Chapter 12: Nobody Wants to Be Lonely, Nobody Wants to Cry
Tamahome saw the face of his younger friend and watched as she walked towards him. Normally she would have been happy to see him or any of the other seishi and greet them joyfully. 'Tamakins!' she'd say with a smile, copying Nuriko. 'Hey!' She'd run to him and beg for a pig back. 'Pleeeeeeeeeeeease," she'd pout and always seem to get her way. Playfully he'd agree and carry her all the way to where they were going. But now her eyes seemed a pale shade of sky blue, not the usual midnight navy. Slowly she passed him without even a smile, without even a glance towards him, without any recognition that he was alive. "Mirakuru?" He asked with no response from her. "Mirakuru!"
"HIIIIIIIIIIIII-EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!" She burst out loudly and happily, causing Tamahome to fall backwords anime stlye. She stood with a blank look on her face for a moment and then laughed as she helped him to his feet. "I'm sorry," she smiled, "Did I scare you, Tamakins?!" The darkness returned to her eyes and she giggled.
"Just a little," he frowned and brushed some dirt off of his pants. "Why are you in such a good mood? Hmm," he grinned suspiciously. "You were with Hotohori last night weren't you? Hmm." He came closer to her and made her blush.
"Well, um--" Her cheeks flushed.
"I knew it. How much action did his Highness get? Come on, you can tell you're old friend Tamahome." He knudged her with his elbow in the shoulder.
"What is this an interrigation?!" She couldn't help but smile. "It's not like that at all." He stayed with me all last night, yes." She brought her hands to her chest and felt her heart race. "He made sure I made it through the night. Made it so I could live. Made it seem that we were the only two people in the world" A soft sigh escaped her lips and she closed her eyes imagining his voice, calling her name, 'I love you... Miracle.'
"You really do love him," he said in a stunned tone. "I wasn't sure at first, but you do."
She just stared at him, her body slightly turned away from his. Mirakuru nodded and smiled. "Now finally he'll be loved by the one person he loves, the way he deserves." She encircled in her own arms as her body began to shake. "Um." She was distant again. "I have to go okay, bye." Her ponytail swayed as she ran the other direction towards the other end of the palace.
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"I tried to make love to her," Tasuki admitted to a helplessly distracted Nuriko. He was sipping a tea he had prepare for himself and for some odd reason he had left his hair down as if he just didn't care anymore. He nodded and was unfocused still.
"Uh-huh," he took another drink of it. The light flavor really wasn't what he liked, it was the soothing effect it had on him, peace, calm, even though something was bothering this emotional young man. "Did you?"
"No," he sighed. "I wish I hadn't tried." His hands went to fists. "Did Mirakuru tell you about her--" he paused. "About what happened to her?..." Inside he was hurting more than he ever had before, not because he didn't get the chance to give her such pleasure and passion, but because he had tried and ended up hurting and scaring her more than she already was. *Kakusei...*
"I was there when she told her." Nuriko's fingertips brushed away a hair that had fallen into his eyes, the very same fingertips that had touched the lips of the Lady of Prayer, Mirakuru. 'Nuriko!' She had cried his name more than once, for comfort, for support, for the warmth he was always willing to give her. *But now--* He caught his head in his hand and his strength was gone again. *She loves Hotohori--the man I thought I loved. But that was until Miaka came, and now everyone sees me as a man. So now I am a man. And I no longer love a man, but a woman..."
"Oh." He sighed again and fought back from crying. "I tried to touch her, the way I wanted to, and she refused me. I scared her. She screamed my name and ran from my bed, out towards you two I guess." He gasped for a moment, "And why were you with Mirakuru so late last night? The guards say you two were--almost as if you were lovers."
"Hmm." He caught a glimpse of his reflection in the tea and stared at himself. *Almost as if we were lovers?...* He asked himself if that's what he wanted.
"But that's not like her at all, so that can't be. Everyone around her knows that Hotohori and her are together," he said more into thin air then to Nuriko.
Nuriko's eyes went wide. *Mirakuru--And the Emperor?!*
"I heard them in his room right before I took Kakusei back to my room. And it seemed as if he got further than I did," he said adding a little humor to lighten the mood.
"You mean?!" His breathing shortened.
"Of course, Nuriko. What else would I mean?"
Not only had Hotohori taken his best friend away, but he had also taken her innocence! *How dare he?!* Tasuki's attention turned back to reality when he heard the cup smash on the floor and the opening of a door. He could see that something had upseted Nuriko as he flashed out of the room like wild fire.
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"I love him," Mirakuru said to Daikonsen. She shook her head. "Maybe too much."
"What do you mean?" the Lady of Life, Daikonsen paid close attention to her friend.
"He asked me to be his wife--"
Daikonsen gasped. "He what?"
"Uh-huh. And I don't know what to tell him."
"Do you want to?"
"Do I--" Her speech stopped. She couldn't speak. Something was holding her back.
"Hmm." She sighed. "I see."
"Mmm." Mirakuru wasn't as emotional as she usually was.
"You're gonna have to decide sooner or later." She stood up and looked out the window. "You have to decide between the two."
"Huh?!"
Heather colored eyes flashed and long sky hair waved. "Who's it going to be--"
*No. There's no way.*
"Hotohori or Nuriko?"
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Mitsukake walked by himself. The ribbons of his hair band strayed behind him, the morning mist cool. His cool, blue eyes caught a glimpse of the sunlight breaking through the trees. *How peaceful it is today...* Images of serenity filled his head, but it was shortly lived. *Danger lies ahead. I must be strong. I can't let reality escape me, I must prepare for the war that is coming upon us.* He remembered the other day the pain that those four young girls faced. Daikonsen's face fluttered across his thoughts. *Lady Daikonsen--a rebirth after total chaos... This one is a very confident fighter indeed. Although she lacks the spirit to bring out her true power, she will come to know it in time.*
*Lady Densetsu--the strength of the legend...* Densetsu's dark crimson eyes made her strength came upon him. *She it holds back, but she is strong. Although her emotions don't run her judgement, she is willing to do whatever it takes to win.*
A flash of long emerald hair and earthy eyes encircled him. *Lady Kakusei--awakening to the knowledge...* He shook his head, *Lady, you are hiding something from us, not only a secret but your. You try to hard to hold back, but it only pulls you in deeper. Find the strenth inside and let it out!*
Finally blue, blue eyes danced through his thoughts. *Lady Mirakuru--a prayer for hope...* *I don't believe she'll be the one to fight back, she's not will to risk the pain. But she will have to face the battle head on, she's got the spirit to do it, but maybe not the heart. And she will sacrifice everything if it means her loved ones will be safe, even if it means her own life.*
*The rest of us... Majesty, Tamahome, Chichiri, Chiriko, Tasuki, myself, and Nuriko--* "Nuriko."
The sight of his companion surprised him and he glanced puzzled by the way he looked. Nuriko's hair whipped freely of his shoulders and rage burned around him. Something had obviously upset him and he wasn't taking it lightly. Mitsukake stood in front of him. "Mitsukake get out of my way!!" His eyes flashed violently. But the 22 year old seishi stood his ground. "Mitsukake!!!"
Without even a word, Mitsukake let him pass and watched him storm the other direction. "What is it, my friend?"
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Densetsu sighed and turned her head to face Chichiri. "I'm actually kinda scared. I mean, what if we can't do it?"
"It's my guess that with all of us together we'll be just fine."
"I hope you're right." She sighed again and looked down at the ground. *Miraku-chan how come you've been so distant from me lately, all of us. Me, Daikonsen, Kakusei, even Nuriko. All your attention has be focused on Hotohori.* She opened her eyes and focused her eyes on Hotohori. "What do you thnk Highness?"
"I agree with Chichiri. I think that a solid team will be the base for great strength."
"I swear he's a poet--" Daikonsen couldn't help but giggle when Miaka made a comment.
"Be serious Miaka." Kakusei warned her. "This could have dier consequences if we don't do it appropiatly. " She pushed a loose hair behind her ear, "I'm not willing to lose anybody."
Miaka blinked and then turned to Tamahome, whispereing, "She's suffering."
"Hmm." Tamahome nodded, "Don't say anything to Tasuki though."
Mirakuru appeared behind Hotohori just as Nuriko walked in. She seemed down about something.
"Miss Mirakuru, glad to see you today."
"Good evening Chiriko..." Her voice was empty, unlike she usually was, full of emotion and passion.
Nuriko's eyes focused on her and the Emperor. *It can't be true.*
Mirakuru stood there infront of the group for some time before she spoke. "The council has brough to my attention a certain flaw of the ceremony to summon Suzaku." She choked and then shook her head.
Hotohori looked at her and noticed her hestitation, then finished for her. "As the Priestess must be, the Guardians must also be pure and untouched..."
"Meaning..." Daikonsen asked. The group leaned in closer.
"Meaning they must be chaste."
Everybody's mouth dropped. "Um..." Densetus blushed, a grin creeping up her lips. "I don't think that's a possiblity, Majesty."
"That was never part of the deal Highness!" Nuriko cried hastly. "You know as well as I do not all of the Guardians are virgins!!" He shook his head, fighting back angry tears. "I can't believe you'd even mention this especially in front of them. Especially in front of Miracle--Mirakuru," he corrected himself, not wanting to make it obvious that he wanted her as his lover.
"Nuriko?" He tilted his head to the side and said calmly, "I don't believe I know what you are talking about."
"You know exactly what I'm talking about, Hotohori!!"
A guard stepped in front of him. "You will address the Emperor properly, Lord Nuriko."
"No," Hotohori said aburtly stopping the soldier. "I know understand Nuriko very clearly now." The guard went back to his place on the other side of the room. The eyes of the two Seishi met.
Mirakuru had feared this might happen. Nuriko had tried to tell her something important many times before but somehow it was always interrupted.
"Nuriko! What in the hell are you doing?!" Tamahome stood up and approached him.
"Stay out of this Tamahome." Nuriko sternly told him. Tamahome's eyes widened, and then he sighed, slowly backing away.
"This is his battle." Mitsukake said to the other Seishi who watched.
Daikonsen's eyes watched Mirakuru who was on the verge of tears. *Don't let them see you cry, you know that will only fuel the fire.*
*I know but I can't help it. I can't.*
*Yes you can.* Densetsu joined in on the silent conversation. *Mirakuru, be strong.* Dark crimson eyes flashed at her along with violet.
*All right... Guys... Confort Kakusei for me... Tasuki can't do it himself.* They wiped around hair fly around, and they say Tasuki's helpless eyes. He tried to reach to pull Kakusei to him she backed away near falling off her feet. *I can't help her know, no one can.*
*What's wrong with her?* Densetsu asked not really wanting to know.
*Remember when we first came to Konan?*
*Yes.*
*She was--*
*No.* Daikonsen shook her head. *No, it can't be true!!*
*We can't do anything to help her, no matter how much we want too.*
"You took it from her didn't you!" Nuriko said with fury to the Emperor. "You took her innocence away."
"What?!" Chichiri cried, his body force. "I knew they were together, but--"
"Mirakuru is this true?!" Miaka flashed her eyes towards her friend. "You and Hotohori had--sex," her voice said at a low.
"No." Tears struck the back of her eyes. "What the--"
"It's not true?" Nuriko asked her stunned.
"No, of course not," Mirakuru said to him and to all of them. "Stop all of this arguing Nuriko."
"No!!" He turned his face back towards the very much aware Hotohori. "It doesn't matter! He took away the only thing I care about in this world!!!!!!!!!" He through a punch a Hotohori who was equally ready to duel for Mirakuru.
"I would never take anyone's innocence like that, I would only make love to them, they way I intend to do to Mirakuru, once she is ready for me." This only fueled Nuriko's rage, making more and more tears pour out of his eyes.
"I hate you for dare loving her!!!" He through fist after fist at Hotohori but he blocked and dodged every one. "I hate you for her loving her and you not me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Mirakuru's eyes widened and her heart raced. *No! No! No! NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!* Her head shook and her body did too. She wanted to run to Hotohori but also to Nuriko.
"I always knew you loved her, I saw it on your face that first day you saw her," he didn't strike back. "But I love her, and she is mine." His eyes struck afire and he finally grabbed his sword, and then tossed on to Nuriko. "I will fight you for her, but only if it's fair."
"Fine with me." Her slide to blade out of it's case and Hotohori followed.
"Stop." The seishi watched the destressed and upset Lady of Prayer and the two fighting for the lady's love in frustration. "Please."
"You won't have her."
"Yes I will!!!!" Everytime the swords struck Mirakuru's heart screamed. Again and again the metal met and again and again the Lady's heart cried.
*I didn't think this would happen.* Daikonsen watched her friend cry, wishing she could hold her. But her attention turned back to the tearful and scared Kakusei.
"I love her! And only one man can love her and have his love returned!" Nuriko's sword dug into Hotohori's shoulder, blood stained his shirt and his hair fell out. "Even if you are the Emperor, and my best friend, I will fight to have her!"
"Best friend?..." Hotohori gasped as he gripped his shoulder. But then he struck back with enormous force at Nuriko.
*I never imagined Nuriko and I--I never knew he loved me. That's what he's been trying to tell me this whole time." Her eyes went to slits and she cried.
"You can't have her!!!!!!!" Nuriko cried as the blade came at him and then it aburtly stopped, when Hotohori heard his lover's voice.
"Saihitei!!!!!! Ryuuen!!!!!!" She stood between them her body facing Hotohori. Her arms were spread out . "Stop it. I cannot allow you to hurt Ryuuen. He cares for me as much as you do, and I care for him as well."
Both the warrior's eyes widened. "Mirakuru?!" Hotohori asked as he withdrew his sword. "You want us to stop?"
"Saihitei." She rarely called any of the Seishi by their real names. "Please don't fight. I can't bare to see it." Just as she finished Nuriko's blade pierced the Emperor's shoulder but this time all the way through. "Uhh?!... Saihitei... Hotohori!!" She cried aloud and then circled around catching Nuriko off guard. She drove her fist into the side of his face sending his to the ground hard. "Ryuuen, I wanted you to stop."
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"Are you alright?" Tamahome asked the wounded Emperor.
"I believe so." He smiled slightly. "Just a flesh wound, I--" Mirakuru's small body was within his arms and he could feel her tears.
"Promise me you won't do that to me again." She clung to him with a dependency that nobody could deny. "Promise me you won't fight Nuriko again."
"Promise."
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Nuriko sat on his bed, alone, cold, and sad. *I can't believe I struck back at the Emperor..." He shook his head and then layed back against the softness of the pillow. *But I did. Even if she is still a virgin, still pure and innocent. He will said it himself, 'I would never take anyone's innocence like that, I would only make love to them, they way I intend to do to Mirakuru, once she is ready for me.' He knew Hotohori all to well. He'd wait as long as he could and then he'd have her. He'd do anything to keep her.
There was no doubt in the warrior's mind that Hotohori loved her as he himself did. No one could deny how Hotohori felt about Mirakuru, no one. But he also loved her. His body began feeling like that of a man when he had first saw her, as the Emperor had said. He felt the overwhelming urge to take her and drive himself into her. But that was not Nuriko's nature, not in the least. He wanted to hold her, but not as her friend, as her only desire, as her man, as her passion, as the one she loved.
"Ryuuen?" The voice he'd grown the love spoke his real name.
"Mirakuru?!" He was surprised to see her especially the way he had treated Hotohori and the fact that she had punched him right in the face. A bruse glazed his face.
"I must have hit you pretty hard, huh?" She smiled slightly.
"What do you want?" He asked suspiciously.
The smile disappeared from her face and her eyes met his. "I wanted to ask you something." He sat up as she sat down beside him. Taking his loose hair in her hands she began to braid it which he noticed her calmness.
"Hmm."
"...Why did you attack Hotohori?" She asked from behind him, her eyes focused on his hair. His eyes watched her and then he looked down at his hands. They clasped and then released.
"I was angry."
"That's not it."
"No... I hate him for having you. Because I want you for myself. I love you..."
She stopped. The words had finally come out of his mouth. *I love you?!* She froze. *He loves me?????... This wasn't anything I ever expected.* She tied the hair band around the end and she felt his hands against her shoulders, pushing her down. "Nuriko?..." She begged him not to, silently she cried Hotohori's name, but part of her cried Nuriko's name. His lips claimed hers and she didn't push away. *I don't know what to do anymore, I've lost all sense.*
Tamahome saw the face of his younger friend and watched as she walked towards him. Normally she would have been happy to see him or any of the other seishi and greet them joyfully. 'Tamakins!' she'd say with a smile, copying Nuriko. 'Hey!' She'd run to him and beg for a pig back. 'Pleeeeeeeeeeeease," she'd pout and always seem to get her way. Playfully he'd agree and carry her all the way to where they were going. But now her eyes seemed a pale shade of sky blue, not the usual midnight navy. Slowly she passed him without even a smile, without even a glance towards him, without any recognition that he was alive. "Mirakuru?" He asked with no response from her. "Mirakuru!"
"HIIIIIIIIIIIII-EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!" She burst out loudly and happily, causing Tamahome to fall backwords anime stlye. She stood with a blank look on her face for a moment and then laughed as she helped him to his feet. "I'm sorry," she smiled, "Did I scare you, Tamakins?!" The darkness returned to her eyes and she giggled.
"Just a little," he frowned and brushed some dirt off of his pants. "Why are you in such a good mood? Hmm," he grinned suspiciously. "You were with Hotohori last night weren't you? Hmm." He came closer to her and made her blush.
"Well, um--" Her cheeks flushed.
"I knew it. How much action did his Highness get? Come on, you can tell you're old friend Tamahome." He knudged her with his elbow in the shoulder.
"What is this an interrigation?!" She couldn't help but smile. "It's not like that at all." He stayed with me all last night, yes." She brought her hands to her chest and felt her heart race. "He made sure I made it through the night. Made it so I could live. Made it seem that we were the only two people in the world" A soft sigh escaped her lips and she closed her eyes imagining his voice, calling her name, 'I love you... Miracle.'
"You really do love him," he said in a stunned tone. "I wasn't sure at first, but you do."
She just stared at him, her body slightly turned away from his. Mirakuru nodded and smiled. "Now finally he'll be loved by the one person he loves, the way he deserves." She encircled in her own arms as her body began to shake. "Um." She was distant again. "I have to go okay, bye." Her ponytail swayed as she ran the other direction towards the other end of the palace.
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"I tried to make love to her," Tasuki admitted to a helplessly distracted Nuriko. He was sipping a tea he had prepare for himself and for some odd reason he had left his hair down as if he just didn't care anymore. He nodded and was unfocused still.
"Uh-huh," he took another drink of it. The light flavor really wasn't what he liked, it was the soothing effect it had on him, peace, calm, even though something was bothering this emotional young man. "Did you?"
"No," he sighed. "I wish I hadn't tried." His hands went to fists. "Did Mirakuru tell you about her--" he paused. "About what happened to her?..." Inside he was hurting more than he ever had before, not because he didn't get the chance to give her such pleasure and passion, but because he had tried and ended up hurting and scaring her more than she already was. *Kakusei...*
"I was there when she told her." Nuriko's fingertips brushed away a hair that had fallen into his eyes, the very same fingertips that had touched the lips of the Lady of Prayer, Mirakuru. 'Nuriko!' She had cried his name more than once, for comfort, for support, for the warmth he was always willing to give her. *But now--* He caught his head in his hand and his strength was gone again. *She loves Hotohori--the man I thought I loved. But that was until Miaka came, and now everyone sees me as a man. So now I am a man. And I no longer love a man, but a woman..."
"Oh." He sighed again and fought back from crying. "I tried to touch her, the way I wanted to, and she refused me. I scared her. She screamed my name and ran from my bed, out towards you two I guess." He gasped for a moment, "And why were you with Mirakuru so late last night? The guards say you two were--almost as if you were lovers."
"Hmm." He caught a glimpse of his reflection in the tea and stared at himself. *Almost as if we were lovers?...* He asked himself if that's what he wanted.
"But that's not like her at all, so that can't be. Everyone around her knows that Hotohori and her are together," he said more into thin air then to Nuriko.
Nuriko's eyes went wide. *Mirakuru--And the Emperor?!*
"I heard them in his room right before I took Kakusei back to my room. And it seemed as if he got further than I did," he said adding a little humor to lighten the mood.
"You mean?!" His breathing shortened.
"Of course, Nuriko. What else would I mean?"
Not only had Hotohori taken his best friend away, but he had also taken her innocence! *How dare he?!* Tasuki's attention turned back to reality when he heard the cup smash on the floor and the opening of a door. He could see that something had upseted Nuriko as he flashed out of the room like wild fire.
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"I love him," Mirakuru said to Daikonsen. She shook her head. "Maybe too much."
"What do you mean?" the Lady of Life, Daikonsen paid close attention to her friend.
"He asked me to be his wife--"
Daikonsen gasped. "He what?"
"Uh-huh. And I don't know what to tell him."
"Do you want to?"
"Do I--" Her speech stopped. She couldn't speak. Something was holding her back.
"Hmm." She sighed. "I see."
"Mmm." Mirakuru wasn't as emotional as she usually was.
"You're gonna have to decide sooner or later." She stood up and looked out the window. "You have to decide between the two."
"Huh?!"
Heather colored eyes flashed and long sky hair waved. "Who's it going to be--"
*No. There's no way.*
"Hotohori or Nuriko?"
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Mitsukake walked by himself. The ribbons of his hair band strayed behind him, the morning mist cool. His cool, blue eyes caught a glimpse of the sunlight breaking through the trees. *How peaceful it is today...* Images of serenity filled his head, but it was shortly lived. *Danger lies ahead. I must be strong. I can't let reality escape me, I must prepare for the war that is coming upon us.* He remembered the other day the pain that those four young girls faced. Daikonsen's face fluttered across his thoughts. *Lady Daikonsen--a rebirth after total chaos... This one is a very confident fighter indeed. Although she lacks the spirit to bring out her true power, she will come to know it in time.*
*Lady Densetsu--the strength of the legend...* Densetsu's dark crimson eyes made her strength came upon him. *She it holds back, but she is strong. Although her emotions don't run her judgement, she is willing to do whatever it takes to win.*
A flash of long emerald hair and earthy eyes encircled him. *Lady Kakusei--awakening to the knowledge...* He shook his head, *Lady, you are hiding something from us, not only a secret but your. You try to hard to hold back, but it only pulls you in deeper. Find the strenth inside and let it out!*
Finally blue, blue eyes danced through his thoughts. *Lady Mirakuru--a prayer for hope...* *I don't believe she'll be the one to fight back, she's not will to risk the pain. But she will have to face the battle head on, she's got the spirit to do it, but maybe not the heart. And she will sacrifice everything if it means her loved ones will be safe, even if it means her own life.*
*The rest of us... Majesty, Tamahome, Chichiri, Chiriko, Tasuki, myself, and Nuriko--* "Nuriko."
The sight of his companion surprised him and he glanced puzzled by the way he looked. Nuriko's hair whipped freely of his shoulders and rage burned around him. Something had obviously upset him and he wasn't taking it lightly. Mitsukake stood in front of him. "Mitsukake get out of my way!!" His eyes flashed violently. But the 22 year old seishi stood his ground. "Mitsukake!!!"
Without even a word, Mitsukake let him pass and watched him storm the other direction. "What is it, my friend?"
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Densetsu sighed and turned her head to face Chichiri. "I'm actually kinda scared. I mean, what if we can't do it?"
"It's my guess that with all of us together we'll be just fine."
"I hope you're right." She sighed again and looked down at the ground. *Miraku-chan how come you've been so distant from me lately, all of us. Me, Daikonsen, Kakusei, even Nuriko. All your attention has be focused on Hotohori.* She opened her eyes and focused her eyes on Hotohori. "What do you thnk Highness?"
"I agree with Chichiri. I think that a solid team will be the base for great strength."
"I swear he's a poet--" Daikonsen couldn't help but giggle when Miaka made a comment.
"Be serious Miaka." Kakusei warned her. "This could have dier consequences if we don't do it appropiatly. " She pushed a loose hair behind her ear, "I'm not willing to lose anybody."
Miaka blinked and then turned to Tamahome, whispereing, "She's suffering."
"Hmm." Tamahome nodded, "Don't say anything to Tasuki though."
Mirakuru appeared behind Hotohori just as Nuriko walked in. She seemed down about something.
"Miss Mirakuru, glad to see you today."
"Good evening Chiriko..." Her voice was empty, unlike she usually was, full of emotion and passion.
Nuriko's eyes focused on her and the Emperor. *It can't be true.*
Mirakuru stood there infront of the group for some time before she spoke. "The council has brough to my attention a certain flaw of the ceremony to summon Suzaku." She choked and then shook her head.
Hotohori looked at her and noticed her hestitation, then finished for her. "As the Priestess must be, the Guardians must also be pure and untouched..."
"Meaning..." Daikonsen asked. The group leaned in closer.
"Meaning they must be chaste."
Everybody's mouth dropped. "Um..." Densetus blushed, a grin creeping up her lips. "I don't think that's a possiblity, Majesty."
"That was never part of the deal Highness!" Nuriko cried hastly. "You know as well as I do not all of the Guardians are virgins!!" He shook his head, fighting back angry tears. "I can't believe you'd even mention this especially in front of them. Especially in front of Miracle--Mirakuru," he corrected himself, not wanting to make it obvious that he wanted her as his lover.
"Nuriko?" He tilted his head to the side and said calmly, "I don't believe I know what you are talking about."
"You know exactly what I'm talking about, Hotohori!!"
A guard stepped in front of him. "You will address the Emperor properly, Lord Nuriko."
"No," Hotohori said aburtly stopping the soldier. "I know understand Nuriko very clearly now." The guard went back to his place on the other side of the room. The eyes of the two Seishi met.
Mirakuru had feared this might happen. Nuriko had tried to tell her something important many times before but somehow it was always interrupted.
"Nuriko! What in the hell are you doing?!" Tamahome stood up and approached him.
"Stay out of this Tamahome." Nuriko sternly told him. Tamahome's eyes widened, and then he sighed, slowly backing away.
"This is his battle." Mitsukake said to the other Seishi who watched.
Daikonsen's eyes watched Mirakuru who was on the verge of tears. *Don't let them see you cry, you know that will only fuel the fire.*
*I know but I can't help it. I can't.*
*Yes you can.* Densetsu joined in on the silent conversation. *Mirakuru, be strong.* Dark crimson eyes flashed at her along with violet.
*All right... Guys... Confort Kakusei for me... Tasuki can't do it himself.* They wiped around hair fly around, and they say Tasuki's helpless eyes. He tried to reach to pull Kakusei to him she backed away near falling off her feet. *I can't help her know, no one can.*
*What's wrong with her?* Densetsu asked not really wanting to know.
*Remember when we first came to Konan?*
*Yes.*
*She was--*
*No.* Daikonsen shook her head. *No, it can't be true!!*
*We can't do anything to help her, no matter how much we want too.*
"You took it from her didn't you!" Nuriko said with fury to the Emperor. "You took her innocence away."
"What?!" Chichiri cried, his body force. "I knew they were together, but--"
"Mirakuru is this true?!" Miaka flashed her eyes towards her friend. "You and Hotohori had--sex," her voice said at a low.
"No." Tears struck the back of her eyes. "What the--"
"It's not true?" Nuriko asked her stunned.
"No, of course not," Mirakuru said to him and to all of them. "Stop all of this arguing Nuriko."
"No!!" He turned his face back towards the very much aware Hotohori. "It doesn't matter! He took away the only thing I care about in this world!!!!!!!!!" He through a punch a Hotohori who was equally ready to duel for Mirakuru.
"I would never take anyone's innocence like that, I would only make love to them, they way I intend to do to Mirakuru, once she is ready for me." This only fueled Nuriko's rage, making more and more tears pour out of his eyes.
"I hate you for dare loving her!!!" He through fist after fist at Hotohori but he blocked and dodged every one. "I hate you for her loving her and you not me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Mirakuru's eyes widened and her heart raced. *No! No! No! NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!* Her head shook and her body did too. She wanted to run to Hotohori but also to Nuriko.
"I always knew you loved her, I saw it on your face that first day you saw her," he didn't strike back. "But I love her, and she is mine." His eyes struck afire and he finally grabbed his sword, and then tossed on to Nuriko. "I will fight you for her, but only if it's fair."
"Fine with me." Her slide to blade out of it's case and Hotohori followed.
"Stop." The seishi watched the destressed and upset Lady of Prayer and the two fighting for the lady's love in frustration. "Please."
"You won't have her."
"Yes I will!!!!" Everytime the swords struck Mirakuru's heart screamed. Again and again the metal met and again and again the Lady's heart cried.
*I didn't think this would happen.* Daikonsen watched her friend cry, wishing she could hold her. But her attention turned back to the tearful and scared Kakusei.
"I love her! And only one man can love her and have his love returned!" Nuriko's sword dug into Hotohori's shoulder, blood stained his shirt and his hair fell out. "Even if you are the Emperor, and my best friend, I will fight to have her!"
"Best friend?..." Hotohori gasped as he gripped his shoulder. But then he struck back with enormous force at Nuriko.
*I never imagined Nuriko and I--I never knew he loved me. That's what he's been trying to tell me this whole time." Her eyes went to slits and she cried.
"You can't have her!!!!!!!" Nuriko cried as the blade came at him and then it aburtly stopped, when Hotohori heard his lover's voice.
"Saihitei!!!!!! Ryuuen!!!!!!" She stood between them her body facing Hotohori. Her arms were spread out . "Stop it. I cannot allow you to hurt Ryuuen. He cares for me as much as you do, and I care for him as well."
Both the warrior's eyes widened. "Mirakuru?!" Hotohori asked as he withdrew his sword. "You want us to stop?"
"Saihitei." She rarely called any of the Seishi by their real names. "Please don't fight. I can't bare to see it." Just as she finished Nuriko's blade pierced the Emperor's shoulder but this time all the way through. "Uhh?!... Saihitei... Hotohori!!" She cried aloud and then circled around catching Nuriko off guard. She drove her fist into the side of his face sending his to the ground hard. "Ryuuen, I wanted you to stop."
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"Are you alright?" Tamahome asked the wounded Emperor.
"I believe so." He smiled slightly. "Just a flesh wound, I--" Mirakuru's small body was within his arms and he could feel her tears.
"Promise me you won't do that to me again." She clung to him with a dependency that nobody could deny. "Promise me you won't fight Nuriko again."
"Promise."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Nuriko sat on his bed, alone, cold, and sad. *I can't believe I struck back at the Emperor..." He shook his head and then layed back against the softness of the pillow. *But I did. Even if she is still a virgin, still pure and innocent. He will said it himself, 'I would never take anyone's innocence like that, I would only make love to them, they way I intend to do to Mirakuru, once she is ready for me.' He knew Hotohori all to well. He'd wait as long as he could and then he'd have her. He'd do anything to keep her.
There was no doubt in the warrior's mind that Hotohori loved her as he himself did. No one could deny how Hotohori felt about Mirakuru, no one. But he also loved her. His body began feeling like that of a man when he had first saw her, as the Emperor had said. He felt the overwhelming urge to take her and drive himself into her. But that was not Nuriko's nature, not in the least. He wanted to hold her, but not as her friend, as her only desire, as her man, as her passion, as the one she loved.
"Ryuuen?" The voice he'd grown the love spoke his real name.
"Mirakuru?!" He was surprised to see her especially the way he had treated Hotohori and the fact that she had punched him right in the face. A bruse glazed his face.
"I must have hit you pretty hard, huh?" She smiled slightly.
"What do you want?" He asked suspiciously.
The smile disappeared from her face and her eyes met his. "I wanted to ask you something." He sat up as she sat down beside him. Taking his loose hair in her hands she began to braid it which he noticed her calmness.
"Hmm."
"...Why did you attack Hotohori?" She asked from behind him, her eyes focused on his hair. His eyes watched her and then he looked down at his hands. They clasped and then released.
"I was angry."
"That's not it."
"No... I hate him for having you. Because I want you for myself. I love you..."
She stopped. The words had finally come out of his mouth. *I love you?!* She froze. *He loves me?????... This wasn't anything I ever expected.* She tied the hair band around the end and she felt his hands against her shoulders, pushing her down. "Nuriko?..." She begged him not to, silently she cried Hotohori's name, but part of her cried Nuriko's name. His lips claimed hers and she didn't push away. *I don't know what to do anymore, I've lost all sense.*