of her embarrassed stupor. She glanced at a rather smug Hotohori who was doing nothing to defend her and Tamahome who looked like he was getting ready to watch Saturday Night Live. "Men," she muttered before turning her counterattack on Miaka. "What about you, Miss Spit Exchange." Nuriko knew she had hit the right nerve when her opponent stopped laughing and stood up ramrod straight. "That's right, I have some experience with Tamahome's kisses as you recall." Nuriko pointed a patch of his slobber on her clothes.
Now it was Miaka's turn to look embarrassed. Neither of them took their eyes off the other, but Nuriko was certain Tamahome was blushing as well and Hotohori was looking on with his superior act. It was his way of silently cheering her on.
Miaka sized up the situation pretty fast. Not to be outdone, she continued the finger-pointing. "Don't act all innocent with me, Nuriko. You're no princess when you're trying to get your man. I'm pretty sure we'll find some hard evidence on Hotohori later today."
"I don't know what you're talking about, Miaka. For a High Priestess/Maiden, you do seem to have your mind in the gutter a lot." Nuriko said it in her most snotty personality, but merriment sparkled in her eyes and mischief lingered at the corners of her upturned lips.
And so it went until everyone was laughing and pretty soon the men joined in with overly dramatic displays of chivalry. They even went as far as staging a mock duel to defend the honor of their respective ladies.
Exhausted but filled with happiness, both couples laid down on the sweet grass to watch what was left of the morning's sunrise. The soft light lulled them into a state of blissful rest.
~*~
"Quick, come quick." The scout knew Captain Shang would not be too please with his insubordination, still the situation seemed urgent.
"What is it?" The question was said like a command and sounded impatient. Without answering the scout led the Royal guards to a clearing where two pairs of lovers lay motionless on a bed grass. What was most shocking was the fact that all four of them were stark naked.
"They look so serene they could be dead," someone whispered. Another one replied, "Yeah, but at least the died happy," pointing out their suggestive positions and the hint of smiles on each of their faces.
Captain Shang looked glaringly at the two guards then turned his killer stare to the scout.
"It wasn't me?" the meek scout tried adding a nervous laugh to the end.
Captain Shang was just reaching for the vial that contained the sleeping potion antidote, when the four lovers began to stir.
~*~
"Good grief, what trouble these couples be. Boy am I glad I stayed single."
And finally Tasuki was able to finish his nap in the now serene Enchanted Forest. The four lovers had been escorted back to the Palace after a brief explanation for which Tasuki was glad he didn't have to hear. His last thoughts were about the absence of the lovers' clothes; he had a pretty good idea.
~*~
"Hear ye, Hear ye, on this day the Emperor of Konan weds Princess Kourin and the Priestess of Suzaku weds the Seven Star Warrior Tamahome in a joint ceremony to be performed by the Venerable Monk Chichiri." Keisuke read the herald's words with mixed emotions. Of course he was happy for his sister; had marrying the man she loved and who loved her in return. But then again what big brother wouldn't want an emperor of men as his brother-in-law?
A moment later Tetsuya and Yui joined him in the room. "Did we miss it yet? Yui asked anxiously.
"What are you talking about? It's a book. All you have to do is flip back a few pages."
"Tetsuya, shut up. It's starting." Keisuke's eyes never left the book nor did his hands leave the book's covers, so Yui and Tetsuya had to read over his shoulders. Together they followed the wedding as it unfolded on the pages of the Book of the Four Gods. At the appropriate time during the ceremony Yui began to cry and Keisuke let his eyes glisten. Tetsuya's were covered by his usual eyewear, but rumor has it they got a little shiny as well.
~*~
"And they lived happily ever after."
"That's it?!" Keisuke shouted into the book. "That's my baby sister you're writing about. I need to know more." He paused as if waiting for the book to respond. Nothing. Keisuke slammed the book onto the desk and stormed off muttering something about censorship.
Yui was looking all wistful. "That was a beautiful wedding." She looked back at the book sprawled on the table. "They should change the title of that thing to 'The Book of the Four Lovers'."
"I don't think so," Tetsuya said, but he put his arms around Yui and led her somewhere more private.
~*~
Author: And so ends the seventh act in this Glorious (I wish) Play.
A/n : Hoped you liked/enjoyed it. It might have taken a while, but I've finally finished my senior research paper and as today is a public holiday I had a chance to write the final act in my little Curious Play. Unfortunately I've run out of funny. Sorry if this chapter doesn't live up to the humor half of it's genre description. Anyway, please review, cos I like reading the reviews as much as writing the stories.
"That fool had better gotten it right this time," thought Chichiri aloud as he shimmered into appearance. Tasuki was nowhere to be seen, but the four lovers remained still asleep. Beside Tamahome lay the blue poppy bud. "Good," he remarked satisfied.
"Time to rise and shine lovely mortals." Chichiri began to fade. The last glimpse of him was accompanied by a loud crash of thunder in the early morning sky.
Miaka was the first to awaken, her stomach growling. "Breakfast, need breakfast," she mumbled.
From behind her Tamahome complained, "Miaka, was that your stomach growling? It's so loud it woke me up."
Next to them Nuriko began to stir. "I've had the weirdest dream."
"Me, too," interjected Miaka. They exchanged sympathetic glances.
"It was more like a nightmare, really. Emperor Hotohori was playing a trick on me, and Tamahome tried to attack me," Realizing what she had just said, Nuriko backed away from Tamahome. "You don't still love me do you?" she asked warily.
Tamahome took a moment to consider. When he look up, Nuriko could tell he thought she was crazy. "Of course not, Nuriko. I love Miaka." To prove it he turned to his fiancé and gave a passionate kiss. Miaka returned the kiss with equal ardor as the insecurities of the previous evening slipped away with each passing second.
Three minutes later, they were still at it. "Enough already." The pair was giving Nuriko goose-bumps.
Her statement had no affect on the amorous couple. They were, however, loud enough to wake the emperor.
"Princess Kourin, is that your lovely voice I hear?" he sighed huskily. Nuriko turned her attention to him. A smile crossed his face even though his eyes remained shut. "It must be, for I smell your sweet fragrance."
Nuriko held the closest bit of fabric up to her nose and sniffed. She smelt like the dirt on which she sat.
Hotohori's hand blindly reached out, but still managed to catch a lock of Nuriko's hair which he rubbed between his fingers. "Yes, it can be none other than my amethyst goddess." With a gentle tug, he brought her lips to his. [censored: cuts have been made by author's request so that this fanfic might return to a PG13 rating]
'Oh yeah, the Emperor can kiss' was the only coherent thought in Nuriko's brain. With her mind in a euphoric haze, she almost missed her hot lip's next words.
"If only I could wake up to these sensations every morning - your sound, your smell, your feel, your taste, and most of all your sight." Now Hotohori's eyes opened so he could feast on Nuriko's beauty.
She was just how he remembered in his dream. Her expression, however, was not what he expected. Nuriko looked stunned. Her eyes could not contain the mix of joy, hurt, disbelief, and confusion.
"What is wrong? Don't you wish to be with me?"
"Yes," the affirmation escaped before she could catch it. That was her heart talking. Nuriko need to think with her head, but she could not bring herself to take back the agreement.
"Then you will be my bride. My Empress."
"Why would you want someone like me when you can have the Maiden?" Nuriko had to ask the question, if only to settle her disbelief.
"Why wouldn't I? Don't you think I am a gorgeous Emperor and deserve the best?"
Nuriko couldn't help but feel flattered at his remark: she answered automatically. "Of course, my Adonis Emperor."
"Then it's settled." He resumed kissing Nuriko, and this time she put all her concentration into matching her Emperor of Kisses.
"Ewwww," Miaka's face was screwed up in disgust. "I think I just saw Hotohori's tongue go down her throat." It was meant to look as if she was whispering to Tamahome, but the comment was loud enough to cause Nuriko to jump back. The princess was blushing so hard that she could have the moon thought the sun was coming up early.
Miaka had no intention of hiding her utter amusement. She laughed so hard that she was slipped right through Tamahome's arms and was wiggling on the ground. "N-n-nuriko-o, y-y-you *ha ha* look l-like a ap-apple *convulses in more laughter*."
The last jibe snapped Nuriko out of her embarrassed stupor. She glanced at a rather smug Hotohori who was doing nothing to defend her and Tamahome who looked like he was getting ready to watch Saturday Night Live. "Men," she muttered before turning her counterattack on Miaka. "What about you, Miss Spit Exchange." Nuriko knew she had hit the right nerve when her opponent stopped laughing and stood up ramrod straight. "That's right, I have some experience with Tamahome's kisses as you recall." Nuriko pointed a patch of his slobber on her clothes.
Now it was Miaka's turn to look embarrassed. Neither of them took their eyes off the other, but Nuriko was certain Tamahome was blushing as well and Hotohori was looking on with his superior act. It was his way of silently cheering her on.
Miaka sized up the situation pretty fast. Not to be outdone, she continued the finger-pointing. "Don't act all innocent with me, Nuriko. You're no princess when you're trying to get your man. I'm pretty sure we'll find some hard evidence on Hotohori later today."
"I don't know what you're talking about, Miaka. For a High Priestess/Maiden, you do seem to have your mind in the gutter a lot." Nuriko said it in her most snotty personality, but merriment sparkled in her eyes and mischief lingered at the corners of her upturned lips.
And so it went until everyone was laughing and pretty soon the men joined in with overly dramatic displays of chivalry. They even went as far as staging a mock duel to defend the honor of their respective ladies.
Exhausted but filled with happiness, both couples laid down on the sweet grass to watch what was left of the morning's sunrise. The soft light lulled them into a state of blissful rest.
~*~
"Quick, come quick." The scout knew Captain Shang would not be too please with his insubordination, still the situation seemed urgent.
"What is it?" The question was said like a command and sounded impatient. Without answering the scout led the Royal guards to a clearing where two pairs of lovers lay motionless on a bed grass. What was most shocking was the fact that all four of them were stark naked.
"They look so serene they could be dead," someone whispered. Another one replied, "Yeah, but at least the died happy," pointing out their suggestive positions and the hint of smiles on each of their faces.
Captain Shang looked glaringly at the two guards then turned his killer stare to the scout.
"It wasn't me?" the meek scout tried adding a nervous laugh to the end.
Captain Shang was just reaching for the vial that contained the sleeping potion antidote, when the four lovers began to stir.
~*~
"Good grief, what trouble these couples be. Boy am I glad I stayed single."
And finally Tasuki was able to finish his nap in the now serene Enchanted Forest. The four lovers had been escorted back to the Palace after a brief explanation for which Tasuki was glad he didn't have to hear. His last thoughts were about the absence of the lovers' clothes; he had a pretty good idea.
~*~
"Hear ye, Hear ye, on this day the Emperor of Konan weds Princess Kourin and the Priestess of Suzaku weds the Seven Star Warrior Tamahome in a joint ceremony to be performed by the Venerable Monk Chichiri." Keisuke read the herald's words with mixed emotions. Of course he was happy for his sister; had marrying the man she loved and who loved her in return. But then again what big brother wouldn't want an emperor of men as his brother-in-law?
A moment later Tetsuya and Yui joined him in the room. "Did we miss it yet? Yui asked anxiously.
"What are you talking about? It's a book. All you have to do is flip back a few pages."
"Tetsuya, shut up. It's starting." Keisuke's eyes never left the book nor did his hands leave the book's covers, so Yui and Tetsuya had to read over his shoulders. Together they followed the wedding as it unfolded on the pages of the Book of the Four Gods. At the appropriate time during the ceremony Yui began to cry and Keisuke let his eyes glisten. Tetsuya's were covered by his usual eyewear, but rumor has it they got a little shiny as well.
~*~
"And they lived happily ever after."
"That's it?!" Keisuke shouted into the book. "That's my baby sister you're writing about. I need to know more." He paused as if waiting for the book to respond. Nothing. Keisuke slammed the book onto the desk and stormed off muttering something about censorship.
Yui was looking all wistful. "That was a beautiful wedding." She looked back at the book sprawled on the table. "They should change the title of that thing to 'The Book of the Four Lovers'."
"I don't think so," Tetsuya said, but he put his arms around Yui and led her somewhere more private.
~*~
Author: And so ends the seventh act in this Glorious (I wish) Play.
A/n : Hoped you liked/enjoyed it. It might have taken a while, but I've finally finished my senior research paper and as today is a public holiday I had a chance to write the final act in my little Curious Play. Unfortunately I've run out of funny. Sorry if this chapter doesn't live up to the humor half of it's genre description. Anyway, please review, cos I like reading the reviews as much as writing the stories.