Hey! Another chapter already! Wow! It's this new computer…it calls to me. And I've wanted to write this chapter for a while. So here it is! Lucky you!!! A word, or two, of warning…spoilers galore in this chapter, so if you don't like spoilers…ignore this note anyway, because they won't make sense as spoilers unless you know what happens in the real story…did that make any sense? Just don't say I didn't warn ya!
This chapter is gonna be confusing, so I'll help early on. The dream Ari had two chapters ago will be continued in this chapter. And just to let you know, in case you can't figure it out from the subtle hints in the chapter, Ari is seeing what happened to the last Miko…Miaka. I know, I know, some people don't like her. She's not my favorite character either, but she was a major character, and she's not all that bad, besides. Ari is seeing what Miaka went through, though Miaka's eyes. Italics are the dream itself. Regular type depicts scene changes and Ari's thoughts. Every time the word she is used, it's referring to Ari/Miaka. Remember that. It's supposed to be confusing, it's a dream! I did the broken sentences etc. on purpose so don't bash on bad sentence structure, it's poetic, artistic, dream-like! Does that help anyone?…Well, you won't know till you read it, I know. So READ already!!!
Chapter Eight: dreams
A few hours after the imperial audience, this story finds its heroine lying on her bed, counting ceiling tiles. After being shown to their separate rooms, Rui and Kura both agreed that it would be best for all of them to rest up, in preparation for whatever happened next. Ari wasn't sure what exactly they were resting up for, but it seemed like a good idea. If only she could get to sleep.
So…bored…Must…fall…asleep…The room she was assigned to was interesting enough. She'd spent the first hour snooping around, looking into all the drawers, peeking into closets, etc. The chamber was amazing. In the corner stood a huge armoire, exquisitely decorated with carvings of little birds. Inside, there were a number of elegant robes and dresses, seemingly unused for ages. A black lacquered chest crouched at the base of the bed, decorated in gold leaf, depicting a scene of four or five kimonoed women gathered around a pond. The bed itself was a massive, four-postered piece. Deep red curtains crowned the posts.
The ceiling itself was another point of interest. Each tile was carved to illustrate something different; Ari suspected that, altogether, it told some kind of story. But she never had the chance to find out what that story was.
A knock at the door startled her. She swung her legs over the side of the luxurious bed, padded barefoot to the door, and slid the screen open.
Rui stared down at her for a minute without speaking. Ari smoothed her bed-ruffled hair subconsciously, wondering what he was there for.
He seemed to snap out of whatever trance he was in and asked, "Can we come in?"
We? Ari then realized he was not alone. Behind him stood Kura and two other men she didn't know. She nodded and moved out of the doorframe to let them in, feeling slightly disappointed. She shook away the feeling and joined the group.
"What's this about?" Ari asked Rui.
He leaned against a wall while she took a seat next to Kura on the bed. The two men stood. When she got a good look at the two strangers she recognized them as the two young men who'd followed the emperor into his private conference. One was tall, with long, dark hair pulled up. His watchful eyes were gold flecked, reminding her of the emperor himself. His friend was shorter than he, with shoulder-length, brown hair, and green eyes. Those green eyes seemed to be resting appreciatively on Kura, despite her cold demeanor.
Rui spoke up. "This is…" He trailed off, not knowing how to address the two men.
The tall one cleared his throat. "I am Taiyo, third son of Konan." Ari nodded respectfully to the prince.
Green-eyes introduced himself next. "And I am Kei, one of the emperor's humble advisors." He kneeled before Kura, attempting to take her hand in his. She shot him a look so full of ice he abruptly turned to Ari instead. "And you are?"
Ari giggled at the look on Kura's face and answered him in kind. "My name's Ari." She had always enjoyed the game of flirting back home. Kei seemed to find it quiet thrilling as well.
He flashed her a heart-stopping smile. "And a beautiful name, it is."
Rui's eye twitched.
Taiyo cleared his throat again. "Kei, enough. We were here for a reason, remember?"
"Ah yes. Of course." Kei stood up, suddenly all business. "We are here to speak on behalf of the Emperor. He believes that the instance of the teddy bear was not enough to prove that you are truly the Suzaku no Miko."
Ari sighed.
"His Majesty states that it is possible that you could have heard about the toy in the city, or else-ware even, and are trying to use that knowledge to assume the honorable position of Priestess."
Taiyo's voice was flat. "In short, he thinks you're a con." Kei looked at him, frowning, but he persisted. "In fact, he wanted to have you all thrown into the dungeons. Treason and all that."
Rui snorted his disbelief. Kura just frowned.
Taiyo was angry. "He thinks that nothing could be wrong with his empire, so he turns a blind eye on the needs of this country!" He paced across the elaborate carpets.
Kei just shook his head. He spoke directly to Ari. "We, of course, believe you. And we will continue attempting to open the royal eyes of his Highness."
Ari watched the way Taiyo strode the length of the room: back and forth, back and forth, like a caged animal. "Well, that's nice. Do you mind if I ask why you two believe me, when the rest of the court doesn't?"
Kei laughed. "Of course not." He sat down on the bed, no more than a breath's distance away from the scowling, dark-haired woman. "Pardon me, sweet." He flashed white teeth at Kura in an ardent effort to charm her. It wasn't working. She stood up and leaned against the wall next to Rui, leaving a slightly dejected imperial advisor on the bed, attempting to remove his shoe.
Ari looked down at the man's foot when she realized it was glowing. There, on the top of his foot, glowed a red character, much like the one she had seen on Rui's arm a while back.
Ari looked into Kei's smiling green eyes. "It doesn't do that for just anyone, you know," he said.
Ari's gaze fell on Taiyo who stood behind Kei. On the side of his neck glowed a symbol as well.
Of all the luck! She had found not one, but two more warriors. Or rather, they had found her. A grin slowly spread across her face. She turned to Rui, smirking.
"Beginner's luck, you said?" She taunted, referring to his statement on the matter earlier that day.
Rui tried to scowl back, but gave up as the laughter got the better of him. "You've got the best luck I have ever seen." She smiled back, wholeheartedly.
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After a lengthy explanation of the legend of Suzaku, Ari was beginning to think she understood what she was in for. Hopefully, they could convince the Emperor of her authenticity and gain whatever help he could give their little troupe. Although they did not absolutely have to have his authorization to summon the beast god, it would be much easier to travel around with whatever reimbursement the royal could provide.
The warriors left her room in the late evening, shooed out by Kura who had seen the yawns Ari struggled to hide.
And now, Ari was asleep…or dreaming to be more exact.
She was in the body of the person—girl, Ari had decided—from the previous dream. The dream of getting pulled into the book was still fresh in her memory as the new scene unfolded before her.
She was in a dry wasteland, the only decoration a scrappy tree reaching for the sky. Men as scrappy as the tree surrounded her. One had a death grip on a girl with short, blond hair. She felt her body charging at the man holding her friend.
Friend?
She felt the blow as the slaver hit her across the face, giving her a bloody lip. He raised a hand to hit her again, but was stopped by another man. A tall, dark haired, young man with a character glowing from his forehead, to be precise. He easily broke the slaver's arm and proceeded to pummel the rest of the bandits.
The dream changed.
It was very dark. Her leg seared with pain, but she ignored it. In the dark of the rubble, red light illuminated the face above her. It was the young man from before.
A name floated up into Ari's conscience.
Tamahome…
Tamahome was holding up an entire building, protecting her. Powerful eyes bored into her soul as he told her that no matter what happened, he would always protect her.
The world shifted.
Rain dripped down the crumbling walls of the alleyway. Bodies littered the walkway. Tamahome stood with his back to her. She was in tears, and in the heat of those tears a confession slipped past her guard. She yelled out to him. "Can't you see I'm falling in love with you?!"
Crumbling at his rejection, she collapsed to the cobblestones.
The rain swept everything away.
She stood before a reflection of herself, perfect in every detail, right down to the red ribbons in her hair. The reflection laughed at her as it walked out of the mirror and into the forest.
Watching the image of herself tear apart the delicate trust of the three warriors, she realized that the image was made of her own deepest, darkest thoughts. And the only way to stop the evil, the only way to save the people she cared for, was to get rid of the source. The only way…was to kill her self. So she did.
The forest faded into pain.
Now she was in a palace. She was in the den of the enemy. But she had to save Yui; she had to save her very best friend. In the cold of the chamber, light glinting off threatening blades and armor, she saw the blond haired girl she had been searching for.
She ran to her friend, enveloping her in an embrace. But something wasn't right. She grabbed Yui's wrist to see the scar that spoke of a will to die and of a pain so deep, she would never understand.
The tears washed out the horror.
Hiding behind a delicate screen, Tamahome questioned her. Why had she left him behind? He asked her. She didn't answer, afraid of what she would say. In frustration, he made her look at him. "If I'm causing you trouble, so be it! I still love you!" He kissed her as if to prove himself.
The kiss melted away the fear.
A dragon rose before her, causing shadows to grow in the weak light of the shrine. Yui stood before her, yelling her hatred across the darkness. Each word was a fresh wound.
"You didn't come back for me! You have no idea what I went through! It's your fault I've been through hell!"
Yui beckoned to the man standing behind her, swathed in shadows.
Another name came to Ari.
Nakago…
And with it came fear… and anger.
Cold blue eyes smirked as Yui told him to hurt her. He obeyed his priestess.
Pain left nothing but a terrible feeling of betrayal in its wake.
Safe, and confused, she watched the giant mirror before her explain why her friend had betrayed her. It told a tale of broken trust, loss, and fear. It told the tale of Yui's scars…
The mirror fogged over.
She was under a tree, waiting, waiting for someone she knew would never come. He drew closer. Tamahome stood before her, promising her safety, promising her love. But he was wrong, everything was wrong.
She showed him the letter he had written her. He had said that he loved her. Wouldn't he remember that? And break whatever spell they had over him?
He ripped the paper into a thousand pieces, eyes colder than death. His eyes told her to die.
She fell into those cold eyes.
Water was everywhere around her. Cold. Deathly cold. But not as cold as her tears. Or her heart. He wouldn't leave her like this. He was waiting for her…out there in the water. They could be together in the water. She held her breath.
A light grew above her, then all thought faded away.
The light brought her to yet another scene.
Lightning flashed above the courtyard as the thunder growled at the two men below. Tamahome and Hotohori squared off, finding stable footing in the wet stones. Swords glinted in the light of the storm. Two warriors… friends… brothers…they battled.
Tamahome fell to the blade of his emperor. She saw him fall, cried out to him, ran to him, forgoing the warning that he would kill her. She loved him enough to let him, if it came to that.
Lightning flashed.
The ceremony to summon the beast god was under-way. Everything was in place, the scroll prepared, the warriors assembled, all except for one…the intruder. The imposter played his weapon, the song of shredded souls, the song of broken trust.
A faint whistle cut off the sound, allowing the Suzaku warriors to attack. He fled to the rooftops, running, jumping, falling… He fell into the river and the waters swept him away…
The beast god gave them a second chance.
She stood before Tamahome in the light of the city. Tears burned their way into her eyes. She told him why she refused his proposal, she told him why she kept herself away. "We can't love each other any more!" She saw the pain in his eyes. She saw his heart break. And she hated herself for being the cause.
The stars shone in the dark of the night.
On the boat, she heard her brother speaking to her from her own world. He told her to come home. He claimed that she would be sacrificed to Suzaku before the end.
She shook her head, refusing to do what he asked. She pulled the ribbon that was her connection to her own world from her hair. She turned to Tasuki…
Tasuki! That's him! Rui's father!
And told him to burn the ribbon. She watched as her only connection to her world burst into flame and the embers fall the floor.
Her link was gone.
In the snow, blood is black. The blood stained the virgin snow around her. Nuriko, her warrior, her friend, was on the ground, dying. He breathed his last words, telling her to never give up, no matter what. She knew he loved her, and she would never have the chance to tell him she knew…because before she could say another word, he was gone.
Tears are as black as blood in the dark of suffering.
She was sheathed in ice, not breathing, her heart not daring to beat. The cold feasted on her bare skin, but she held strong, she would never give up. The bracelets at her wrists glowed, giving off the Nuriko's strength. She broke the ice, gasping in her freedom. She had proven herself. She was one step closer to summoning Suzaku.
Determination filled her heart.
A young boy was battling himself. An evil presence resided within him, and was using his body to wound those who he loved. In the despair of his own betrayal he took his own life to protect them. She watched Chiriko fall.
The sun was beginning to rise.
Yui was calling out to Seirryu, making her first wish. Yui looked on in horror as scales appeared on her legs, embedded so deeply in her skin, she could do nothing as the dragon god took her.
The dream shifted for the last time.
She was back home, in the real world. She summoned Suzaku, there amidst the fighting she made her wishes. She wished for Yui to be brought back to life. She wished for the dragon god to be sealed away once more. And she wished for Tamahome…
He stood before her…but different. He was not Tamahome, no he was Taka…and he carried her ring still…The ring on his finger glinted in the sunlight. They were finally together.
A voice spoke to Ari in the final moments of the dream. "This is the story of the previous Suzaku no Miko, Miaka. Learn from her mistakes, and recognize her strength of heart, for the time will come when you, Ari, will be called upon to do great deeds as well…"
Ari sat up in bed with a jolt. Breathing raggedly, she tried to regain her composer. The dream had rattled her nerves, leaving her hands shaking like leaves. She ran a hand through her hair as she stabilized herself. That voice…
Looking around the room, she calmed in the golden light of the dawn. She didn't realize that she wasn't alone until the intruder spoke, gravelly voice echoing through the shadows, the same voice as the dream…
"Why are you here, Hikari?"
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AN: Cliffy! Yay! I haven't had one of those for a while! But I already know what will happen in the next chapter, heck I've got the rest of the story planned out, I just need to type it… easier said than done, ne?
I think I've said all there is to say
…write me back and tell me what you think, okay?
…Of late, only one or two take the time to review
…And I have to admit to feeling a little blue
Boo hoo, hoo hoo, hoo hoo, hoo hoo.
…So click on the little box below
…And maybe then I won't feel so low
…Rhyming really is almost as fun
…As making up an annoying pun
…Right now, I think I'll take my leave
…Before I make anyone heave…
Kura walks in
Wanderlily: … Hi Kura…what are you doing with my rhyming dictionary? …Wait! No! Don't you dare! Not the paper shredder! NOOOOOO!!!
Bbbzzzzzzzzzzttttttt.
Kura: That's all folks!
***wanderlily***