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 Let's talk about Taiitsukun! Writing her is a lot like writing Suzaku. If I want something accepted for fact, all I have to do is have Taiitsukun say it. To be honest, she's more fun to write than Suzaku, because I can include spats with Nyan-Nyan. And she can pick on anyone she wants without fear of retribution. (Blatant foreshadowing of this chapter!) Taiitsukun also likes to manipulate others, and as a controller of the Universe of the Four Gods, she has the power to do so. There are so many things a writer can do with that. More in End Notes. ~Sapphire
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Oracles of the Four Gods
"Suzaku's Oracle"
By: Sapphire
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Part Twenty-two ~ Lost Memories
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"The oracles are not meant to have contact with the Shichiseishi until after they understand their purpose in this world," Taiitsukun said irritably. "I only hope any damage done will not affect the purpose that has brought Lady Aneko to this world." Tasuki and Chichiri exchanged a glance under her angry gaze.
"Whaddaya mean?" Tasuki blurted out, confused. "Suzaku told us ta protect her like we protected Miaka. How're we supposed ta do that if we shouldn't have met her?" Taiitsukun sighed in resignation, to the shock of both Chichiri and Tasuki.
"Taiitsukun?" Chichiri asked tentatively. Taiitsukun could see the uncertainty in his expression. As her former pupil, he knew her well, and in all the time he'd trained on her mountain, she never once represented herself as anything other than grouchy and completely sure of herself. She was getting old, she thought, and for once, she felt as though she had too much on her plate.
"Do not trouble yourselves over all of this. I know Suzaku was the one to interfere and cause all this mayhem." She looked between the two seishi. "My accusations were to confirm what I already know."
"Dammit, you old-" Tasuki was silenced with a swift swat to his head with his own tessen. Taiitsukun always did get a kick out of putting the cocky bandit in his place. It put her in a slightly better mood.
"Not only did Suzaku interfere with Lady Aneko's arrival in this world, but he also interfered with my ability to communicate with Suzaku no Orakuru and the both of you. I'm relieved that you finally found it appropriate to come to me," the last had a bite to it, and Taiitsukun didn't care. She wanted to make it quite clear she was unhappy with both Chichiri and Tasuki.
"Taiitsukun, do you know what's going on, no da?" Chichiri asked. "Do you know why Aneko came to this world?"
"Yes, I do. That isn't the most pressing of matters. Her arrival is not out of the ordinary, in the grand scheme of things. There is something far more dangerous revealing itself."
"The great evil that appeared, the one Suzaku warned us about," Chichiri said with a nod.
"Precisely," Taiitsukun agreed. "What exactly did Suzaku tell you? I am aware he spoke of this evil, but the old bird brain wouldn't let me hear word for word what he said." Taiitsukun was still angry over that. She whole-heartedly believed that the Phoenix God had no right to tamper with her mirrors the way he had.
"Suzaku told us there was some kind of evil," Tasuki answered. "Didn't say what, though. he was fuckin' vague." Chichiri nodded.
"It figures," Taiitsukun grouched at them. "I was hoping for solid information to pass onto the other oracles."
"Others?" Tasuki raised an eyebrow. "There're more oracles like Aneko?"
"Precisely," Taiitsukun confirmed. "Lady Aneko is Suzaku no Orakuru. There are also the oracles of Genbu, Byakko, and Seiryu who have come to this world."
"All of them? At once?" Chichiri exclaimed in disbelief.
"Unlike the Priestesses, the oracles can only fulfill their fated duty if all four appear in this world together. Aneko was the last to arrive," Taiitsukun told them. "Usually when an oracle appears, he or she instinctively seeks Mt. Daikyoku and the Shrine of the Four Gods that is here." That was how it was written in The Universe of the Four Gods, the scroll that was passed on to her by her predecessor, who had gotten it from her predecessor, all the way back to the time the scroll had been handed down from the first incarnations of the oracles who'd procured the scroll's contents from the very gods themselves. The gods were choosing to alter their own decrees. "Obviously none of this has come to pass as it should have."
"Wait," Chichiri interrupted. Taiitsukun could see he was turning something she'd said over in his mind. "Have the oracles come to this world before?"
"Very perceptive of you," Taiitsukun commented with a nod. "You are correct, but as I said, their presence is not out of the ordinary. It is expected. What is unusual and unexpected is this evil entity. The demon that attacked Prince Boushin is a good illustration of that," she said, changing the subject. She wasn't ready, nor was she capable if it came to it, of discussing what Chichiri really wanted to know. As well as he knew her, she knew him, too. Chichiri was prepared to throw every trick in the book at her to learn everything she knew. It would do no good, Taiitsukun knew. The four gods themselves had rendered her incapable of speaking freely on the subject. Taiitsukun was so furious, she was willing to sit down and tell it all, if only she could, just to spite the gods. After all, what did she have to lose?
"I will admit I was shocked at the amount of power Aneko was able to control, both of her own, and of Nuriko's," Taiitsukun picked up the thread of her conversation. "Exercising her abilities at full force without easing into them has debilitated her in a way similar to overusing a muscle that is otherwise rarely used." She threw a pointed look at both warriors before her. "Lady Aneko deserves some rest and care after such a feat. I want you all to remain here a few days until she is recovered." Taiitsukun turned away, dismissing them.
"Taiitsukun, wait," Chichiri said determinedly. Taiitsukun sighed inwardly again. She should have expected he wouldn't let her escape so easily. She turned back to face him. "If Tasuki and I are going to do our job and protect her, we need to know more about why Aneko is here and what she's expected to do."
"There will be time for that later, before you leave," Taiitsukun said, waving a hand at them by way of dismissal. "We will speak again." With that, she floated off to her mirror room to reflect on what she'd just learned, and figure out her next move.
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"What the hell was that?" Tasuki complained the moment Taiitsukun was gone.
"That was Taiitsukun trying to get rid of us, no da," Chichiri said, scowling after his former teacher. That hadn't gone at all how he'd hoped, but then, Taiitsukun was a master at manipulation. "She's keeping something from us."
"Like what?" Tasuki asked.
"I don't know, no da," Chichiri answered. "Whatever it is, we're going to find out. We're not leaving Mt. Daikyouku until we do."
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Now that she had Suzaku no Orakuru close at hand, Taiitsukun wasn't going to waste time. Lady Aneko had to be made to understand certain things about her destiny, and she had to be reminded of her past existences as Suzaku no Orakuru. Then there were questions she needed to ask the woman. That evening, when Taiitsukun chose to see her, Aneko was lying comfortably on her bed, resting after being treated to the ministrations of Nyan-Nyan.
"I have questions for you," were the first words out of Taiitsukun's mouth. She was utterly shocked with herself. That wasn't what she'd intended to say at all. She scowled to herself, as she felt the intrusive presence of Suzaku. "Bird Brain," she thought nastily. "Aren't Byakko, Genbu, or Seiryu going to do something? Suzaku is interfering with their own chosen by doing this." When she felt no opposition to Suzaku's interference, she scowled even more. "No, they aren't. They're allowing him to do this." Her anger flared. "Slow Poke, Fur Ball, and Bad Breath, all of you, curse you," she insulted them mentally.
"Of course," Aneko complied, sitting up taller against the cushions. Taiitsukun sighed inwardly, then prepared herself for the course she was being forced to follow, rather than what she was intending to accomplish.
"How much do you understand about why Suzaku brought you to this world?" Taiitsukun watched as the young woman thought about that for a few moments.
"Suzaku didn't say much," she said finally. Taiitsukun nodded. "Suzaku said there was a purpose for my coming here. He didn't have to tell me how important it was. I think it was clear enough when two very powerful men were charged with my safety." Taiitsukun nodded, pleased that Aneko appeared to be an intelligent young woman. She had dreaded finding Aneko to be a nitwit akin to Danno. Not so, she was pleased to see.
"Never forget that," Taiitsukun warned. "Never lose sight of the fact you are here for a specific reason. You mustn't allow anything to interfere with it. The consequences could be dire."
"I was afraid of that," Aneko said quietly. "What kind of consequences?"
"Unfortunately, I am incapable of telling you right now," Taiitsukun couldn't keep the bitterness from her voice, and Aneko flinched. Taiitsukun forced herself to speak more calmly when next she opened her mouth. "Did Suzaku tell you anything else?" she asked.
"Only that I have to learn, and stop hiding from myself," Aneko answered, turning thoughtful. "I'm not sure what Suzaku meant by that, though." Taiitsukun didn't either. Curious. That was something for further consideration, but not now.
"And what of Suzaku's conversation with you as you entered this world?" Taiitsukun asked her next.
"I don't remember it," Aneko admitted. "I don't know if Suzaku spoke to me then or not. I can't remember much of anything before waking up in the woods in Konan." Taiitsukun's face remained impassive, but her mind was racing. She didn't like what she was hearing. Something was amiss, and she wanted to know what. "I remember a few things, like where I was, the season, the weather, finding a place called Genbu Grotto, but I don't know why I was there or what had brought me so far away from my home in Tokyo."
"What else do you remember? Your family? Your occupation?"
"I lost my parents when I was young. I put myself through junior college. I became a secretary and supported myself. That's basically my entire life story," Aneko told her. "I don't see what that has to do with anything." Taiitsukun was almost shocked. Suzaku no Orakuru had said nothing of Danno. Those two were destined to meet in every lifetime for the rest of eternity. Surely she should remember the man she had loved for millennia?
"Hmm," Taiitsukun betrayed nothing of her concern. She scrutinized the young woman through slightly narrowed eyes. "I suggest you try and remember your advent into this world. It might help you to understand more of your purpose here." The ancient one left it at that and made a hasty retreat from the room to her mirror chamber. This was a problem, indeed.
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To be continued…
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End Note: As you saw in this chapter, I chose to take away Taiitsukun's freedom to manipulate others at will! Oh, she still manages to find ways, but the Four Gods have curbed her behavior. Bird Brain, Slow Poke, Fur Ball, and Bad Breath indeed! They are the ultimate authority of what goes on in their own realm. ~Sapphire
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