"Star Lovers" by Ai Yuukan
Chapter 11
Lilian paused when she heard Miaka's voice. "Nakago!" Lilian drew in a
breath. Nakago! Miaka! What were they doing? She couldn't remember Yui
telling her about a confrontation between Miaka and Nakago in the temple.
because Yui hadn't known! Lilian refrained from cursing aloud and peered
around the corner.
Nakago smirked at Miaka, who looked up with him with defiant, almost frightened eyes. Lilian frowned. "Are you looking for someone, Suzaku no Miko?"
Lilian tried to think. Yui had never told her about this! What was she supposed to do?! Her frown deepened when she remembered that Yui didn't know what her other seishi had been doing in the temple. She was without an advantage here. "Well. you never get tired of this, do you?" He stepped closer to Suzaku no Miko.
Lilian didn't know if she should interfere or not. Ahhh. she was running out of time. "You never learn your lesson, do you?"
Miaka glared at Nakago. "Where's Yui-chan?"
Nakago smiled. "You came for her?" He pressed Miaka up against the wall. Lilian's temper flared. But it wasn't jealousy she was feeling. it was sheer rage! He was deliberately frightening Miaka. Her eyes flashed. Like he had frightened her. "Don't look at me like that." He mocked the Suzaku no Miko. "I've kissed you once before, after all." He leaned in closer.
Lilian tried to move, but something stopped her. The all-too- familiar cool breeze that suddenly fanned her face enraged her. Seiryuu!
Do not interfere.
Lilian glared. I'm not going to let him do this to her!
Do you think that lowly of the Suzaku no Miko?
Nakago's mocking voice reached her ears again. "Would you like me to kiss you again, Suzaku no Miko?"
Lilian fairly growled. Let me go! Let me at him!
Then she heard a hand make contact with flesh. She ceased struggling and froze, stunned. "Leave me alone, Nakago! If you're going to do something to me, then do it! Even if you kill me, I'll still get Yui-chan back from you!"
Lilian slowly smiled. If she only could, she would have cheered Miaka. You go, girl! She thought she heard Seiryuu chuckle.
"You have some courage. So admirable." Nakago said in a mocking, hard voice. If Lilian could only see him she would have stuck her tongue out at him and jeered at him.
"Don't worry, though. Your virginity is in no danger from me now. The Byakko Shinzaho is as good as ours."
"You're lying."
Lilian had a bad feeling about this. "If you want to speak to Yui- sama that much. then you might as well. Either way, you will never be able to summon Suzaku and you will never get Yui-sama back."
"Where is she?! I want to see her!" Miaka demanded angrily.
Lilian tried to break free of Seiryuu's hold on her but his hold was true. Lilian glowered. Seiryuu was too damn powerful. She suddenly heard a gasp and froze, suddenly wary. Then she heard Nakago speak again, "Without your voice. there's nothing you can do if you meet with Yui-sama."
Lilian's eyes widened. Then she heard another voice. "I am the Seiryuu seishi, Miboshi. Remember my name, Suzaku no Miko."
Suddenly she heard a body slump to the floor. Her eyes widened with worry. Miaka! "Nakago? What shall I do with her?"
She heard the smirk in Nakago's voice and snarled angrily. "She came all this way. We might as well let them meet. Besides." Finally, Seiryuu loosened his hold on her. Lilian tensed, ready to spring. "The Suzaku seishi will be here soon. Tamahome will come." Seiryuu finally released his hold on Lilian. Lilian turned the corner sharply.
She saw the kid floating in the air and immediately recognized him as her fellow Seiryuu seishi, Miboshi. Her eyes narrowed. Do not harm him. Lilian snarled in annoyance and barely restrained her anger. Then she smiled. slowly. "Don't worry, I'll just give him a little. shower!" She shot a thick jet of water at the floating baby and smiled in satisfaction when her water dampened the kid's magic and forced him to topple onto the ground. With a mischievous grin, Lilian turned her fingers and created a small raincloud to appear over Miboshi and Nakago's heads. Revenge was indeed priceless. The looks on their faces were even more so. Lilian grinned with satisfaction.
"Miboshi. may I introduce. the Seiryuu seishi from hell. Taishi."
Lilian curtsied prettily, grinning. "Pleased to meet you." She chirped happily. She would cherish the memory of her little shower raining down on her fellow Seiryuu seishis forever. She giggled, delighted. Seiryuu sighed.
After narrowly escaping the chasing-spells wrath of Miboshi, Lilian skipped merrily down the hall. She stopped when she heard Yui's voice. "Tamahome?"
Lilian peeked around the corner, and indeed, saw the Suzaku seishi staring up at the opposite hall where Yui was staring right back at him. Lilian was glad that this part had been part of the story Yui had told her. "So, you really are here!"
Lilian stared up at Yui, sadness enveloping her heart when she saw the cruel triumph in Yui's eyes. "You're looking for Miaka, aren't you, Tamahome? I was just with her!"
"Nani?"
Lilian stepped out from around the corner but Tamahome and Yui didn't notice her. "Hey, Tamahome! You know that there's no way for you and Miaka to be together, don't you?"
"How did you know that?"
Yui smirked. Lilian shook her head, sympathetically. Nakago. It was because of him Yui was acting this way. She was acting like him. "Miaka and I heard it from Tatara, the Byakko seishi! Poor baby, why don't you just give it all up?"
Lilian clenched her fists. Yui was beginning to get too far. "Even if Miaka does summon Suzaku, she'll only go back to our world!" She mocked the Suzaku seishi. Lilian gritted her teeth. She couldn't take it anymore.
"Yui-sama!" She called out. Yui gave a start when she saw her Seiryuu seishi on the same hallway with Tamahome. She stared steadily at her friend. "Leave him alone!"
"Lily.?!"
Lilian shook her head. "Yui! I can't take this from you, anymore! You have the Shinzaho! Now go!"
"Lily!" Yui was shocked. "Lily. are you betraying me?"
Lilian's eyes softened. "No, Yui. just giving you a good bit of advice. Yui. go ahead and summon Seiryuu. I will be with you shortly. I will take care of Tamahome."
Yui nodded, thinking Lilian was to really take care of Tamahome. "Hurry up, Lily, okay?" She ran down the hall.
The water ball Lilian had been prepared to throw at Tamahome disappeared. Lilian went to Tamahome. "Tamahome."
Tamahome stared at her. "Lily-san. Was Yui speaking the truth?"
Lilian wouldn't lie to Tamahome. "Hai."
Tamahome looked away. "There's no way the laws of heaven can take me away from Miaka. If Miaka can't stay here. then I'll."
Lilian stared at Tamahome and realized she felt the same thing Yui felt for Tamahome and Miaka. Envy. Tamahome loved Miaka that much. "then you'll go to our world." She finished for him gently.
Tamahome looked at her. ".Hai."
Lilian smiled gently, wishing that Nakago would someday love her as much. "Tamahome. I believe you."
Lilian stood by quietly, and stared as Yui stood tall, her hands folded in prayer. On the two altars beside her were the Byakko and Genbu Shinzahos. It was time.
"The four palaces of the heavens, the four corners of the earth."
Lilian looked across at Nakago. His eyes were on Yui, his eyes gleaming expectantly. Lilian felt a wave of pity. and sorrow. "In the name of sacred law, belief, and goodness."
Lilian wondered at the words to summoning Seiryuu. Did Yui realize what she was saying? Goodness.? Seiryuu was absent from her mind. Lilian smiled without mirth. She was going to see him soon. in his true form.
"I summon thee, Seiryuu, Lord of the East."
Lilian saw Nakago. Soi. and Suboshi. They were all that were left of the original Seiryuu seishi. The rest had. "I now say these words to thee. Appear on earth from the seven palaces of the heavens. For the sake of those here who adore you."
Ashitare. Nakago had killed him. Lilian hadn't been awake to stop it. Lilian closed her eyes. If only she had. Tomo. He had also died. There were two deaths against her now. Amiboshi. he would never remember his past. with Samantha. Miboshi. She couldn't care less. but he was also dead. Four had died. Four deaths she could have prevented. "Come to us here. With thy holy power, smash the evil which threatens us."
Lilian sighed. Lies. These were the words to call Seiryuu. Was Seiryuu truly evil, then? "Save us! And hear my wish to thee!"
Lilian closed her eyes. This was it. "Seiryuu! Descend to me now from the heavens!"
"That's.!" Lilian heard Miaka's voice and turned around sharply. They were there. Miaka and her seishi. She turned to look at Yui and saw a blue beam of light cast itself on her from the heavens. Lilian looked up, saw the clouds part. and saw the dragon. Her heart thumped. The dragon. Her eyes widened with recognition. Seiryuu! She felt her spirit lurch. Suddenly, she found herself enveloped in a cool, blue light. with Yui. She whirled around. What.?!
She stared at Yui. and at the deity standing before her. She saw the symbol on his forehead glow and felt the symbol between her collarbones glow with response. She stared at the deity's face. Recognition flashed.
Before, she had been too distracted to pay any special attention to the deity when he had shown himself to her. She recognized the sea green hair. the dragon armour. He was. No! It can't be! .Seiryuu is.
His eyes. his blue eyes. were as blue as her own. Those were her eyes. The resemblance was. uncanny. She found herself staring into the eyes of the deity alongside Yui. "I am the deity, Seiryuu." He looked to Yui. "Are you the maiden who summoned me?"
Yui nodded, awed. "Hai."
"I will now merge with you and we will become one. You can use my powers three times." Yui stared. "When you wish to do so, you will say, 'Kaijin'."
Yui stared at Seiryuu, all at once terrified and mesmerized. "Kai- jin?"
Seiryuu, to Lilian's shock, finally looked to her. "As the result of our merging. I will accept you as a sacrifice to compensate for the disruption of balance in my palace in the heavens. Know the truth, daughter of Seiryuu. and accept it."
Lilian finally recognized the true identity of the deity. Stricken, she stared. "Father?"
The deity nodded. "My daughter. accept the truth and be your Miko's salvation!" Lilian crumpled to the stone altar and didn't look up when Yui was engulfed in a fiercer, blue light. the light of the eastern heavens. Water dripped on her hands. Seiryuu. father. I. I.
Nakago smirked at Miaka, who looked up with him with defiant, almost frightened eyes. Lilian frowned. "Are you looking for someone, Suzaku no Miko?"
Lilian tried to think. Yui had never told her about this! What was she supposed to do?! Her frown deepened when she remembered that Yui didn't know what her other seishi had been doing in the temple. She was without an advantage here. "Well. you never get tired of this, do you?" He stepped closer to Suzaku no Miko.
Lilian didn't know if she should interfere or not. Ahhh. she was running out of time. "You never learn your lesson, do you?"
Miaka glared at Nakago. "Where's Yui-chan?"
Nakago smiled. "You came for her?" He pressed Miaka up against the wall. Lilian's temper flared. But it wasn't jealousy she was feeling. it was sheer rage! He was deliberately frightening Miaka. Her eyes flashed. Like he had frightened her. "Don't look at me like that." He mocked the Suzaku no Miko. "I've kissed you once before, after all." He leaned in closer.
Lilian tried to move, but something stopped her. The all-too- familiar cool breeze that suddenly fanned her face enraged her. Seiryuu!
Do not interfere.
Lilian glared. I'm not going to let him do this to her!
Do you think that lowly of the Suzaku no Miko?
Nakago's mocking voice reached her ears again. "Would you like me to kiss you again, Suzaku no Miko?"
Lilian fairly growled. Let me go! Let me at him!
Then she heard a hand make contact with flesh. She ceased struggling and froze, stunned. "Leave me alone, Nakago! If you're going to do something to me, then do it! Even if you kill me, I'll still get Yui-chan back from you!"
Lilian slowly smiled. If she only could, she would have cheered Miaka. You go, girl! She thought she heard Seiryuu chuckle.
"You have some courage. So admirable." Nakago said in a mocking, hard voice. If Lilian could only see him she would have stuck her tongue out at him and jeered at him.
"Don't worry, though. Your virginity is in no danger from me now. The Byakko Shinzaho is as good as ours."
"You're lying."
Lilian had a bad feeling about this. "If you want to speak to Yui- sama that much. then you might as well. Either way, you will never be able to summon Suzaku and you will never get Yui-sama back."
"Where is she?! I want to see her!" Miaka demanded angrily.
Lilian tried to break free of Seiryuu's hold on her but his hold was true. Lilian glowered. Seiryuu was too damn powerful. She suddenly heard a gasp and froze, suddenly wary. Then she heard Nakago speak again, "Without your voice. there's nothing you can do if you meet with Yui-sama."
Lilian's eyes widened. Then she heard another voice. "I am the Seiryuu seishi, Miboshi. Remember my name, Suzaku no Miko."
Suddenly she heard a body slump to the floor. Her eyes widened with worry. Miaka! "Nakago? What shall I do with her?"
She heard the smirk in Nakago's voice and snarled angrily. "She came all this way. We might as well let them meet. Besides." Finally, Seiryuu loosened his hold on her. Lilian tensed, ready to spring. "The Suzaku seishi will be here soon. Tamahome will come." Seiryuu finally released his hold on Lilian. Lilian turned the corner sharply.
She saw the kid floating in the air and immediately recognized him as her fellow Seiryuu seishi, Miboshi. Her eyes narrowed. Do not harm him. Lilian snarled in annoyance and barely restrained her anger. Then she smiled. slowly. "Don't worry, I'll just give him a little. shower!" She shot a thick jet of water at the floating baby and smiled in satisfaction when her water dampened the kid's magic and forced him to topple onto the ground. With a mischievous grin, Lilian turned her fingers and created a small raincloud to appear over Miboshi and Nakago's heads. Revenge was indeed priceless. The looks on their faces were even more so. Lilian grinned with satisfaction.
"Miboshi. may I introduce. the Seiryuu seishi from hell. Taishi."
Lilian curtsied prettily, grinning. "Pleased to meet you." She chirped happily. She would cherish the memory of her little shower raining down on her fellow Seiryuu seishis forever. She giggled, delighted. Seiryuu sighed.
After narrowly escaping the chasing-spells wrath of Miboshi, Lilian skipped merrily down the hall. She stopped when she heard Yui's voice. "Tamahome?"
Lilian peeked around the corner, and indeed, saw the Suzaku seishi staring up at the opposite hall where Yui was staring right back at him. Lilian was glad that this part had been part of the story Yui had told her. "So, you really are here!"
Lilian stared up at Yui, sadness enveloping her heart when she saw the cruel triumph in Yui's eyes. "You're looking for Miaka, aren't you, Tamahome? I was just with her!"
"Nani?"
Lilian stepped out from around the corner but Tamahome and Yui didn't notice her. "Hey, Tamahome! You know that there's no way for you and Miaka to be together, don't you?"
"How did you know that?"
Yui smirked. Lilian shook her head, sympathetically. Nakago. It was because of him Yui was acting this way. She was acting like him. "Miaka and I heard it from Tatara, the Byakko seishi! Poor baby, why don't you just give it all up?"
Lilian clenched her fists. Yui was beginning to get too far. "Even if Miaka does summon Suzaku, she'll only go back to our world!" She mocked the Suzaku seishi. Lilian gritted her teeth. She couldn't take it anymore.
"Yui-sama!" She called out. Yui gave a start when she saw her Seiryuu seishi on the same hallway with Tamahome. She stared steadily at her friend. "Leave him alone!"
"Lily.?!"
Lilian shook her head. "Yui! I can't take this from you, anymore! You have the Shinzaho! Now go!"
"Lily!" Yui was shocked. "Lily. are you betraying me?"
Lilian's eyes softened. "No, Yui. just giving you a good bit of advice. Yui. go ahead and summon Seiryuu. I will be with you shortly. I will take care of Tamahome."
Yui nodded, thinking Lilian was to really take care of Tamahome. "Hurry up, Lily, okay?" She ran down the hall.
The water ball Lilian had been prepared to throw at Tamahome disappeared. Lilian went to Tamahome. "Tamahome."
Tamahome stared at her. "Lily-san. Was Yui speaking the truth?"
Lilian wouldn't lie to Tamahome. "Hai."
Tamahome looked away. "There's no way the laws of heaven can take me away from Miaka. If Miaka can't stay here. then I'll."
Lilian stared at Tamahome and realized she felt the same thing Yui felt for Tamahome and Miaka. Envy. Tamahome loved Miaka that much. "then you'll go to our world." She finished for him gently.
Tamahome looked at her. ".Hai."
Lilian smiled gently, wishing that Nakago would someday love her as much. "Tamahome. I believe you."
Lilian stood by quietly, and stared as Yui stood tall, her hands folded in prayer. On the two altars beside her were the Byakko and Genbu Shinzahos. It was time.
"The four palaces of the heavens, the four corners of the earth."
Lilian looked across at Nakago. His eyes were on Yui, his eyes gleaming expectantly. Lilian felt a wave of pity. and sorrow. "In the name of sacred law, belief, and goodness."
Lilian wondered at the words to summoning Seiryuu. Did Yui realize what she was saying? Goodness.? Seiryuu was absent from her mind. Lilian smiled without mirth. She was going to see him soon. in his true form.
"I summon thee, Seiryuu, Lord of the East."
Lilian saw Nakago. Soi. and Suboshi. They were all that were left of the original Seiryuu seishi. The rest had. "I now say these words to thee. Appear on earth from the seven palaces of the heavens. For the sake of those here who adore you."
Ashitare. Nakago had killed him. Lilian hadn't been awake to stop it. Lilian closed her eyes. If only she had. Tomo. He had also died. There were two deaths against her now. Amiboshi. he would never remember his past. with Samantha. Miboshi. She couldn't care less. but he was also dead. Four had died. Four deaths she could have prevented. "Come to us here. With thy holy power, smash the evil which threatens us."
Lilian sighed. Lies. These were the words to call Seiryuu. Was Seiryuu truly evil, then? "Save us! And hear my wish to thee!"
Lilian closed her eyes. This was it. "Seiryuu! Descend to me now from the heavens!"
"That's.!" Lilian heard Miaka's voice and turned around sharply. They were there. Miaka and her seishi. She turned to look at Yui and saw a blue beam of light cast itself on her from the heavens. Lilian looked up, saw the clouds part. and saw the dragon. Her heart thumped. The dragon. Her eyes widened with recognition. Seiryuu! She felt her spirit lurch. Suddenly, she found herself enveloped in a cool, blue light. with Yui. She whirled around. What.?!
She stared at Yui. and at the deity standing before her. She saw the symbol on his forehead glow and felt the symbol between her collarbones glow with response. She stared at the deity's face. Recognition flashed.
Before, she had been too distracted to pay any special attention to the deity when he had shown himself to her. She recognized the sea green hair. the dragon armour. He was. No! It can't be! .Seiryuu is.
His eyes. his blue eyes. were as blue as her own. Those were her eyes. The resemblance was. uncanny. She found herself staring into the eyes of the deity alongside Yui. "I am the deity, Seiryuu." He looked to Yui. "Are you the maiden who summoned me?"
Yui nodded, awed. "Hai."
"I will now merge with you and we will become one. You can use my powers three times." Yui stared. "When you wish to do so, you will say, 'Kaijin'."
Yui stared at Seiryuu, all at once terrified and mesmerized. "Kai- jin?"
Seiryuu, to Lilian's shock, finally looked to her. "As the result of our merging. I will accept you as a sacrifice to compensate for the disruption of balance in my palace in the heavens. Know the truth, daughter of Seiryuu. and accept it."
Lilian finally recognized the true identity of the deity. Stricken, she stared. "Father?"
The deity nodded. "My daughter. accept the truth and be your Miko's salvation!" Lilian crumpled to the stone altar and didn't look up when Yui was engulfed in a fiercer, blue light. the light of the eastern heavens. Water dripped on her hands. Seiryuu. father. I. I.
