Neptune Princess
Chapter three: The Dream and Festival
Tasuki gently laid Miaka on her bed and caressed her face. Her breathing was rapid so he got up and went to get the palace doctor. While he was away Miaka had a dream that helped her understand her destiny.
***Dream***
" Yui! I'm sorry, I can never come back to our world! I have to stay, but I don't have anything here. Tamahome has moved on and married someone else. I can't stay here, there's nothing here for me."
" You're wrong Miaka. You do have someone, and he would risk his life to save you make sure you're happy."
" Who is it though?"
" You know very well who it is. Miaka, you must move on. If you don't your future will be ruined." The image of Yui Hongo, Miaka's best friend, slowly dissolved and all was pitch black. Then, a red glow appeared. At first it was very faint, but it kept growing until it was to intense for Miaka to look directly at. She sheilded her eyes, and noticed a few seconds after that the glow had faded.
There, fight in front of her, was Suzaku, the Phoenix god of the South. " Suzkau," Miaka said, " why must I do this? Why me? Why not the Priestess of Seiryu, Yui?"
" I alone cannot answer that, but Seiryu can help me." As if on cue a blue light appeared, and as before, it grew and then faded. There stood Seiryu, Dragon god of the East next to Suzaku.
" Miaka, Yui does not belong here. She has nothing that would help her rule an empire. You, on the other hand, have somehting here. You have a future in this world."
" What about my other world, all my friends and family, what about them?"
" You may visit them once a month, but that is all. You must explain to them that you must stay here, especially your mother," Suzaku answered.
" But you and the other gods have forbidden a priestess to stay in the book."
Seiryu looked at Miaka and said," Kutou must regain the peace we had a thousand years ago, and only you can bring it back. We talked it over and the peace is more important than you going back. You have faced many trials and are much wiser than when you first got to this world. You shall become the greatest empress in this world, but remember, you must first kill Zakago before he kills you. He is just like his brother, so you know how he acts and what he is capable of. From this moment on, until the day they die again, all of your dead seishi are alive. Find the other tree and begin your journey. (AN: Hotohori's already in the Palace so they don't need to go find him.) Suzaku and I will speak to you again when you reach Sairou. Good luck Suzaku no Miko." After that was said, they vanished.
***End Dream***
Miaka woke up to find the doctor, Tamahome, and Tasuki leaning over her. As soon as her eyes opened they all jumped except Tasuki, who flung his arms around her.
" I'm so glad you're okay," he said. Miaka was suprised when she felt a wetness on his cheeks.
' He was crying! Because of me?' Miaka looked up at Tamahome. His face was emotionless, but his eyes betrayed him. In them Miaka could see hurt and jealousy. ' He still cares about me' she thought.
" Tasuki, I'm okay now, but if you keep hugging me like this I might choke, " she said with a smile.
" Oh, gomene Miaka," Tasuki said as his cheeks flushed and he let go. Then he noticed that Tamahome had also gone down and hugged her after he let go. Even though it was short, Tasuki couldn't help but feel anger towards him. ' How can that bastard think he can even touch Miaka after what he did to her.'
" Well, I 'd say all you need is a little rest, and you can go to the festival tonight, " the doctor said. Just then a scream was heard from Prince Boushin's room. It sounded like Prince Boushin himself.
" Miaka, stay here," Tasuki said. " We'll find out what happened just get some rest."
Miaka reluctantly nodded and lied back down on the bed. Tasuki, Tamahome, and the doctor left the room, and as soon as the doors were shut, Miaka drifted into a dreamless sleep, somehow knowing why there was a scream.
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Tasuki was the first to get to the source of the scream. " What the fuck is happenin' here?!" he yelled as he saw an unbelievable sight. There in the middle of the room, was a man with long chocolate brown hair tied back in imperial robes. He turned around and looked at them.
" H..H..Hotohori!!" This time it was Tamahome who had spoken.
" My dad's alive again!" Prince Boushin exclaimed. The silence was excruciating. All people present stood rooted to the spot wide-eyed.
" I have a feeling that the gods have something to do with this," Hotohori said, finally breaking the silence.
" I agree," Tasuki said. " I wonder if Miaka knows something about this."
" Let's go ask her, " Tamahome stated.
" No. She needs her rest Tama. Sorry Hotohori, but she can't see you until tomorrow. You might make her collapse again."
" Again?" Hotohori asked in puzzlement. Tasuki spoke, " Yeah. After you talked to her she came out in tears. I was taking her to her room when she collapsed."
" I guess that she shouldn't see me then," Hotohori said glumily. He wanted so much just to run past al of them and go hug her. He could now have her, but he still had to wait.
During the five years, even though he was a spirit, Hotohori had divorced Houki because he just didn't love her. So, he and Boushin lived in the Palace alone with all the advisors and council.
Everyone stood there trying to comprehend what had just happened. Finally Tamahome spoke, " Well, there's nothing much we can do now. I suppose we should just get ready for the festival Tasuki."
" You're right, let's go." And with that Tamahome, Tasuki, adn the doctor left Prince Boushin's room.
One hour later Miaka woke up to find a festival kimono folded neatly and place on her dresser. " Wow, is it really time to start getting ready for the festival?"
" Yeah it is," Tamahome said as he appeared in the doorway. He had anxiously been waiting there to see when she would wake up so he could talk to her privately. " Oh, hi Tamahome, I didn't notice you there. What brings you here?" Miaka was trying very hard not to break down.
" Listen, Miaka I know that you are probably under a lot of stress, but I need to tell you this."
" It's okay Tamahome, Tasuki already told me about Chi Fong and Kegani. I guess I couldn't just leave you and think that you would be waiting for me. I'm still adjust to it, but you have moved on so I guess I should too."
" I'm sorry Miaka. I just never thought you'd come back. You didn't even give me something to communicate with you."
" I know. I would just like to be alone right now, thanks." Tears started to fill Miaka's golden-green eyes and Tamahome looked away. ' I should've known this was going to happen. All I can do is make her cry. I better leave like she asked me to.' Tamahome, with his head down, walked our her room.
" I should've known you were here Tasuki. You don't just care for her. You love her don't you?"
" Yeah so. What's your point?"
" Listen Tasuki, you keep your grubby hands off of her."
" She's not yours anymore remember? You're married with a kid. If I didn't know better, I'd say you still have feelings for her." Tamahome didn't say anything but walked past Tasuki down to his own room. ' Tasuki's right I still love her, but I have a wife and a child. I shouldn't have given up on her like that.' As soon as he go to his room he decided to go the festival and forget everything else, except Miaka.
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As soon as Tasuki was sure Miaka was okay, he too went to his room to get ready. Since his room was right by Tamahome's he could make sure that he left before him so that Miaka could enjoy tonight. ' What is Tama thinkin'? He can't just do that to her. Besides he's already married.' he thought as he started to change out of his every day clothes and into the festival ones.
' That boy has a screw lose in his head.' A knock on his door broke in on his thoughts. Tasuki hurridely finished getting dressed while he shouted, " Matte, I'll be right there." As soon as he was finished he slid open his door. He looked at the person there, but couldn't believe it was her.
" Miaka, is that you? You look like someone else." He wanted to say beautiful, but thought that it could wait. Miaka's hair was in a braid tonight and her kimono was a beautiful teal color with red cranes. Shw was carrying a purse to match, and tucked in the back of her obi was a flowered fan.
" Arigato Tasuki. Let's go no, I don't want to miss anything," Miaka said as she pulled Tasuki's arm and started to go. " Ok Miaka, but do you mind if it's just you and me. Tamahome doesn't want to upset you anymore and you could use a break."
" That's fine with me, now let's go!" Miaka and Tasuki walked down the path, through the garden, and out of the palace gates into the city. Miaka, remembering the last festival she went to, lead the way. Of course they went to all the food booths, but they also went to other things. Miaka and Tasuki were walking back from the archery booth when both saw, at the exact same thime a familiar purple haired man.
He turned to face them and stared.
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AN: In this fic the gods have the power to revive
the dead. Besides, my story wouldn't work without all the seishi.
