Blue Moon- *flattered*I'm glad you like the plot! Hehe…oh yeah..Suzaku wouldn't be happy…*at all*
Tsuki no Megami- *grins* addicted..eh? *grins some more*
Squirrel- She should be meeting the Seiryuu seishi soon…and as for her relations to the other gods..well…if I told you..i'd have to kill you..well..maybe not..but then you'd know before I wrote it down in the story! *are you buying that excuse? I hope not because it's a really bad one…* hehe..^-^;; actually, I'm still debating on her relationship with the gods..
White Ivy- of course our Usa has everyone wrapped around her pinky…then again..she wouldn't be our Usa if she doesn't have at least one person wrapped around her pinky ne? ^.~
Minna- Arigatou!
Disclaimer- don't' own either shows…
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Chapter Three
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Recap:
"Oh, Hoto-chan, have you ever heard of cherry blossoms? They're very beautiful! I haven't seen any here…such a shame…I adore them…" and she continued to talked enthusiastically to the emperor as they walked to the gardens, arms linked.
The councilmen stared at each other, then broke out into a grin.
"His majesty seems quite captivated by Usagi-sama."
"As she seems him…."
More grins.
"But what of the miko?"
---------End Recap--------
"And then Rei-chan got all red, and started to yell at me! I honestly didn't mean for nii-chan to find out! It just came out and—are you listening to me!?!" Usagi cried out, indignantly pouting and staring at Hotohori in a chiding manner.
"Huh? Ano…hai! Hai, Usagi!" A somewhat flustered Hotohori smiled innocently back at her.
"Augh! Men! They never listen…and then they cannot even admit it! They have to go and lie of it!" That said, Usagi glared at Hotohori and fell to sit upon at the center of a stone bench in the shade of a tree. Hotohori continued to stare at her, somewhat uncomfortable, though very much amused.
"Usagi-chan…" He smiled, falling to his knees in front of her. She turned her face away from him, huffing indignantly.
"Usagi-chan…" He tried again. He took her small hands in his larger ones, catching her attention.
"Gomen nasai, Usagi-chan. Forgive me." He looked up at her with somewhat pleading eyes, though it shone slightly with mirth.
"Why should I? You're just like him! Lying to me!" She sniffed and turned her head away from Hotohori, whom had stopped smiling when she had compared him to a complete stranger…a male stranger…who had hurt to her.
It couldn't possibly be healthy to suddenly feel the urge to hunt and torture that said man, could it? It couldn't possibly be healthy for him to wish unimaginable torment upon a man he had never met, and had just heard of…but Hotohori didn't care. That man had hurt Usagi somehow, he could see the age-old sadness within the depths of her sapphire eyes. Usagi had been hurt…and Hotohori did not like that thought, not at all.
"Gomen nasai, Usagi…forgive me, onegai?" Hotohori brought up a smooth hand to cup her face, forcing her to face him. "It will not happen again, Usagi-chan, I promise. Onegai?" He pleaded with her, softly.
Gods…what was she doing to him? He had never pleaded before…and to do so for a girl? What enchantment did she have him under, that made him so…smittened…with her…that caused him to not care….not care about anything…but her.
Usagi stared into Hotohori's eyes, captivated. What a beautiful shade of gold…or was it amber…
"Onegai?" He pleaded again, huskily this time, though a hint of a pout could be seen gracing his lips.
"Mm…alright! But only because you're so kawaii!" Usagi grinned, throwing her arms a pleasantly surprised Hotohori. "How can I stay mad at such a kawaii bishonen?" Usagi grinned at a blushing Hotohori, and patted the space next to her, gesturing for Hotohori to sit. He took her up on her offer. She rested her head against his shoulder unconsciously, and he in turn, rested his head atop of hers.
And so they sat, both unconsciously leaning against each other, enjoying the view, as the wind gently toyed with their hair, and stray leaves and petals floated past them, though they were oblivious, their attention focused merely on the individual next to them.
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"What of the miko?" Another councilor asked back. AN- One day…I'll think of a name of the councilors so I don't have to refer to them as another councilor, this councilor, first councilor etc. If anyone knows one of their names *if it's mentioned somewhere*, please let me know!
"Does the emperor not care for her?" The councilor who had first asked the question replied.
"It was a mere infatuation…" An elder councilor waved it off. "This one…he looks at her differently," He turned to face the other councilors. "Lovingly."
"A goddess amongst us, " another spoke up, "And to think…she may very well be our empress." At this remark, a wave of excited whispers rushed through the group of men.
"Silence! We need to get those two together!" Another wave, this time a murmer of agreement.
"But how?"
"Put our heads together, fellow councilors, and I believe our minds shall be able to think something up." An almost wicked smile graced all the councilors' faces.
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"Usagi-chan?"
"Hm, Hoto-chan?"
"Why are you here?"
"Nani?! You don't want me here anymore, Hoto-chan?!" Hurt blue eyes stared painfully at golden ones.
"Iie! Iie, Usagi-chan! I…I enjoy your company very much and am honored to be able to host your stay!" Hotohori blushed. "Demo, why are you here, in Konan, away from your home and brother?"
"Oh..that…" Usagi blushed, and rested her head against Hotohori's shoulder, once again. "I grew tired of Zaku-chan and Yuu-chan arguing all the time…"
"Zaku-chan? Yuu-chan?" Hotohori frowned slightly, not recognizing the names.
"Hai…though I suppose you would know them as Suzaku and Seiryuu…" Usagi smiled slightly. "And I also came because I am searching for my miko…"
"Your miko?"
"Hai…she…I'm afraid I cannot tell you much. There was an incident years ago and I forgot much about her, save that she is my miko and I could always feel her. But after that incident, I could not remember who she was, nor could I feel her. They, the other gods, tried to help me remember…demo, I guess it wasn't time for me to remember because I could not. And so, I finally convinced Zaku-chan to allow me to come here, in search of my miko. I did not ask to be sent to Konan in particular," Usagi saw a clouded, somewhat hurt look overcome Hotohori, and quickly amended. "I did not care where I was sent, so long as I could search for my miko…but I am very much glad to be hear in Konan." She smiled as the look disappeared from Hotohori's beautiful features.
"So you come in search of your miko…you must allow the other seishis and I to help you!"
"Nani?!" Usagi stared at Hotohori, seeing the determination shining in them. "Demo… you are already on your quest to summon my brother…."
"We can continue to do so as we help you!" Hotohori whispered fiercely. This megami in front of him wanted to find her miko, and by the heavens, he would make sure she found her miko!
"Demo…I cannot accept you help." Usagi sighed. Looking up at the now darkening sky, she smiled sadly. " I cannot explain it…I know deep down that my miko is close, yet it seems everytime I go forward a step, she goes forward two. I…I don't think she wishes to be found!" She stood up.
"Can you not just force her to appear?!" Hotohori asked, somewhat stunned.
"Iie…my miko is different from that of my brothers. She has protectors and a duty, but it is not to summon me. My miko's duty is much more important than that." Usagi looked up at Hotohori, and he felt his heart clench at the despair in her eyes.
"My miko…she knows her destiny. Perhaps she is fulfilling it, and perhaps she is running from it. I can tell she does not want to be found…at least…not by me!" Tears shone within the crystal blue orbs. I…I am not as I may appear, Hoto-chan."
"Nande, Usagi?"
"You…you know I am not human, Hoto-chan. And you do not run in fear because of that…and for that…I thank you." Usagi turned and smiled briefly at Hotohori. "My nii-chan's miko is your ward, Seiryuu's miko is his seishi's charge and so on. The jobs of their mikos are to call upon them and be granted three wishes. Demo, my miko, she, like me, is not human. She is the hikari no miko, and I am known as the hikari no tenshi. She and I must be together to form Hikari. That is why I am here, Hoto-chan. So that I can find my miko." Usagi sighed dejectedly, and fell down to the bench, where she was embraced by Hoto-chan.
"Hoto-chan…you've been very kind to me…and I…I thank you."
"Iie, Usagi. It is you who have been so kind to me."
"Nande?"
"You do not treat me any differently than you would others, Usagi-chan."
"Well, Hoto-chan, everyone is different, but at the same time, very much so alike. I treat you not any differently than you have treated me, Hoto-chan. You are the first mortal I have met, who knew my identity and did not cower or treat me as if I would determine your fate, and I will forever remember that, Hoto-chan." Hotohori blushed, turning even redder as Usagi gave him a peck on the cheek.
"Arigatou, Hoto-chan." Gods…what that woman did to him. Did she realize the delightful feeling that the touch of her hot breath against his skin did to him? Obviously not.
"Usa-chan…" His breath caught his throat, as the last rays of the setting sun enhanced the beauty of the tenshi, the megami in front of him.
"I know that right now, Miaka and the rest of the seishis are trying to find out my intentions, Hoto-chan." She smiled sadly at the guilty look that had crossed Hotohori's face. "And I do not blame you, Hotohori, nor do I blame them. I suppose if I am in your position, I too would be worried. After all, a total stranger has shown up abruptly, and the stranger turns out to be the sister of Suzaku, patron god of Konan…and you know not of whether or not she is here to help you…or to turn against you."
"I…I tried to stop them…" Hotohori looked down at his hands, ashamed.
"Hai, I know." His eyes flew to meet Usagi's.
"You do?"
"Of course, I was only in the next room!" Usagi grinned at him, before pulling him up. "Now what say you and I head back to the palace and eat dinner. The others should be back and I'm famished! I haven't eaten all day! Oh, and you must tell me what anger-management council you sent your guards so I can send that place a gift!"
The two made their way back to the palace as laughter filled the air around them.
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"What's this that I hear about Suzaku having a sister?!" Nakago roared. The rest of the Seiryuu seishis cringed.
"But can't this all be a hoax, set up by them to lure us?" Yui asked worriedly.
"Of course, my liege, demo we will not take that chance." Nakago turned his attention to Ashitare.
"Bring her here."
"Yes, Nakago-sama." That said, Nakago turned to Yui.
"Yui-sama, I shall be taking my leave now. Rest well." With a twirl of his cape, he had left the tent, Soi following him in hopes of raising his chi.
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"YOUR CRAZY SEISHIS ARE TRYING TO KILL USA-CHAN!" a ticked up Suzaku was screaming at a somewhat taken aback Seiryuu, before he regained his senses.
"THEY ARE NOT! THEY'LL BE ABLE TO BETTER PROTECT HER THAN YOURS!"
"CANNOT!"
"CAN TOO!"
"CANNOT!"
"CAN TOO!"
"NOT!!"
"TOO!!"
"NOT!!!!!"
"TOO!!!!!!"
"NOT NOT NOT NOT NOT!!!!!!!!!"
"TOO TOO TOO TOO TOO!!!!!!!!!!!!"
"NOT TIMES INFINITY!"
"TOO TIMES INFINITY AND TWO!"
"NO SUCH THING!"
"IS TOO!"
"IS NOT!!!"
"IS TOO!!!!!!"
"IS NOT!!!!!!"
And so, as the two gods continued to argue, Byakko turned to face Genbu.
"Perhaps we should go join Usagi-chan…"
"What, and miss this?!" sarcasm laced every word.
*sigh* "I had only been suggesting…"
"She must do this on her own…"
"Yes, but what shall happen when she comes back to us…when she finds out…"
"IF she comes back…when she finds out…"
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End Chapter
This was mainly a somewhat introduce/explaining chapter. Hehe…Well, review minna! *yawns tiredly* well, minna, review…more reviews=happier star-siren= faster updates…and then cycle continues all over again ^-^;; hehe..well, hope ya enjoyed the fic minna!