Chapter 4 Um... The Gaurdian?
Angel: Hullo! Guess what? I did spacing! YAY!!!! Oh and Thank you Lonen,
Kitsune, and Fire-fairy for reviewing... Emiko thanks for trying... I know
those of you who aren't authors can't review... Someone how do you change
that?! Um... oh yeah, that last chapter was messed up because I like using
italics but doc. doesn't do it so the mind speech was off...And someone
else review! Please? I can't write that well... gomen nasai.
Adreas: You should be.
Angel:*gulp* What are you doing here?
Adreas: I was bored... Oh I brought you something...*pulls out Hotohori plushi*
Angel: KAWAIII!!!!*grabs it and hugs*
Plushie: I love you Angel-chan!
Angel:*tears* Thank you so much Adreas...*sniffles*
Adreas: Your birthday it the ninth right? Kyo*?(*today)
Angel:*nods* Thank you Aniki...
Adreas:Nandemonai. ^_^
Angel: Yes my evil brother... Scary...Read read read and review!(That's not his real name but if I released that he'd kill me)
~Nuriko~ Sora's abrupt exit gave way for everyone to think... Her and Chichiri looked so cute together... Even when they looked nervous, I swear though earlier they were like glowing... Weird. The others looked around till Tasuki piped up.
"What the hell is up with them?" I grinned and let everyone know my suspision,
"I think Sora and Chichiri have a thing going..." Miaka's eyes went starry as she began to rant, the others went chibi scared.
"Wow... You know they seem pretty close now that you mention it... And they do look so cute together! I knew she liked someone... just not who, but that makes sense, she's so inward and so is Chichiri! That must be what drew them together...Chichiri's chance to love again!" Everyone sweatdropped and looked away. I looked to Hotohori's beautiful face for comfort but saw... sadness...dissapointment? I nearly gasped, did my Hoto- chan like SORA?! Impossible, she was pretty and all, she managed to bond with everyone but Hoto-chan?! Nooooooooooo!!!!
"Nuriko? Nuriko are you Ok? Nuriko?! NURIKO?!" I ignored Miaka's voice and saw Sora as she entered dinner... She had looked beautiful, very beatiful... Could she be more beautiful than... me...? I found Miaka shaking my shoulders harshly and snapped out of my thoughts to look at her.
"Oh... Sorry, I was thinking..." the rest of the seishi and Miaka fell over. I smiled sheepishly and scratched my head. Miaka sat up though and began to speak.
"Listen... about Sora... Well I was thinking, she told me she was from Konan, but think about it... Sora writes english, so could it be she speaks english? If she did it would make sense for her to say she was mute..."
"Then why the hell can she understand us?" Interupted Tasuki.
"Probably because she can't speak japanese... I know she writes kanji but so do other people who don't speak japanese... It's like english, you understand it if someone tells you something but you yourself can't speak it, that's why she's mute but also... She can't be from Konan! No one here speaks English! So she must be from my world..."
"That wouldn't make sense though... She knows our customs and traditions so well..." Tamahome stated matter of factly. Miaka nodded.
"Yes it does, it fits, she's been here so long that she has learned to fit in. She is from Konan but was born in my world, don't you see? She can't speak, she can't go home, and she can't be evil, she has a purpose and she knows it. We have to find it, and why she came. I can't focus on Suzaku anyway with this mystery over my head." She finished quickly. I smiled at her, how did that sappy baka think of all that! How amazing...
"Um... Guys... What color is the sky?" I snorted at Tamahome's stupid question. Tasuki glared at him,
"Blue you baka."
"Well why is it red... and gold..." Our attention focused outside to where a branch of the sky was indeed golden red... The light lasted a few moments in an amazing spiral, then it stopped abruptly. We watched in amazing frozen. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~Sora~ I changed into a kitten to leave and headed to where I told him to meet me... I was not nervous, not at all. I was scared. I had no idea how to explain but I would do my best... Without telling him everything. Suzaku why can't you let me speak japanese? It would have made everything so easy... Suzaku... Why?
I was waiting I nearly died of a heart attack as I heard the voice...
'Suzaku?' I waited for a response.
You couldn't speak because you didn't need to.
'Well... I guess that's true... I only had cook, Nakago, and Dr.Kajin... But why not now?' I felt like he was smiling but saw nothing... Then darkness wrapped around me.
Now will do nicely Then all of a sudden I saw words in gold flash before my eyes. I was no longer a kitten but my human self... devoid of clothes... I saw the red blaze swirl around me, I rose in the air suspeded in the black orb around me, the words circled closer an closer till I thought I might choke but I didn't. I then felt warm as I absorbed the knowledge of those words... I saw the japanese sentences form in my head as I thought... Kuso! I can speak japanese!
'Thank you Suzaku!' I thought, in japanese. I felt a chuckle then his presence was gone and I was a kitten again... with a golden and ruby collar... I closed my eyes hoping no one had noticed the sudden lights and magic, the seishi probably did but I felt it was for me alone. I changed to human quickly, I entered the tavern quietly, unnoticed. I headed towards the indigo cape in the back of the room and sat down.
"Sora?" Amiboshi lifted his cloak slightly to get a better look at me. I smiled as kindly as I could, he stopped movement his mouth slackened... I must have one heck of a smile...
"Yes... Listen now. I can't come with you... I would love to really, but this is my place... Ami... I was sent to the Suzaku seishi for a reason, I can't tell you but I won't let you leave empty-handed OK? Take these..." I handed him first the locket of glass, it was for Nakago...
"That is for Nakago... Tell him to wear it always, it will keep him... safe. This is for you," Amiboshi seemed shocked when I reached forward placing my hands on his face and kissed him softly, I was actually sending my life force through him then retrieving it. I pulled away and he gasped, I had left a remainment of my chi...in his heart. "Sora...??? What did you...?" He seemed at a loss for words. I smiled at him, he was too amazed to speak. "I know I'll see you soon, Nakago's a horribly strategic man... his plan is very odd though... Goodbye... And thanks, for everything..." I stood up and walked out the door. Amiboshi muttered a farewell... He was impressed. I changed quickly and ran back to the palace. I was very proud of the way I dismissed Amiboshi, no strings attached. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~Chichiri~
I left Sora's room dissapointed, she hadn't told me anything... And how could she mentally connect so easily, it took training and she didn't seem to have any special talents... That we knew of... But then again we didn't know much, she spoke english, she's been abused, she's origionally from here, and she wants to be near our seishi... That's it, well I know she writes poetry... Ack. I don't think poetry suits me unless I try... I walked around the palace silent in thought, at dinner she had seemed lost in her own world... I wonder what she had been thinking about... Maybe her startling entrance, I had been shocked, I didn't even recognize her hardly! If not for those eyes... I didn't notice I had come to stand before a rather large window... Then it seemed as if the sky had turned to flames, there was a strange spiral of red and gold, the two colors coarsed together in a single strand. The light was now connected obviously to the ground where it began to lift something.... The band was so strong, that light was godly sure as I am human... Something powerful was going on.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~Tasuki~
As soon as the light stopped I felt something pulsating within me... something...beautiful... BEAUTIFUL? Ack. More like amazing, but good and powerful. Reminded me of Sora...
"Anyone know what that was???" Asked Nuriko looking nervous. I grinned.
"It was Suzaku..." Muttered Hotohori seriously. The rest of the seishi stared at him.
"Do you think so..."Gasped Miaka amazed.
"Wonderful deduction..." A voice chuckled from the dark window. The seishi turned and stood defensively near Miaka.
"And correct!" A feminine giggle came from the shadow as it swung its legs.
"Who're you?!" Asked Tama defensively. Chichiri entered just as Hotohori took a step forward,
"Answer." His voice grated. Chichiri was strangely frozen in place.
"Chichiri, get up here!" I hissed at him he turned to look at me with his ever smiling face.
"You already know huh Chichiri? Isn't Suzaku nice?" The shadow laughed.
"Oh stop... I'm not evil silly, quite the opposite, I'm here to help you out, really! See?" The shadow jumped with agility before Miaka... It took my brain a second to register the face...Sora.
~Sora~
I was sooo happy! I didn't care if it was suspicious, I could TALK. In japanese! Inside I was rejoicing as I hugged Miaka gleefully.
"Miaka! I can talk!" Miaka smiled brightly.
"I'm very happy for you!" She exclaimed. The seishi were staring, Chichiri smiled. I smiled at him, he was nice to know.
"Miaka, I don't know if we should trust her..." Muttered Tasuki. Miaka glared at him, I smiled sweetly and walked up to Tasuki nonchalantly before hitting him over the head harshly.
"I. CAN. TALK. BUT. I. AM. NOT. BAD. Got it? Good" Tasuki nodded dumbly looking dazed.
"Sorry... Didn't mean to er... hurt him...bad..." I sweatdropped.
"So that weird light was what exactly?" Asked Nuriko moving to the previous subject.
"Suzaku basically sums it up!" I concurred gleefully. Yes I was VERY EXTREMELY SUPER happy. Chichiri smiled and nodded. I hugged Miaka again in my glee before becoming somewhat serious again.
"Daijoubu... I'm done, for now. Listen before I get false accuasations to my sudden speech I would like to explain, so please sit." I motioned to their previous seat which they took. I put on my most assuring smile and began
"Ok... Listen I'm actually here for reason. A good reason but I think I should start at the begining. Ahem. You see I'm guessing you've figured out I'm from a different world, not Miaka's though, another world. Well A nice old lady, you know her as Taiitsukun, came to me exactly ten years ago... I was five, she asked me if I would help her... I was a really friendly kid, lemme tell ya..., well I told her sure and then I got sucked here... Well actually a village on the border, I was adopted by a family who hid my identity, they knew I wasn't the miko. I lived there for five years, after a horrible raid I was captured and sold as a slave. It wasn't all that bad, but I ran away three years ago from a lord in the capital... then a general at the palace discovered me hiding in the palace, I was... sent to work in the palace for two years... Thats when I met you. I did however leave a few facts out... Why am I here? To guide you, no more no less. Who sent me? Suzaku. And I lied to you about speaking because I couldn't speak that language, sorry bout that. But there is something I believe you should be apologizing about, my diary?" The suzaku seishi were all flushed with my last statement, Miaka looked near tears.
"I'm so sorry! I just wanted to find out more about you!" Miaka cluthched onto me, sobbing, as the others nodded sweatdropped. I smiled peeling her off my now wet shirt.
''Ok Thank you, and whatever you read... well... Keep it to yourself I don't want to know... Any questions?" Nuriko piped up first.
"Yeah, is Sora actually your name?"
"Well no... It's actually Izouma Ceres... Ceres-Sora was an old nickname though and I don't have a problem being called Sora... Anybody else?" Tasuki stood up looking dead serious.
"How do we know your not just a Seiryuu assasin?! This could just be a trick." I muffled the chuckle in my throat and answered calmly.
"Tasuki-chan..." "DON'T CALL ME THAT!"...ignored... " If I wanted to kill Miaka I've had had several chances, the market, the room, when we first met... Besides, I kind of like you all, in a weird sort away..." Miaka smiled starry eyed as Tamahome asked his rational question.
"But Sora, how come there is nothing... No prophecies or anything about a guardian... Why? That does leave some doubt..." I smiled kindly.
"Well, you don't have any prophecies about me because there are none. However, there is a mention of the guardians of heaven and hell. I would be the guardian of heaven, check the main scroll.... Chichiri, something you'd like to share with the rest of the class?" Chichiri was chuckling behind his mask. Miaka giggled at my joke but the other seishi were lost.
"What no da?"He said innocently. I promtly smacked him while whispering in his ear,
"I can see through your mask you know." He blushed and smiled under the smiling mask.
"Does that make you an Angel no da?" I smiled and shrugged.
"I'm pretty clueless myself... I kind of have some things of my own to sort out... Um, anything else?" Hotohori smiled kindly before asking,
"Well... Sora, would it be safe for you to travel with the rest? It could be quite dangerous." I felt like laughing, me in danger? HA! I could be a giant tiger if I wanted to, the trick to my gift is seeing something... And guess how easily I can draw a giant tiger to see? Pretty darn easy.
"I can take extremely good care of myself as well as my friends, everyone has their talents you see... I think I basically told you everything... I'm going to sleep now, G'night." I stepped back waiting for possible protest, silence. I walked contentedly to my/Miaka's room and promptly fell asleep on the carpeted floor with a single blanket and pillows. It was extremely comfy.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~Me~(A.k.a. narrator)
The seishi sat back for a moment debating Sora's newfound speech and abilities... It was obvious she had nothing to hide from most people's perspective, Tamahome was worried about Miaka as usual... Hotohori however completely gave into the side of himself that said Sora was good Chichiri knew Sora was as good as you got with a tragic past and she was nice from the few days they knew her... Miaka always liked her, Tasuki didn't care anymore, and Nuriko just wanted her to stay away from Hotohori even if he did love Miaka. Chichiri left silently to bed and the others followed, Hotohori last. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sora woke up early like she was used to and changed to some different clothes before heading to the library. She left Miaka snoring with her dreams of food... None of the other seishi were up yet, not even Hotohori, as Sora walked softly admiring the halls. She liked to be alone sometimes (as I stated earlier). The walls of the palace were decorated with rich tapestries and bright carvings, Sora traced her fingers over them lovingly. Sora recalled when she was younger she used to draw, as she grew in this world she had mastered her skills of paint and ink but never carvings... She wished she could learn. Once in the library she searched for a novel to read... She found one to her liking and settled into a chair to read. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The next person awake was Hotohori who immediately had several meetings with advisors due to Kutou's royal threats. Inside Hotohori was extremely nervous but he kept his calm while assuring his advisors. Soon after he began to think about the night before... Sora could talk... Hotohori thought for a few minutes and decided he had a few questions for Sora and decided to seek her out before breakfast if she was awake. Hotohori being the sensible emperor he is headed to Miaka/Sora's room to see if she was awake, on the way he reminded himself that she needed a room. Entering the room he sighed looking for a moment at Miaka looking for the feeling she usually gave him. Usually? Thought Hotohori nervously, he felt nothing... No longing, no love. At least other He stared for a moment then realized Sora wasn't there... Hotohori looked up thinking. He had found Sora in the library, maybe she was there... He strode purposefully to the library and looked around, he spotted Sora curled beside the window book in hand... Hotohori smiled, she was reading a novel not philosophy, she looked very calm.
"Sora-san..." Sora's head snapped up to gaze at Hotohori. She stayed where she was this time before closing the book.
"Sora or Sora-chan's fine Hotohori..." She explained standing.
"Yes... I had some questions if you don't mind..." Sora smiled and walked to the nearby table and sat. Hotohori followed sitting across from her.
"Ok. Then I want to play a game, you ask a question I answer then vice versa. I do have my own questions you know... " Hotohori nodded and decided to go first.
"How old are you?"
"15, I'll be sixteen in August. How old are you?" Sora smiled, Hotohori was suprised she looked his age.
"18... Do you enjoy it here?" Sara gawked.
"Of course... Hmmm...Why do you wear robes and shoes that look like a duck?" Sora held back gigles at Hotohori's shocked expression.
"These are the robes all emperors wear! It does not make make me look like a duck!" Sora covered her face while she giggled.
"Actually... It does..." Sora laughs and Hotohori huffs at her before asking,
"Can you fight with a sword?" Sora laughs again and looks at him before giggling.
"Can you? Of course you can so why ask a question you know the answer? I know you saw me at that Inn... Ok...Why are you so serious? Not that I'm one to talk... This is probably the first time I laughed in a long time..." Hotohori blushed.
''I grew up around adults I suppose that's why... Er...Do you know what's going to happen?" Sora looked mildly suprised.
"Well I know we need to find the rest of the seishi...Do you have any family?"
"Yes, you?"
"4 little siblings, 2 girls, 2 boys, and Onee-chan ..." Sora answered sadly.
"Er... Why do I need help?" She asked softly thinking.
"... I have no idea but-"
"Ask me why I hate Kutou." Hotohori was startled by her tart cutoff.
"W-why do you hate Kutou?" He asked nervously.
"You have to kill or be killed. Why is Konan so peaceful?" She responded icily. Hotohori was slightly scared now, Sora was quite vicious.
"Because I try to keep the people happy? Er... I think that's enough..." Hotohori replies standing abruptly.
"Bye, bye Heika-sama." Sora said before opening her book and reading Hotohori stares before exiting the room nervously. Sora looked up after he left and smiled tightly,
"Damn girl... Now you went and scared him... Oh well, I know he cares somewhat...He's cute when he's shocked..." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tamahome woke next and immediately went in search of food much like Miaka did a little while later... Chichiri woke up later than usual and also headed towards food. Tasuki was still asleep when the others, Sora came last, assembled for breakfast. Tamahome looked around as Nuriko asked entering,
"Where's Fang-boy?" Nuriko sat down beside Hotohori smiling at him softly. Sora sweat-dropped, /this whole room is a love triangle... Scratch that, more like a love octagon. Nuriko loves Hotohori, Hotohori loves Miaka, Miaka loves Tamahome, and I'll bet Tasuki and Chichiri love Miaka as well... Scary,/ she thought silently.
"I'm betting ten to one he's asleep." Sora volunteered melodically. Nuriko gasped as rememberance came over him,
"Suzaku, it wasn't a dream," Said Tamahome nervously. Miaka smiled.
"Well I'll go wake up Tasuki, gossip about me all you want while I'm gone Ok?" Said Sora cheerily as she left to find Tasuki's room. The oher seishi and Miaka stared after her jaws loose.
"Did she really just say to gossip about her?" Asked Tamahome amazed.
"I think so no da..." Said Chichiri eye widened behind his mask.
"Strange..." Muttered Nuriko airily. Miaka giggled at the looks on her present sieshi's faces.
"Not really, where I'm from she's normal. Even if she has been here ten years she's still from my world and she acts like it. " Exclaimed Miaka sappily.(a/N:And sappily is a word mind you! Mwahahahahaha!) The others sweatdropped.
"Ahem. Miaka when should we resume our search for the seishi?" Asked Hotohori calmly. Miaka smiled,
"As soon as possible of course!" She giggled.
"Well... Then..." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sora roamed the hallways searching carefully till she came to Tasuki's room. She knocked forcefully but got no response, she opened the door and peeked inside. Tasuki was asleep peacefully, a bottle of sake in hand. Sora smiled and shut the door behind her shaking her head as she attempted to pull the sake out of Tasuki's tight grasp. Tasuki grunted and rolled over pulling poor Sora with him. Sora sqeaked, Tasuki was now also holding on to her and she wasn't very happy about it. She squirmed vigorously but found herself being squeezed tighter.
"Tasuki... LET GO!" She screamed in his ear. Tasuki's eyes snapped open and stared at Sora.
"Sora? What the hell...?" Tasuki, still holding onto her, asked tenatively. Sora scowled, she still couldn't get free.
"Let. Me. Go. NOW." She told him annoyed. Tasuki blushed and let her go, Sora dusted herself off and put her hands on her hips.
"Tasuki I swear... I'm never waking you up again. Now get up it's breakfast time you lazy bum." Tasuki smiled sheepishly.
"Hehehe... Just so ya know ya aren't the first person that's happened to..." Sora sweat-dropped and turned around while Tasuki threw on a shirt hastily.
"So...Who was the poor soul who had to wake you up?" She asked pointedly. Tasuki sweat-dropped and hung his head.
" Nuriko...Eheheh..." Tasuki explained. Sora grabbed Tasuki her eyes widened as she guided him out the door.
"Nuriko? No wonder he became a cross-dresser!" She told him smiling. Tasuki looked upset as he responded,
"Hey, he was gay before-" Sora promptly smacked him for the 'gay' comment.
"What?!"
"He's not necissarily gay. It's not nice to call him something he doesn't want to be called. Around me he can only be referred to as cross- dresser or Nuriko, got that?"
"G-gomen nasai... Erm, as I was saying... Nuriko was cross-dressing before that happened..." Tasuki winced as Sora tightened her grip on his wrist.
"What is it?" Tasuki asked nervously at Sora's suddenly darkened face.
"Nothing... yet..." She added softly stopping in front of the room the others were waiting in. Tasuki opened the door and gasped, Miaka was lying on the floor and appeared to be unconscious, Sora growled and said the single word that descrbed it,
"Shit."
End of Chapter 4
Angel: Kekekekekekeke.... I do love a good cliff-hanger! Aha see I do have a heart though I'll update sooner! Hehehehe... Also now ya know a wee little bit about Sora, and a warning it's just icing on the cake!
~Yay Questions~
What's wrong with Miaka?! :(
Sora can do other things?
Will Miaka live?
What happened to Mits?!
Chiriko comes and... knows him?! (This is easy to figure out ya know...)
-This is a dumb birthday thingie-
I love you all!
Hotohori: *Sniffles* I thought you only loved me...
Angel: I do... In a different way! You're special!*Hotohori hugs her*
Heero: *holding gun to Hotohori's head* Let go.
Hotohori:*glares letting go*Tch.
Angel: Stop that Heero. Lemme guess.. I'm dreaming because my two of my fav. bishies are here... right?
Emiko, Libbie, Adreas, Sarafia, and Gen: NO! HAPPY BIRTHDAY! They'e your presents! Hey where's Lantis?
Lantis: Hi...
Angel: I love you all in a friend way very VERY much right now.
Huggles That's all folks! I might do more with this...Ittekimasu! Ja!
Adreas: You should be.
Angel:*gulp* What are you doing here?
Adreas: I was bored... Oh I brought you something...*pulls out Hotohori plushi*
Angel: KAWAIII!!!!*grabs it and hugs*
Plushie: I love you Angel-chan!
Angel:*tears* Thank you so much Adreas...*sniffles*
Adreas: Your birthday it the ninth right? Kyo*?(*today)
Angel:*nods* Thank you Aniki...
Adreas:Nandemonai. ^_^
Angel: Yes my evil brother... Scary...Read read read and review!(That's not his real name but if I released that he'd kill me)
~Nuriko~ Sora's abrupt exit gave way for everyone to think... Her and Chichiri looked so cute together... Even when they looked nervous, I swear though earlier they were like glowing... Weird. The others looked around till Tasuki piped up.
"What the hell is up with them?" I grinned and let everyone know my suspision,
"I think Sora and Chichiri have a thing going..." Miaka's eyes went starry as she began to rant, the others went chibi scared.
"Wow... You know they seem pretty close now that you mention it... And they do look so cute together! I knew she liked someone... just not who, but that makes sense, she's so inward and so is Chichiri! That must be what drew them together...Chichiri's chance to love again!" Everyone sweatdropped and looked away. I looked to Hotohori's beautiful face for comfort but saw... sadness...dissapointment? I nearly gasped, did my Hoto- chan like SORA?! Impossible, she was pretty and all, she managed to bond with everyone but Hoto-chan?! Nooooooooooo!!!!
"Nuriko? Nuriko are you Ok? Nuriko?! NURIKO?!" I ignored Miaka's voice and saw Sora as she entered dinner... She had looked beautiful, very beatiful... Could she be more beautiful than... me...? I found Miaka shaking my shoulders harshly and snapped out of my thoughts to look at her.
"Oh... Sorry, I was thinking..." the rest of the seishi and Miaka fell over. I smiled sheepishly and scratched my head. Miaka sat up though and began to speak.
"Listen... about Sora... Well I was thinking, she told me she was from Konan, but think about it... Sora writes english, so could it be she speaks english? If she did it would make sense for her to say she was mute..."
"Then why the hell can she understand us?" Interupted Tasuki.
"Probably because she can't speak japanese... I know she writes kanji but so do other people who don't speak japanese... It's like english, you understand it if someone tells you something but you yourself can't speak it, that's why she's mute but also... She can't be from Konan! No one here speaks English! So she must be from my world..."
"That wouldn't make sense though... She knows our customs and traditions so well..." Tamahome stated matter of factly. Miaka nodded.
"Yes it does, it fits, she's been here so long that she has learned to fit in. She is from Konan but was born in my world, don't you see? She can't speak, she can't go home, and she can't be evil, she has a purpose and she knows it. We have to find it, and why she came. I can't focus on Suzaku anyway with this mystery over my head." She finished quickly. I smiled at her, how did that sappy baka think of all that! How amazing...
"Um... Guys... What color is the sky?" I snorted at Tamahome's stupid question. Tasuki glared at him,
"Blue you baka."
"Well why is it red... and gold..." Our attention focused outside to where a branch of the sky was indeed golden red... The light lasted a few moments in an amazing spiral, then it stopped abruptly. We watched in amazing frozen. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~Sora~ I changed into a kitten to leave and headed to where I told him to meet me... I was not nervous, not at all. I was scared. I had no idea how to explain but I would do my best... Without telling him everything. Suzaku why can't you let me speak japanese? It would have made everything so easy... Suzaku... Why?
I was waiting I nearly died of a heart attack as I heard the voice...
'Suzaku?' I waited for a response.
You couldn't speak because you didn't need to.
'Well... I guess that's true... I only had cook, Nakago, and Dr.Kajin... But why not now?' I felt like he was smiling but saw nothing... Then darkness wrapped around me.
Now will do nicely Then all of a sudden I saw words in gold flash before my eyes. I was no longer a kitten but my human self... devoid of clothes... I saw the red blaze swirl around me, I rose in the air suspeded in the black orb around me, the words circled closer an closer till I thought I might choke but I didn't. I then felt warm as I absorbed the knowledge of those words... I saw the japanese sentences form in my head as I thought... Kuso! I can speak japanese!
'Thank you Suzaku!' I thought, in japanese. I felt a chuckle then his presence was gone and I was a kitten again... with a golden and ruby collar... I closed my eyes hoping no one had noticed the sudden lights and magic, the seishi probably did but I felt it was for me alone. I changed to human quickly, I entered the tavern quietly, unnoticed. I headed towards the indigo cape in the back of the room and sat down.
"Sora?" Amiboshi lifted his cloak slightly to get a better look at me. I smiled as kindly as I could, he stopped movement his mouth slackened... I must have one heck of a smile...
"Yes... Listen now. I can't come with you... I would love to really, but this is my place... Ami... I was sent to the Suzaku seishi for a reason, I can't tell you but I won't let you leave empty-handed OK? Take these..." I handed him first the locket of glass, it was for Nakago...
"That is for Nakago... Tell him to wear it always, it will keep him... safe. This is for you," Amiboshi seemed shocked when I reached forward placing my hands on his face and kissed him softly, I was actually sending my life force through him then retrieving it. I pulled away and he gasped, I had left a remainment of my chi...in his heart. "Sora...??? What did you...?" He seemed at a loss for words. I smiled at him, he was too amazed to speak. "I know I'll see you soon, Nakago's a horribly strategic man... his plan is very odd though... Goodbye... And thanks, for everything..." I stood up and walked out the door. Amiboshi muttered a farewell... He was impressed. I changed quickly and ran back to the palace. I was very proud of the way I dismissed Amiboshi, no strings attached. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~Chichiri~
I left Sora's room dissapointed, she hadn't told me anything... And how could she mentally connect so easily, it took training and she didn't seem to have any special talents... That we knew of... But then again we didn't know much, she spoke english, she's been abused, she's origionally from here, and she wants to be near our seishi... That's it, well I know she writes poetry... Ack. I don't think poetry suits me unless I try... I walked around the palace silent in thought, at dinner she had seemed lost in her own world... I wonder what she had been thinking about... Maybe her startling entrance, I had been shocked, I didn't even recognize her hardly! If not for those eyes... I didn't notice I had come to stand before a rather large window... Then it seemed as if the sky had turned to flames, there was a strange spiral of red and gold, the two colors coarsed together in a single strand. The light was now connected obviously to the ground where it began to lift something.... The band was so strong, that light was godly sure as I am human... Something powerful was going on.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~Tasuki~
As soon as the light stopped I felt something pulsating within me... something...beautiful... BEAUTIFUL? Ack. More like amazing, but good and powerful. Reminded me of Sora...
"Anyone know what that was???" Asked Nuriko looking nervous. I grinned.
"It was Suzaku..." Muttered Hotohori seriously. The rest of the seishi stared at him.
"Do you think so..."Gasped Miaka amazed.
"Wonderful deduction..." A voice chuckled from the dark window. The seishi turned and stood defensively near Miaka.
"And correct!" A feminine giggle came from the shadow as it swung its legs.
"Who're you?!" Asked Tama defensively. Chichiri entered just as Hotohori took a step forward,
"Answer." His voice grated. Chichiri was strangely frozen in place.
"Chichiri, get up here!" I hissed at him he turned to look at me with his ever smiling face.
"You already know huh Chichiri? Isn't Suzaku nice?" The shadow laughed.
"Oh stop... I'm not evil silly, quite the opposite, I'm here to help you out, really! See?" The shadow jumped with agility before Miaka... It took my brain a second to register the face...Sora.
~Sora~
I was sooo happy! I didn't care if it was suspicious, I could TALK. In japanese! Inside I was rejoicing as I hugged Miaka gleefully.
"Miaka! I can talk!" Miaka smiled brightly.
"I'm very happy for you!" She exclaimed. The seishi were staring, Chichiri smiled. I smiled at him, he was nice to know.
"Miaka, I don't know if we should trust her..." Muttered Tasuki. Miaka glared at him, I smiled sweetly and walked up to Tasuki nonchalantly before hitting him over the head harshly.
"I. CAN. TALK. BUT. I. AM. NOT. BAD. Got it? Good" Tasuki nodded dumbly looking dazed.
"Sorry... Didn't mean to er... hurt him...bad..." I sweatdropped.
"So that weird light was what exactly?" Asked Nuriko moving to the previous subject.
"Suzaku basically sums it up!" I concurred gleefully. Yes I was VERY EXTREMELY SUPER happy. Chichiri smiled and nodded. I hugged Miaka again in my glee before becoming somewhat serious again.
"Daijoubu... I'm done, for now. Listen before I get false accuasations to my sudden speech I would like to explain, so please sit." I motioned to their previous seat which they took. I put on my most assuring smile and began
"Ok... Listen I'm actually here for reason. A good reason but I think I should start at the begining. Ahem. You see I'm guessing you've figured out I'm from a different world, not Miaka's though, another world. Well A nice old lady, you know her as Taiitsukun, came to me exactly ten years ago... I was five, she asked me if I would help her... I was a really friendly kid, lemme tell ya..., well I told her sure and then I got sucked here... Well actually a village on the border, I was adopted by a family who hid my identity, they knew I wasn't the miko. I lived there for five years, after a horrible raid I was captured and sold as a slave. It wasn't all that bad, but I ran away three years ago from a lord in the capital... then a general at the palace discovered me hiding in the palace, I was... sent to work in the palace for two years... Thats when I met you. I did however leave a few facts out... Why am I here? To guide you, no more no less. Who sent me? Suzaku. And I lied to you about speaking because I couldn't speak that language, sorry bout that. But there is something I believe you should be apologizing about, my diary?" The suzaku seishi were all flushed with my last statement, Miaka looked near tears.
"I'm so sorry! I just wanted to find out more about you!" Miaka cluthched onto me, sobbing, as the others nodded sweatdropped. I smiled peeling her off my now wet shirt.
''Ok Thank you, and whatever you read... well... Keep it to yourself I don't want to know... Any questions?" Nuriko piped up first.
"Yeah, is Sora actually your name?"
"Well no... It's actually Izouma Ceres... Ceres-Sora was an old nickname though and I don't have a problem being called Sora... Anybody else?" Tasuki stood up looking dead serious.
"How do we know your not just a Seiryuu assasin?! This could just be a trick." I muffled the chuckle in my throat and answered calmly.
"Tasuki-chan..." "DON'T CALL ME THAT!"...ignored... " If I wanted to kill Miaka I've had had several chances, the market, the room, when we first met... Besides, I kind of like you all, in a weird sort away..." Miaka smiled starry eyed as Tamahome asked his rational question.
"But Sora, how come there is nothing... No prophecies or anything about a guardian... Why? That does leave some doubt..." I smiled kindly.
"Well, you don't have any prophecies about me because there are none. However, there is a mention of the guardians of heaven and hell. I would be the guardian of heaven, check the main scroll.... Chichiri, something you'd like to share with the rest of the class?" Chichiri was chuckling behind his mask. Miaka giggled at my joke but the other seishi were lost.
"What no da?"He said innocently. I promtly smacked him while whispering in his ear,
"I can see through your mask you know." He blushed and smiled under the smiling mask.
"Does that make you an Angel no da?" I smiled and shrugged.
"I'm pretty clueless myself... I kind of have some things of my own to sort out... Um, anything else?" Hotohori smiled kindly before asking,
"Well... Sora, would it be safe for you to travel with the rest? It could be quite dangerous." I felt like laughing, me in danger? HA! I could be a giant tiger if I wanted to, the trick to my gift is seeing something... And guess how easily I can draw a giant tiger to see? Pretty darn easy.
"I can take extremely good care of myself as well as my friends, everyone has their talents you see... I think I basically told you everything... I'm going to sleep now, G'night." I stepped back waiting for possible protest, silence. I walked contentedly to my/Miaka's room and promptly fell asleep on the carpeted floor with a single blanket and pillows. It was extremely comfy.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~Me~(A.k.a. narrator)
The seishi sat back for a moment debating Sora's newfound speech and abilities... It was obvious she had nothing to hide from most people's perspective, Tamahome was worried about Miaka as usual... Hotohori however completely gave into the side of himself that said Sora was good Chichiri knew Sora was as good as you got with a tragic past and she was nice from the few days they knew her... Miaka always liked her, Tasuki didn't care anymore, and Nuriko just wanted her to stay away from Hotohori even if he did love Miaka. Chichiri left silently to bed and the others followed, Hotohori last. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sora woke up early like she was used to and changed to some different clothes before heading to the library. She left Miaka snoring with her dreams of food... None of the other seishi were up yet, not even Hotohori, as Sora walked softly admiring the halls. She liked to be alone sometimes (as I stated earlier). The walls of the palace were decorated with rich tapestries and bright carvings, Sora traced her fingers over them lovingly. Sora recalled when she was younger she used to draw, as she grew in this world she had mastered her skills of paint and ink but never carvings... She wished she could learn. Once in the library she searched for a novel to read... She found one to her liking and settled into a chair to read. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The next person awake was Hotohori who immediately had several meetings with advisors due to Kutou's royal threats. Inside Hotohori was extremely nervous but he kept his calm while assuring his advisors. Soon after he began to think about the night before... Sora could talk... Hotohori thought for a few minutes and decided he had a few questions for Sora and decided to seek her out before breakfast if she was awake. Hotohori being the sensible emperor he is headed to Miaka/Sora's room to see if she was awake, on the way he reminded himself that she needed a room. Entering the room he sighed looking for a moment at Miaka looking for the feeling she usually gave him. Usually? Thought Hotohori nervously, he felt nothing... No longing, no love. At least other He stared for a moment then realized Sora wasn't there... Hotohori looked up thinking. He had found Sora in the library, maybe she was there... He strode purposefully to the library and looked around, he spotted Sora curled beside the window book in hand... Hotohori smiled, she was reading a novel not philosophy, she looked very calm.
"Sora-san..." Sora's head snapped up to gaze at Hotohori. She stayed where she was this time before closing the book.
"Sora or Sora-chan's fine Hotohori..." She explained standing.
"Yes... I had some questions if you don't mind..." Sora smiled and walked to the nearby table and sat. Hotohori followed sitting across from her.
"Ok. Then I want to play a game, you ask a question I answer then vice versa. I do have my own questions you know... " Hotohori nodded and decided to go first.
"How old are you?"
"15, I'll be sixteen in August. How old are you?" Sora smiled, Hotohori was suprised she looked his age.
"18... Do you enjoy it here?" Sara gawked.
"Of course... Hmmm...Why do you wear robes and shoes that look like a duck?" Sora held back gigles at Hotohori's shocked expression.
"These are the robes all emperors wear! It does not make make me look like a duck!" Sora covered her face while she giggled.
"Actually... It does..." Sora laughs and Hotohori huffs at her before asking,
"Can you fight with a sword?" Sora laughs again and looks at him before giggling.
"Can you? Of course you can so why ask a question you know the answer? I know you saw me at that Inn... Ok...Why are you so serious? Not that I'm one to talk... This is probably the first time I laughed in a long time..." Hotohori blushed.
''I grew up around adults I suppose that's why... Er...Do you know what's going to happen?" Sora looked mildly suprised.
"Well I know we need to find the rest of the seishi...Do you have any family?"
"Yes, you?"
"4 little siblings, 2 girls, 2 boys, and Onee-chan ..." Sora answered sadly.
"Er... Why do I need help?" She asked softly thinking.
"... I have no idea but-"
"Ask me why I hate Kutou." Hotohori was startled by her tart cutoff.
"W-why do you hate Kutou?" He asked nervously.
"You have to kill or be killed. Why is Konan so peaceful?" She responded icily. Hotohori was slightly scared now, Sora was quite vicious.
"Because I try to keep the people happy? Er... I think that's enough..." Hotohori replies standing abruptly.
"Bye, bye Heika-sama." Sora said before opening her book and reading Hotohori stares before exiting the room nervously. Sora looked up after he left and smiled tightly,
"Damn girl... Now you went and scared him... Oh well, I know he cares somewhat...He's cute when he's shocked..." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tamahome woke next and immediately went in search of food much like Miaka did a little while later... Chichiri woke up later than usual and also headed towards food. Tasuki was still asleep when the others, Sora came last, assembled for breakfast. Tamahome looked around as Nuriko asked entering,
"Where's Fang-boy?" Nuriko sat down beside Hotohori smiling at him softly. Sora sweat-dropped, /this whole room is a love triangle... Scratch that, more like a love octagon. Nuriko loves Hotohori, Hotohori loves Miaka, Miaka loves Tamahome, and I'll bet Tasuki and Chichiri love Miaka as well... Scary,/ she thought silently.
"I'm betting ten to one he's asleep." Sora volunteered melodically. Nuriko gasped as rememberance came over him,
"Suzaku, it wasn't a dream," Said Tamahome nervously. Miaka smiled.
"Well I'll go wake up Tasuki, gossip about me all you want while I'm gone Ok?" Said Sora cheerily as she left to find Tasuki's room. The oher seishi and Miaka stared after her jaws loose.
"Did she really just say to gossip about her?" Asked Tamahome amazed.
"I think so no da..." Said Chichiri eye widened behind his mask.
"Strange..." Muttered Nuriko airily. Miaka giggled at the looks on her present sieshi's faces.
"Not really, where I'm from she's normal. Even if she has been here ten years she's still from my world and she acts like it. " Exclaimed Miaka sappily.(a/N:And sappily is a word mind you! Mwahahahahaha!) The others sweatdropped.
"Ahem. Miaka when should we resume our search for the seishi?" Asked Hotohori calmly. Miaka smiled,
"As soon as possible of course!" She giggled.
"Well... Then..." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sora roamed the hallways searching carefully till she came to Tasuki's room. She knocked forcefully but got no response, she opened the door and peeked inside. Tasuki was asleep peacefully, a bottle of sake in hand. Sora smiled and shut the door behind her shaking her head as she attempted to pull the sake out of Tasuki's tight grasp. Tasuki grunted and rolled over pulling poor Sora with him. Sora sqeaked, Tasuki was now also holding on to her and she wasn't very happy about it. She squirmed vigorously but found herself being squeezed tighter.
"Tasuki... LET GO!" She screamed in his ear. Tasuki's eyes snapped open and stared at Sora.
"Sora? What the hell...?" Tasuki, still holding onto her, asked tenatively. Sora scowled, she still couldn't get free.
"Let. Me. Go. NOW." She told him annoyed. Tasuki blushed and let her go, Sora dusted herself off and put her hands on her hips.
"Tasuki I swear... I'm never waking you up again. Now get up it's breakfast time you lazy bum." Tasuki smiled sheepishly.
"Hehehe... Just so ya know ya aren't the first person that's happened to..." Sora sweat-dropped and turned around while Tasuki threw on a shirt hastily.
"So...Who was the poor soul who had to wake you up?" She asked pointedly. Tasuki sweat-dropped and hung his head.
" Nuriko...Eheheh..." Tasuki explained. Sora grabbed Tasuki her eyes widened as she guided him out the door.
"Nuriko? No wonder he became a cross-dresser!" She told him smiling. Tasuki looked upset as he responded,
"Hey, he was gay before-" Sora promptly smacked him for the 'gay' comment.
"What?!"
"He's not necissarily gay. It's not nice to call him something he doesn't want to be called. Around me he can only be referred to as cross- dresser or Nuriko, got that?"
"G-gomen nasai... Erm, as I was saying... Nuriko was cross-dressing before that happened..." Tasuki winced as Sora tightened her grip on his wrist.
"What is it?" Tasuki asked nervously at Sora's suddenly darkened face.
"Nothing... yet..." She added softly stopping in front of the room the others were waiting in. Tasuki opened the door and gasped, Miaka was lying on the floor and appeared to be unconscious, Sora growled and said the single word that descrbed it,
"Shit."
End of Chapter 4
Angel: Kekekekekekeke.... I do love a good cliff-hanger! Aha see I do have a heart though I'll update sooner! Hehehehe... Also now ya know a wee little bit about Sora, and a warning it's just icing on the cake!
~Yay Questions~
What's wrong with Miaka?! :(
Sora can do other things?
Will Miaka live?
What happened to Mits?!
Chiriko comes and... knows him?! (This is easy to figure out ya know...)
-This is a dumb birthday thingie-
I love you all!
Hotohori: *Sniffles* I thought you only loved me...
Angel: I do... In a different way! You're special!*Hotohori hugs her*
Heero: *holding gun to Hotohori's head* Let go.
Hotohori:*glares letting go*Tch.
Angel: Stop that Heero. Lemme guess.. I'm dreaming because my two of my fav. bishies are here... right?
Emiko, Libbie, Adreas, Sarafia, and Gen: NO! HAPPY BIRTHDAY! They'e your presents! Hey where's Lantis?
Lantis: Hi...
Angel: I love you all in a friend way very VERY much right now.
Huggles That's all folks! I might do more with this...Ittekimasu! Ja!
