Disclaimer: Please see the Prologue of Suzaku's Oracle for a blanket disclaimer.
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Warnings: Rated PG-13 or Fiction T.
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Notes: 3-21-16 Nyan-Nyan certainly makes life interesting on Mt. Daikyouku! And once again, she's right in the middle of the craziness in this chapter. (Just for the record, I do not feel sorry for Tasuki one bit!) I've never been sure what, exactly, Nyan-Nyan is. It's clear, though, that she functions as a sort of assistant to Taiitsukun. Going with that, I've made her an apprentice. An apprentice to what, though, you will have to wait to find out. ~Sapphire
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Oracles of the Four Gods
"Suzaku's Oracle"
By: Sapphire
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Part Twenty-three ~ Signs of Evil
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It was most definitely the biggest bath Aneko had ever seen, let alone used. It was like a swimming pool, but the water was nice and hot, with steam rising from its surface. A swimming pool sized hot tub, she decided, smiling faintly to herself as she floated on her back in the comfortable heat, drifting ever-so-slowly, letting the hot water soothe her sore muscles. It was the third time that day she'd indulged herself, seeking refuge in the warm water. Here she felt practically nothing, the aching pain she suffered blissfully absent. She was so relaxed, the only danger she faced was falling asleep and drowning.
"Hey! You little twits leave me alone! I'm just gonna take a bath!" Shouts disturbed Aneko in her quiet solitude. "Get yer little pinchers offa me!"
"It's just Tasuki picking on Nyan-Nyan. Again," Aneko thought with a smile, drifting back into her half-conscious state. "Tasuki!" she exclaimed, suddenly standing up as she realized just what was going on. As quickly as she could manage, she tried to make a dash for her robes laying on the other side of the bath. Not yet physically recovered, she wasn't quick enough to catch her balance, and slipped on the bottom of the bath, causing a big splash. "Too late," she thought, "He's seen me now for sure." She slowly pushed her head back above the water's surface, eyes blinking, meeting the stunned gaze of Tasuki who was not more than three meters from her. The look on his face was...priceless. It was a cross between astonishment, shock, embarrassment, and utter horror. Aneko burst out laughing, in spite of herself.
"Aneko! I- I'm sorry," Tasuki stuttered, completely stunned, "I was- I didn't- Nyan-Nyan! Why didn't ya fuckin' tell me Aneko was in here!?" he turned on the little innocent eyed things and chased them half way across the palace, Aneko was sure.
"What a day," Aneko commented to herself with a shake of her head as she waded through the nearly waist deep water. "Oh, I'm going to ache all over again. I shouldn't have tried that." A few lucky Nyan-Nyans who'd managed to escape Tasuki trotted on over to help Aneko into her robes. They followed after her as she walked stiffly back to her chamber.
"Pretty clothes, pretty clothes!" Nyan-Nyan exclaimed as she brought Aneko some fresh garments to wear, instead of the pale yellow silk robe she'd been wearing when she'd arrived. She accepted the smooth, fine woolen and silken garments and ran them through her fingers. They were the softest she'd ever felt. Nyan-Nyan helped her put them on. The pale silvery piece was a long skirt that reached down to her ankles, and the dark magenta was a sleeveless, high collar shirt. There were even a pair of soft pink slippers for her to wear on her feet. Gazing at the reflection of herself in the mirror, she rather liked the effect of the new clothes. Even better, with these clothes she at least looked like she belonged in this world. She was growing tired of being stared at because the clothes she arrived in were so strange to the people here.
"Quite comfortable. Thank-you," Aneko said. Nyan-Nyan giggled.
"It's no trouble. Now your hair! Nyan-Nyan will make it pretty, too!" Aneko had discovered that it was best to accept the help of the cute little creatures. Whenever she tried to wave them off, they'd only be more persistent which made things more difficult. So, with a sigh, she sat down on a stool and allowed them to brush her damp hair smooth and sweep it up into a twist, securing it with two crossing hair sticks. Nyan-Nyan added a tiny little comb shaped like a lotus flower, and Aneko had to admit it was pretty. "Time for dinner!" In a moment she found herself the captive of yet another one of those annoying pink bubbles.
"Hey! Let me walk! Please? I can walk now, really. And I like walking." Nyan-Nyan pouted, hurt that she didn't appreciate the bubble transportation. Aneko couldn't help feeling guilty about making cute little Nyan-Nyans sad. "But I don't know where dinner is, so I'll need you to lead me there," she suggested, hoping that would bring back the smiles. Nyan-Nyan giggled.
"Okay!" they agreed, letting her out of the bubble. Nyan-Nyans tugged on her hands and her skirt as they led her from her chamber in the direction of the waiting dinner.
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"Danno," Taiitsukun greeted as the tall man with the blue-green hair and emerald eyes materialized before her. He was quick to note that both Kaori and Wataru were also present.
"What was so important?" Danno inquired, worry evident on his features. "Is it Aneko?"
"Oh, she's fine!" Kaori exclaimed, rushing over to put a comforting hand on his arm. "She's here, on the mountain." Her words both calmed and excited Danno.
"Can I see her?" Danno asked, eager to finally, finally see her.
"Sit," Taiitsukun thundered, glaring at the young man. "Your enthusiasm is well noted, but I have business with you." Danno frowned, but he followed the pretty blonde to where Wataru was seated. If this was what he had to do to see Aneko, then Danno would do it.
"I think something has happened," Wataru said intuitively, speaking to Danno. "Whatever it is, it involves your Aneko."
"Is Aneko all right?" Danno quickly asked. He turned his gaze to Taiitsukun, who was watching him closely. Taiitsukun nodded, and Danno found he could relax. Whatever had happened, it couldn't be too terribly bad if Aneko was safe and well. He was content for the moment, ready to focus on whatever had prompted Taiitsukun to call them there.
"Now then," Taiitsukun began as Kaori and Danno took a seat, "I believe our mysterious evil has finally shown itself...or at least made itself known. Three days ago a powerful demon appeared in Konan, and attacked the only living heir to the throne, Prince Boushin."
"Prince Boushin?" Kaori inquired. "But he's just a boy, a toddler. What threat could he pose to something as powerful as this evil thing appears to be?"
"Unless the purpose of the attack was to kill the only heir to the throne and push Konan into a civil war," Wataru pointed out.
"Who would wish such a thing?" Kaori was horrified.
"Something very evil," Danno answered simply. Kaori was momentarily taken aback, but Taiitsukun could see she did agree with Danno's assessment.
"There is another possibility to be considered," Taiitsukun said, seeing the perfect opportunity to join the conversation they had begun. "All of you seem to forget that Prince Boushin is the son of the Suzaku Celestial Warrior, Hotohori. Young Boushin is no ordinary prince." Taiitsukun anticipated surprise from the oracles and wasn't disappointed. "Children born to the constellations have no special powers, but they do possess a life force stronger than a normal human. Such a child, if he or she has a strong enough will, can cause subtle effects on those around them."
"In other words, in the eyes of this evil entity, Prince Boushin is a liability," Wataru surmised. "Any involvement of the boy in this could, in theory, tip the scales in our favor."
"I get what you're saying," Danno said with a nod, "but can we be sure this evil was responsible for the attack?"
"There is more going on than I first thought," Taiitsukun said, drumming her fingers together in contemplation. She abruptly rose into the air, headed for a pair of ornate doors, motioning for the three oracles to follow. "Perhaps events will become clearer if we were all to see first-hand what occurred," she told them, leading them out of the large chamber to a room she rarely invited anyone; the mirror chamber.
"I've seen this mirror before," Kaori said, staring at the enormous, gilt-framed sheet of reflective glass bearing the symbols of the four gods.
"It should be familiar to you as the first incarnations of yourselves were the ones who created it," Taiitsukun said as the three young people took their places at their designated cardinal points. "Concentrate on the mirror."
Kaori, Wataru, and Danno all looked up at the mirror. A scene slowly began to play out before them. They watched a young woman, a red kanji symbol glowing on her chest, as she attempted to prevent a brutish looking man from harming a small child.
"Aneko!" Danno breathed, green eyes wide with worry, recognizing her instantly.
"I remind you, this incident has already occurred. It is in the past, and Aneko is now here within my palace," Taiitsukun told him firmly. Tension visibly drained from the young man's stiff shoulders at the reminder. "Try to restrain your emotions." Danno nodded. Taiitsukun looked to the mirror and took a breath before continuing.
"This man is no human. He is a demon of a high order. Only a powerful being could have called it forth. Aneko managed to involve herself in this scene and was miraculously able to hold off the demon until the Suzaku Shichiseishi could arrive. The young Prince was saved," Taiitsukun told them as the scene unfolded in perfect detail. "Lady Aneko took the brunt of the demon's attack. She survived only because she was able to display miraculous use of yet another of the Celestial Warrior's powers. This time it was Nuriko; you can see the 'willow' symbol on her chest. She is still recovering from the encounter."
"Can I see her?" Danno asked immediately, ready to go at a word from the ancient one.
"No," Taiitsukun replied. "I'm not finished with the three of you." Danno sighed unhappily and forced himself to concentrate. "I suspect this evil entity that threatens us was responsible for the demon. This poses questions; questions I'm unable to answer. To help me find the answers, I have a task for you."
"What do you want us to do?" Wataru asked with all practicality.
"There is still time before you must attend to your true duties as the oracles. For now, I want you to return to your respective lands," Taiitsukun told them. "While there you must all go in search of where this evil entity is hiding. We must discover what it is, where it came from, and ultimately how to destroy it. Look everywhere and note everything unusual that you come across, no matter how insignificant it seems."
"This isn't part of our destiny, is it?" Wataru inquired reflectively.
"No, it is not," Taiitsukun confirmed. "Nor can it be helped. Unfortunately this duty will fall on your shoulders. There is no one else who can do this. The Priestesses have all fulfilled their duties, the next will not appear for more than a hundred years. Five seishi alone cannot defeat this evil, especially not with two as aged as the Byakko. Until this evil is destroyed, your real purpose in this world is in danger of failure. That is the one thing that none of you can allow to happen." She fell silent, leaving them to internalize that information, letting this new responsibility settle over them. "There is no time to waste. It's time for you to go."
"Now may I see Aneko?" Danno asked as he, Wataru, and Kaori got up from the cushions they'd been seated on.
"I'm afraid that is impossible," Taiitsukun said, wishing she didn't have to deal with this. She mentally cursed the Four Gods, particularly Suzaku, again. "It seems Lady Aneko suffered some memory loss upon entering this world. She doesn't remember you, Danno." She watched as a pained look of devastation crossed the man's face.
"What do you mean?" he asked, his voice tight with suppressed emotion.
"I mean, Aneko has no recollection of ever knowing you," Taiitsukun repeated. "For some unknown reason she has lost all memory of you from her conscious mind. Until she does remember, she mustn't see you. If her memory were to be forced, there is no telling what the repercussions might be, considering the strength of her premature powers and her inability to precisely control them. I cannot knowingly allow you to put yourself at risk."
Danno looked stunned. Kaori reached over and patted his arm reassuringly. Taiitsukun could understand Danno's reaction. She knew the gods had promised the oracles that with every rebirth they would find each other again in that new life so they would never be alone or without love. Such a bond was powerful, and though it made those who shared it stronger, it also provided those same people with a weakness. That weakness was beginning to reveal itself in Danno and Aneko.
"But she will remember, won't she?" Danno beseeched.
"Of course she will," Kaori answered with certainty. "Won't she, Taiitsukun." It was a statement, not a question.
"Suzaku will make certain of it," Taiitsukun replied. "It's in everyone's best interest that she does."
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To be continued…
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End Note: For a moment, Taiitsukun reflected on the bond between the oracles at the end of this chapter. I think we all understand the bond between priestess and celestial warrior and how it draws them together. No such bond exists between an oracle and those of the priestess legend. They can sense each other, however, because their power was bestowed upon them by the same god. As for the oracles, what Taiitsukun revealed here was just one aspect of their bond. You've probably guessed it goes much deeper than that, but I won't give away the details! ~Sapphire
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