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Chapter 12 – Life's Road Turns
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It was a few nights later Nikyia was lying awake in bed. Her dream from before had started reoccurring, and now, many a night, she lay in bed, wondering what it could mean. The devastation, the earth regenerating from fallen blood of soldiers, her friends, the cold high laughter, the piercing pain…the big city she had begun in, all of it made no sense whatsoever.
Nikyia, you KNOW your father told you to sleep! When was the last time you closed your eyes?
The girl sighed.
"I just can't sleep Arafae…" she whispered, forgetting she and Arafae could speak mind to mind. "Not with this dream. I can't go to sleep until I find out what it means."
Arafae whapped her with a wing.
Don't you know anything? If you can't figure out a dream, then you keep watching it! You haven't seen anything until you know you've seen it all!
"Mockingbirds dream?"
Arafae paused for a moment, then whapped her again.
You know I hate that!
"Then stop mocking me so much."
I'm not trying to mock you I'm trying to teach you a lesson, but you–
Nikyia raised her hand to quiet the bird.
"Do you hear that?"
Hear what?
"Is that a flute?" Miaka rubbed her eyes sleepily.
"Why would someone be playing a flute at this time of night?"
Same reason one would be studying at this time of night.
"Miaka…"
"What?….Hey, it stopped."
Miaka was right. The flute had stopped.
"Miaka…forget the studying for now. Get some sleep before we set off."
You should do the same, nestling.
"You know I hate that…"
Then grow up.
Nikyia shot one last glare at the chuckling hawk before lying down and closing her eyes.
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The next day's ride brought them to Tamahome's village. Nuriko and Miaka rushed to see his family again while Mitsukake was dragged by Miaka to heal Tamahome's father, and Hotohori gazed in stunned amazement at how poorly some were living in his kingdom. Nikyia heard him muttering something about needing to "change things." Chuei, Tamahome's first brother, had caught some fish for dinner, and all were finally preparing for sleep. Nuriko sprang up and slammed shut the window.
"Are bats dangerous?" Miaka asked. Nikyia supposed that had been why the window had been suddenly shut.
"No, unless they're vampire bats. Then they fly into your room at night and suck your blood until you're nothing but a dried corpse in the morning," Nikyia grinned evilly as Miaka squealed and dove under her sheet.
"Nikyia, that wasn't nice…" Hotohori scolded.
"Nuriko's not arguing."
Certainly not. Nuriko was rolling on the ground with laughter at the trembling lump that was Miaka.
"Miaka, ya big baby. Bats aren't dangerous at all. Vampire bats only go for cows or other large farm animals, and they can't drink everything they've got. Most bats eat insects or fruit and the only reason they'd attack a human is because it flies into one accidentally. And since they use ultrasonic signals only they can hear, they can tell what's near them by the echo. As long as they're not rabid we're fine."
Miaka had just poked her head out of the sheets when Nuriko added the "rabid" bit. Once again the trembling mass that was Miaka…trembled. Even Arafae chuckled.
"Night, guys, Miaka."
"G'night." (Mitsukake)
"Good night." (Nuriko)
"Sleep well." (Hotohori)
"N-N-night!" (Who else?)
"Zzzzz…" (That was Tasuki.)
"Mreow!" (One guess folks.)
A few hours later, the sound of the flute pulled Nikyia back into the conscious land. Miaka was standing in the doorway.
"Mi-"
"AAAAAHHHHH!!!!!"
A horde of bats swarmed around the priestess, biting at her pajamas. Before Nikyia could react, Miaka was running, numerous bats right behind her.
"Everyone!! Get up!! Miaka's being attacked!!" Nikyia shouted before bolting out the door after her friend. Hotohori and Tasuki were up and behind her in seconds. This isn't right….Nuriko said bats don't attack people, so what's going on?!
Bats were starting to swarm around her as well, but they were quickly taken care of. Miaka led Hotohori, Tasuki, and Nikyia on a chase out of the city and partly into the forest before finally falling. The bats were merciless in their attack, even turning on the others, until…
"The flute!"
The music of the flute pierced the air, silencing Miaka's shouts and….sending the bats flying into trees and to their own demise. A shadow slowly emerged from the morning fog, a flute at his lips.
"You!!" a voice from above shot, most likely directed at the boy. His song intensified, and the man, dressed in Kutou rags, screamed. Suddenly, all sound stopped. The man let out a light laugh before falling off his branch onto the ground, not unlike the bats had.
"What-?"
"I channeled my life force into him through my flute…you're alright now…" the boy was barely able to say before his knees collapsed under him and he fell to the ground.
"Hey, you al–"
"A symbol!!"
Miaka forced out the words before Nikyia had the chance. Sure enough, on the boy's side was a red symbol.
"I'm called Chiriko…" the boy managed to say despite his weakness. "My village was burned a day ago…I was the only survivor."
"Oh you poor thing…" Nikyia's hand went up to her mouth, partly for Chiriko, partly from the memory of Chichiri's story…the flood, the treachery…being so long away from him…
"Nikyia…your eye is leaking…" Miaka sweatdropped as Nikyia blushed. Hotohori and Tasuki helped Chiriko to his feet and began to lead him back to Tamahome's house. Miaka looked up at her red-haired friend.
"You miss him a lot, don't you?"
Nikyia sighed, and nodded.
"But I can't complain…I mean, after Tamahome…" a smile curled on her lips. "But we've found the seventh seishi. We can go home and get Tamahome, summon my father and everything will be just…" Here, Nikyia paused. "Wait a minute…" she sweatdropped. "How'd you know about-"
Miaka winked.
"I've got my secrets."
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The next day was a long, patient journey back to the capitol. Poor Nikyia kept having to be reminded by Nuriko to "Slow the heck down for Suzaku's sake!!"
"What's she so anxious about?" Tasuki cocked an eyebrow in question. Arafae chuckled to himself.
If only he knew…
I could tell him a few things about YOU, hentai bird.
The hawk went silent once again.
Light chatter skimmed over Nikyia's head as they traveled. So many questions took their place. Was he okay? Had the advisors found him out? Had KUTOU found him out?! Red Wing shook her head, letting her rider know she was pulling too hard on the reins.
"Oops. Sorry Wing…"
"Nikyia, just relax. We'll be there soon."
As the words passed out of Nuriko's mouth, the posse came across the top of the hill, and Konan's capitol came into full view. Before Nikyia had a chance to smile at the sight of the city in good condition, Nuriko's horse took off in full speed.
"Last one there's a spoiled Nikuman!"
"Hey!" Nikyia laughed as Tasuki, Mitsukake and Chiriko's horses took off after Nuriko. Red Wing followed them quickly, Hotohori and Miaka bringing up the rear. They had all barely reached the courtyard and dismounted when they were greeted by…
"What the hell?! Izzat a squirrel?!"
"Welcome back everybody no da!!"
Miaka watched as Nikyia's eyes lit up at the pint-sized monk who had just appeared. Nuriko shook his head.
"That's Chichiri, another seishi. And he hasn't changed a bit."
"Where'd Hotohori ditch off to?" Tasuki's words made the others realize his highness had vanished. That was when Nikyia realized, Tasuki, Chiriko, and Mitsukake didn't exactly know his highness was his highness.
"Don't you guys get it yet?! Hotohori is-"
Nuriko was once again cut off by the appearance of the emperor himself.
"Please, Nuriko. It isn't necessary…"
"Your highness, the kingdom rejoices at your safe return no da!" Chichiri greeted cheerfully, but Nikyia's street-trained ear detected something wrong with his voice. Hotohori invited everyone to go inside for lunch. Chichiri and Nikyia watched as the other seishi followed, half of them in shock.
"Chichiri-"
"Nikyia…we need to talk."
Nikyia paused. There was certainly a change in his voice as he removed his mask.
"We need some place a bit more private. There are too many guards around here." Worry flooded Nikyia's mind as she followed him into the royal gardens. She failed to notice Arafae flying behind her the entire way.
"Chichiri, is…something wrong?"
"Nikyia…" Chichiri paused. "I don't think we should be in love anymore."
Even the crickets stopped.
"W-what?" Nikyia was finally able to choke out.
Oh gods… Arafae thought to himself, listening nearby.
"I…I read through some of the scrolls kept about the past summonings of the gods…After the ceremony has been performed, the god's child joins his…or her…father in his realm. After we get Tamahome from Kutou, we're never going to see each other again. And…besides that…I'm….I'm just a mortal man. You're a goddess…demi-goddess…And then the fact I'm a monk. I'm not even supposed to think about women…I mean…What I'm saying is-"
"That because of what we are we can't be together?" Nikyia choked. Tears had started streaming down her face.
"Nikyia-"
"You mean that I can't choose my own fate to stay here?!"
"Nikyia, listen to me!"
"Don't you think I've suffered enough in my life by losing two families?! By losing Genrou?!"
"Gods bless it Nikyia why do you have to turn so stubborn at a time like this! This was bound to happen!"
"No…it wasn't…anything could have happened…but it's too late for that isn't it?" Without another word, Nikyia turned and ran off.
"Nikyia!"
Save your breath, peacock-boy.
"I don't need your criticism…"
You're right…I just hope the Phoenix lord can find it in his heart to forgive you for this. Just wait until after the summoning. Arafae shot a last glare at the blue haired monk before turning to go comfort his fiery young charge.
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TA: So, tell me…How many of you were expecting that, eh? cackles the cackle she stole from Tomo and more evil plot twists are planned for the next chapters…as long as those lovely reviews keep coming in. innocent whistle and dashes off