Disclaimer: Please see the Prologue of Suzaku's Oracle for a blanket disclaimer.
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Warnings: Rated PG-13 or Fiction T. Language (Tasuki's a main character, what do you expect?) and adult situations.
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Notes: 8-31-14 At this point in the story, things are only beginning to come together. That's not to say anything is anywhere near to being resolved. Oh, no. We're only two-tenths of the way into the OFG trilogy. There's a lot more to come! What I mean is, all the main storylines have been established. We have the threads following Chichiri, Tasuki, and Aneko. There is the thread following Kouji and the Leikaku Bandits. There is a thread following Danno. Then there is the thread following Taiitsukun. That's a lot going on! Already we see the threads weaving together as the paths of the characters begin to cross as I spin this tale. ~Sapphire
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Oracles of the Four Gods
"Suzaku's Oracle"
By: Sapphire
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Part Twenty-one ~ Mystical Mountain
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The courtyard was serene and quiet. A faint breeze ruffled Chichiri's hair and kesa. With the breeze came the scent of the evening dew. The sky was tinged pink at the western horizon, and it was a deep midnight blue in the east. A few fireflies flitted about in some shrubbery nearby, and there was the bubbling sound of a fountain on the other side of the open courtyard. Chichiri meditated as he waited.
"You're late, no da," he announced, detecting Tasuki's presence before the bandit could announce himself.
"Couldn't be helped," Tasuki complained, "Empress Houki kept makin' up reasons fer me ta stick around. I couldn't get away 'til she ran out a ideas." Chichiri had to smile at that. It sounded like the Empress all right. "So why'd ya drag me all the way out here," Tasuki asked without beating around the bush.
"Aneko," Chichiri answered vaguely.
"Did she wake up?" Tasuki asked.
"She did, but I'm worried, no da," Chichiri admitted to him. "She said can't move and I could tell she's in a lot of pain, too."
"Is she gonna be okay?" Tasuki wasn't sure where this conversation was going, but the monk had that effect on him sometimes, and there was no guarantee he'd have any reasonable answers at the end. Chichiri remained quiet, without answering Tasui's question, and the bandit waited patiently, sensing there was more the monk wanted to say.
"You saw the character on her chest, no da," Chichiri finally said. Now Tasuki was really lost. He didn't really see what that had to do with anything, and when he thought about it, when it was Chichiri talking, there wasn't necessarily a purpose to what he said, at least not one that was apparent. "It was just like before, when I saw the ogre symbol on her forehead."
"Oh yeah, I remember you talkin' about that," Tasuki remarked thoughtfully. "So what is she, some kind a Tamariko monster? Both of them reborn into one? And wouldn't that mean Taka is- dead?" Tasuki asked, letting his imagination run with the possibility. "Poor Miaka..."
"No," Chichiri sighed in exasperation. "I don't think Taka is dead."
"Then how can he be reborn-" Tasuki was silenced by a smack from the shakujo. Chichiri didn't like physical force, but with Tasuki, sometimes it was necessary to get him back on the right track.
"Suzaku no Orakuru is not any of the Suzaku warriors reborn," Chichiri explained patiently. "But she used Tamahome's and Nuriko's power."
"Like she stole it?" Tasuki sounded like he had a sour taste in his mouth. Chichiri shook his head with a sigh. "You think Suzaku gave 'em to her?"
"Da," Chichiri affirmed.
"Then she won't steal mine," Tasuki said, obviously relieved. "So, what's it mean?" Tasuki wondered. "Why'd ya have ta go an' drag me all the way out here to tell me this stuff?"
"I wanted to discuss things privately," Chichiri replied slowly, "and I wanted to ask something. I think we should take Aneko to Mt. Daikyoku, to see Taiitsukun. What do you think?"
"How's that gonna help?" Tasuki asked.
"I think, with Suzaku bringing someone from another world, Taiitsukun would have gotten involved by now," Chichiri thought aloud. Tasuki nodded with a grim expression.
"The old hag always sticks 'er big nose in," he agreed.
"She can't possibly not know Aneko is here," Chichiri pointed out. "Taiitsukun must know something we don't and is trying to keep it from us, no da. I'm almost sure of it. You and I should pay her a visit, and we'll bring Aneko along." Chichiri was quite sure Taiitsukun was involved in all of this somehow, and that didn't necessarily bode well. She had a unique opinion of what was and was not necessary to reveal to the chosen of the four gods. This time he wasn't going to scramble around in the dark, trying to keep one step ahead of their enemies. He'd lost too many people he cared about to put up with that. Whatever was going on this time, he was going to be armed with every scrap of information he could gather.
"We'll go see the old hag," Tasuki agreed, albeit reluctantly.
"We'll leave in the morning. Let's go and get some rest, no da."
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By the time the sun had risen above the treetops, Tasuki and Chichiri were ready to leave the palace for Mt. Daikyoku. Empress Houki watched them as they made final preparations. She'd been asked to see them off in Aneko's room, where they would be departing via teleportation and Chichiri's kesa. Houki stood beside Aneko who was still in her bed, where she would remain until the very moment it was time to leave. Chichiri had made it quite clear she wasn't to be moved any more than absolutely necessary, it caused her so much pain. Empress Houki agreed. Of course, where the young woman's welfare was concerned, she wanted nothing but the best. Aneko had saved her son, after all, and Houki was grateful beyond words.
"Are you quite sure you are up to traveling?" the Empress asked Aneko as she carefully adjusted the sleeping robe the young woman wore.
"No," Aneko admitted honestly, "but Chichiri says it's very important we see this Taiitsukun person. He says she might be able to tell us a lot more about why I've come to this world."
"Taiitsukun is very mysterious, but very wise. I do not doubt Chichiri's thinking in this at all." Houki wasn't saying that just for assurance's sake. Her husband, Emperor Saihitei, had told her tales of the mystical mountain and those who dwelt there. He had been to the mountain, met the great Taiitsukun. What's more, she knew Chichiri had spent considerable time on Mt. Daikyouku, learning from Taiitsukun. Of all mortals living, he alone knew Taiitsukun well.
"Is something bothering you, Your Highness?" Aneko asked. Houki started.
"Me? Why do you ask?" She wasn't prepared for that question. She wondered what Aneko had seen that had prompted it.
"You seem nervous, or afraid," Aneko replied. "You're fidgeting, and you never fidget. I'm worried about you." The Empress laughed softly.
"It is I that should be worried about you," she told Aneko.
"Is something wrong, no da?" Chichiri asked, stepping into the conversation.
"No," Houki began, then changed her mind. Perhaps it was best to get everything out in the open. "Well, there is one thing," she admitted. "What about Boushin and I? Who will be here to protect us against monsters and demons? We cannot be sure there is no danger of another attack." She looked pleadingly to Chichiri. "Am I silly to be so worried?"
"No, your highness," Chichiri assured with a shake of his head. "I've already thought of that, no da." He handed her a hand mirror. "If there is any danger, you can contact us through this. Tasuki and I will come right away, no da." The Empress took the hand mirror and clutched it to her breast protectively. She nodded.
"Go. The sooner you leave, the sooner you will return," she said. Houki backed away toward the door. Chichiri gave a nod to Tasuki, then stepped onto his blue robe which was spread out in the middle of the floor, a pair of traveling packs on it near the center.
"Sorry, Aneko, but this is gonna hurt," Tasuki said as he bent to pick the woman up. Aneko nodded ever so slightly and closed her eyes tight against the pain she knew was coming. Houki watched as Tasuki lifted her up as carefully as he could, then joined Chichiri on the kesa. "Okay, let's get goin'," Tasuki said. Chichiri nodded, planting his staff in the center of the robe, concentrating deeply on their destination.
"I wish you safe journey," the Empress called to Aneko. "I hope you're feeling better by the time you return." Aneko didn't reply, the pain written so plainly on her face was reason enough to excuse her for it. Tasuki nodded to the empress, accepting her good wishes for all three of them. Empress Houki watched as they were slowly swallowed by the void that had been opened in the floor. She stayed there, long after they were gone, staring at the place they had been. Eventually she looked at the mirror she held clasped in her hands. It would be all right, she knew. She had nothing to fear as long as she kept the mirror close to her.
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"So you finally seek my help, do you?" a gruff voice greeted them as Chichiri, Tasuki, and Aneko materialized in the palace atop the mystical Mt. Daikyoku. "It's about time you brought her here." The ancient one called Taiitsukun floated toward them, inspecting the trio carefully. "Nyan-Nyan!" she barked impatiently. Her summons was answered by popping noises as the little Nyan-Nyan's surrounded her.
"Yes Taiitsukun?"
"You need our help?"
"We can help Taiitsukun."
"We can heal Taiitsukun's face."
"Silent!" the mystical one shouted, sending several of the bubbly little duplicate Nyan-Nyans flying. The others 'ooh'ed and 'ahh'ed, settling down and quieting. The young woman in Tasuki's arms stared at her through wide, frightened eyes. Taiitsukun sighed inwardly. There would be time to deal with her later. For the moment, she required attention of a different sort. "Nyan-Nyan, take Lady Aneko and treat her injured arm. Make her comfortable and see if you can soothe her other hurts as well."
"Right away Taiitsukun!"
"We'll help! We'll help!" the Nyan-Nyans converged on Tasuki, much to his apparent dismay, and took the young woman right out of his arms. Lady Aneko herself appeared to be in shocked confusion as the bandit relinquished his hold on her. In a glowing pink bubble, she floated before the two seishi, then disappeared in a pop of light.
"Now, for the two of you," Taiitsukun said, turning to the Suzaku Warriors. "Are you aware that what you have done is irreversible?"
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To be continued…
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End Note: I like Empress Houki in this chapter. I think it's funny how surprised she is that Aneko notices her distress. It's a little sad, too. She spends so much time putting on an impassive public front, it must be strange when someone sees through it. Only among a few people Houki feels safe enough to let down her guard from time to time. In all honesty, they're the only people she can ever be sure of. ~Sapphire
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