Gomen ne~, minna-san. I had finished this chapter early and had tried to download it with the second chapter while running late for work. I didn't notice that I screwed up. I am happy to see that so far, four reviews have come in. Doumo arigatou, yonin.
Okay, this is where I start really messing with the plot. I don't think that anyone will mind too much. I also remind everybody that I do not own these characters and have no desire to be sued.
Konotabi wa, iroiro gomeiwaku wo okakeshite sumimasendeshita. {bows} (I am afraid that I have inconvenienced you.)
Shitsurei shimasu.
Chapter 3
Country road, take me home
I found Chichiri-san sitting alone by the pond. No, wait, there was Mitsukake-san's cat. I know that this particular cat is smarter than average, but I doubt that I have anything to fear from him. Then again, this cat is smarter than most people I have met…
"It is more comfortable to sit na no da.
"Ah, hai." How long was I standing there?
We sit in silence for about a half an hour. Chichiri-san just fishing, while I watch the water.
"I do not believe that there is any fish in this pond, Chichiri-san."
"Hai, I found that out earlier no da. I'm just waiting for you to ask your questions no da."
I raise my eyebrow in surprise. Before, only my father and my grandmother had ever really been able to tell when I had questions that no one else could answer.
"I am just trying to get to know all of you. I have yet to reside at this palace for a week and soon, you, the Miko, the fellow seishi and I will be travel partners. I find it most important that I get an idea on who all of you really are in order to both come up with helpful suggestions in a stressful situation and to just plainly become friends with all of you."
Chichiri-san smiles at me through the mask. "What would you like to know no da?"
I start with a simple question. "Where are you from?"
"Here, there. Everywhere na no da."
"Do you have any family?"
"…Once…a long time ago…"
"Oh." I decided that it was necessary for me to pause and ponder. This is all information that I had happen to know about Chichiri-san, but I must get these questions out of the way. If I do not and then, in a future date, speak of these answers, I will have a hard time explaining this knowledge without giving up my secret. I ask the next obvious question that I can see that Chichiri-san was waiting for, with a bit of child-like innocence.
"Is that why you wear a mask? To hide your grief?" Now, I knew the answer to this question. It was one of the things shown to me, after I truly understood my powers. The difference is, like most events in the seishi's lives, I was shown the accident, by Tai'itsu-kun, long before it happened. For in truth, that is the secret to all of my predictions. However, one person's perspective on any incident is never truly the same as that of another. Have "predictions," yes, but read other's minds no.
"I use it to hide my scar. People are always afraid of both strangers and of that which they don't understand. With this scar, and with my wandering, I fit both categories. At least with the mask on, people will not completely shy away from me, and so I won't be cast out of a village or country. I would have had Tai'itsu-kun's Nyan-Nyans heal it for me when I studied under her, but I wanted to keep the scar so that I will remember it's importance."
"It's importance?"
"Hai, the importance of how strong a bond exists between friends. That friendship is such a bond that it fills one's own being to the point that it becomes an essential part of one's life. That if the bond was to be removed, than the person's soul will have a hard time understanding why the flesh must go on. It is my reminder that no matter how different two people may be, and that no matter what secrets are kept, friendship is sacred and that it should not be destroyed just because of hatred. That there is always a solution around the trials that emotions place between two friends and that rash judgment, for any deed no matter how terrible either party preserves it, is not only uncalled for, but disastrously wrong."
Chichiri-san takes his mask off and states "My eye was but a small price for this important lesson."
During the pause, Mitsukake-san's cat meows at the two of us and starts pawing at Chichiri-san's fishing pole. This breaks Chichiri-san out of his sober mood and with a chuckle, he replaces his mask.
"So, what about you, Chiriko. I told you a bit about me, how about you na no da?
I understand why he chose to change the direction of the conversation and though I did not receive as much information as I had hoped to, I was more than glad to allow the change. Chichiri-san's talk about friendship has given me hope and my heritage might not condemn me as I had originally thought. I do not believe my heritage to be bad, but I have had problems with it in the past. People who had found out about my other abilities were always upset when something disastrous occurred and that either I did not stop it or could not stop it. And with my physical differences, though honorable my bloodline may be, no family wanted me to get close to their daughters in fear that their child would fall in love with a weak little "freak." Meanwhile boys taunted me because my lighter, thinner bones and slightly deformed finger and toe nails which also would not allow me to participate in any muscularly strenuous sport without hurting myself or others. But, if Chichiri-san knew the real me and did not care, because of friendship, then that would be more than I could wish for. Someone to share my life with, who might understand the way I accomplish tasks and why!
But, what about my life? Both my father, and mother and even my grandmother have told me several times that if my secret were revealed, I would either have to stay away from everything I have ever know, or maybe, in a worse case scenario, even terminated. For I was never really meant to be and members of my father's family may become enraged and dispose of me. They would have ever right to do so, for in order to create me, my father and mother broke a law older than Konan-koku itself. They could kill me, and my father would have no hope in protecting me. No, it is better for the other seishi's or my Miko, whom I am starting to see as my first, true and only friends, find out on their own and judge for themselves. As for my father's family, what will happen, happens. All I can do in that situation is pray.
"What would you like to know about me?"
"Well, we know that you are from Jozen, but what about your family no da?"
"I live with my mother and my Onii-san. My mother's first husband, my Onii-san's father, died about two years before my father secretly married my mother. My father is still alive, however, we rarely see him do to the fact that we know that his family would not accept my mother and I. He stays away because he does not wish to call attention to us. It is all right, however, for my Onii-san has been like a father to me, at times, in my real father's absence."
I do not add that I have hardly seen my Onii-san since he was married, with my mother explaining, as if I did not know, that he and my Gishi were a normal married couple and that we should bless them for coming out in public at all.
"That sounds rough no da. So, why did you really want to become a government official no da?"
"I wanted to help people. Besides, there are only so many books you can read before one figures out the plots or answers to the theories. With live human interaction, the calculation of different situations proves that I should rarely hear the same case twice. Plus, with the amount of intellect at my disposal, does it not seem wasteful to not use it?"
"True, it does seem wasteful na no da. Demo, as wise as you may be, I do think that you are missing some important things no da. I suggest not looking towards the job as something to help relieve your boredom, but as a way of giving part of your humanity to others no da."
I stiffen at those words. Part of my humanity, huh?
"What do you mean, Chichiri-san?"
"Well, for instance, showing the people that you are not just doing the job to be paid, but that you really care na no da. I suggest going out of your way, even, to help the middle and lower class out no da. That is not only the best advise that I can give you, but also what I notice that Hotohori-kun needs in his counselors no da. His advisors are concerned for the well fare of Konan-koku, but only up to the point of saving their lives and finances no da. As Suzaku Shichiseishi, it is our duty to not only look out for Miaka-san, but for the well-fare of every living being in our country's boarders despite how we feel towards any group of people or if it risks our very lives no da. As it is, I find myself worried about you na no da. I do believe that you would save the Miko and that you have the knowledge to be a great government official, but even though you care for us, your are still a tad detached from us no da. You're not casual with us na no da. Do you understand no da?"
"I think so, but…"
"I have seen little bits of your humanity, but to truly live, as a human being and not as a soulless shell, you should show that humanity all the time no da."
"I do admit, that I am scared to do so because of past events. And, even now, I am not quite sure how to go about always showing my soul, but…"
"Then you need my help as a Sou (Buddhist Priest) no da. Stand up, please no da."
I do so, and immediately Chichiri-san begins to circle me, as if looking a physical trace that I might always keep open. Still, I keep my ki tightly trapped, so that an only normal amount would be revealed. Given my insanely large amount of ki, I have placed a tremendous amount of will upon storing and hiding my body's power until it is needed for Miaka's or one of the other's seishi's safety. If I did not…
"AhhAHHah!"
I was caught, and so screeched, by surprise when Chichiri-san poked me right below my rib cage in the spot that I remember my Onii-san going after.
"Ah-hah! There it is no da!"
I back away with joyful tears in my eyes.
"Oh, nononono, Chichiri-san. Please do not! I am most ticklish there!"
"Exactly no da!"
I turn and try to run, but Chichiri-san is too suddenly too fast. Before I know it, his left hand catches me from behind, still tickling me below my ribs, and his right hand tickling me under my chin. (Note: I have a large sticker of this, but I know that others have found this picture in art books and on websites :o)
"Chichir-hahahah- STOP! I-haha- need ta breathe! Haha!"
"ZENZEN na no da!" (NEVER don't ya know!)
"But, I can't…hahahahah."
"Exactly no da!"
I don't try the throw-off move that Tasuki-san taught me earlier, because I don't want to chance hurting…Wait, 'I don't' and 'I can't'? I have always said and thought out the full words, then why…
Chichiri-san is laughing with me and has stopped with the tickling. He starts to let go as I calm down and I make the mistake of flexing my back. I noticed that he looks at me, his question as plain as white rice.
"I…am a bit deformed there." I answer in a small voice. "I don't usually go into it, seeing how natural deformity always makes people more reserved around me." Deformity being in the eye of the beholder, like my toddler-years nursemaid.
"Ah, wakatta no da. I don't mind if you want to talk about it no da."
I give Chichiri-san a small smile. " I will later, I promise. For now, however, I want to thank you, for you have already made me "open up" more than you may know."
"Aa, DON'T I know it no da. I CAN'T believe that I might have missed it no da."
My smile grows larger. He did noticed! He and I sit back down and for an hour, we both enjoy our comfortable silence. I relax, petting the purring cat in my lap, and watch the beautiful sunset reflect off of the palace water lily pond. The moon is high, with the festival well under way from what I can hear, when Mitsukake-san comes to collect his cat. That is when it hits me. A vision, a prediction! I stiffen, though if the other have noticed, I don't know or even now care. My ki screams at me to concentrate on the image in my mind.
I see a village, a farming community. Definitely rural. I'm brought to a small house and I stand in front of it, transparent like a ghost. I see the sunset and given its position, I know that this event will take place tonight! Why was the warning so short?! I walk into the little house, accustomed to not being seen and being allowed to observe. However, I feel eyes upon me. I look around and find a small, cute little girl starring at me. She must be no older than three years old! Usually after three, the child's mind will begin to lose it's innocence and the ability to see apparitions and real ghost will fade, until finally by age seven, they would no longer see me. I place my finger to my mouth and ask her to be quiet. She giggles and goes back to making a necklace out of acorns and feathers. I see a boy, about my age walk into the little house with his father, utterly tired. He must have worked all day in the hot sun. The boy walks over to a water basin and lets his hair out of his topknot, Now this is a shock; he looks exactly like a younger version of Tamahome-san! And… oh my…an incredibly beautiful girl!!! She walks past the father and son, into the kitchen, in order to fetch the supper. She looks around ten, but… I have never seen a girl near my age as lovely as this! Part of me wants to watch her longer, get to know her, but a sharp shock from Tai'itsu-kun informs me that I had better get my mind back on the task. Though I can swear that I hear Tai'itsu-kun chuckling. The girl places the food on the table and the family has just at down to eat when I feel it. A familiar ki. It reminds me of Amiboshi's ki, yet…there is something not quite right about it. It is as if it was twisted, warped by rage and fear. There is a knock on the door and the beautiful girl gets up to answer it.
"Ah, Chiriko-sama! Tou-san, its Chiriko-sama!"
"Chiriko-sama, what a pleasant surprise! Please come in. Do you bring news of my son, Tamahome?"
The man is not looking up and fear is now squeezing my heart! That's not Amiboshi! But then who…his twin!
"I bring no news. The only thing I bring, for my Aniki's sake," he chooses this time to look up, "is DEATH!"
I am screaming 'no' when I feel hands on my shoulders, shaking me and hear Mitsukake-san's voice asking me 'what's wrong?'
"Minna-san, we have to go, right now!"
"Go? Go where no da?"
"To Tamahome-san's village! That was one of my visions or predictions! His family was being attacked! We don't have much time before the event is carried out!"
"We understand. I will find Hotohori-san"
Mitsukake-san runs into the palace, while Chichiri-san prepares for our departure. I stand there wishing I could do something, anything to help save the family in time. I concentrate yet again, and set up a ward for the house, using my ki, against any being with a Seiryuu ki. Hotohori-san comes running out of the palace with his sword in hand and Chichiri-san teleports us the far distance with his magic. We arrive to see an enraged Seiryuu Shichiseishi trying to force his ryuusuisei through my invisible ward. He turns around as we approach him.
"I will have my revenge! You killed my brother! So, I'll destroy your families!"
"Do you believe that you could fight all four of us on your own, child?"
"Maybe, your highness, but then again maybe not. We will meet again, when the odds are in my favor."
And so, he disappeared.
After a brief period of checking Tamahome-san's family for injuries, Hotohori-san came to a decision.
"I would hate for you to take this as a command, but I believe both I and your son would feel better if you came to live at the palace."
"I believe that your are correct, Heika-sama. We will prepare at once. But please, tell me, how did you know that we were being attacked."
"It's the ghost boy!"
"Yuiren, don't point! He is a Shichiseishi; you must be polite to him. Besides he doesn't look like a ghost to me."
"But Yuiren saw him before the scary different flute player showed up. Yuiren did!"
Before Yuiren's oldest brother could cut her off, I crouch down to her level and smiling reply:
"Yes, you did, didn't you? I have the ability to see vision of the future, and when I look at them, I always get drawn into the area, looking transparent like a ghost, because I don't naturally belong. I warned the others that you and your family were in danger."
"Then we thank you! Father, I'll get the house and our belongings ready if Chuei could get these two ready."
"That's fine, Gyokuran. Don't take too long."
"Hai!"
Gyokuran. Her name is Gyokuran…
"Look! Yuiren find pretty feather! See, see! It's brown until the end. The end is red! Yuiren put it on necklace for Miaka-nee-chan!"
"Yes, Yuiren, that is a pretty feather no da."
"But, there were no birds in here, so where did it come from?" questioned the father.
"I think I saw it fall when that weird invisible wall came down, Tou-san!"
"Then it must be a gift from Suzaku, Yuiren. And that would be appropriate for the gift, indeed.
Whew! That was long!! Okay, minna-san, write me and let me know what you think. Am I going too slow too fast or right speed?
Ja ne!