Tadaima, minna-san! I'm afraid that this is going to be a short chapter. My parents and I are going to Chicago (My first time! :o) with my brother and his fiancée flying in from their home in Germany (They met when they were 14! Have stayed in love since!). I'm very excited! I don't expect to be back home till late Wed. night and will probably have more posted on Thurs. night.
I'd like to take this time to once again thank all of you who have reviewed. I'm happy to know that others have liked this story line as much as I have.
So, dispensing common knowledge I don't own anything or anyone. If I did, not only would I be sued but also I'm sure I'd have some rabid fangirls on my tail.
Konotabi wa, iroiro gomeiwaku wo okakeshite sumimasendeshita. {bows} (I'm afraid that I have inconvenienced you.)
Shitsurei shimasu.
Chapter 4
All of us returned to the palace via Chichiri-san's teleportation. By this time, the festival was almost over and we expected our friends to arrive home very shortly. Thanks to Hotohori-san being an emperor, the Sou family was quickly given their own quarters and new, fancy clothing in order to surprise Tamahome-san. Though I was feeling a tad tired, I believe that it was priceless to see the look on Tamahome-san's face at the sight of his younger siblings running and screaming "Nii-san!" Of course tackling him was inevitable and so, it was an also amusing sight to see five people trapped in a tangled mess on the floor, with Nuriko-san helping to pull them apart. After the younger two of the Sou family were placed in bed, Tamahome-san was told about what had transpired at his home. I don't believe that I have ever seen a person as mad as he was. If it wasn't for the combined efforts of Miaka-san pleading him to not run off and Nuriko-san's oh so gentle tap that sent Tamahome-san crashing into the far wall, I believe that he would have ran off to find Suboshi-san this very night. Luckily, Hotohori-san decided to talk some sense into him.
"Now is not the time. Your family is safe and you should happy for it and thank Chiriko for his vision and his warning to help them. All of the other seishi's families might be in danger as well. Tomorrow, I want all of you to go to your family's homes and convince them to come and stay at the palace. I have no idea on how the rest of you feel towards your family members, but I think that Tamahome's family were only the first targets."
This proclamation was met with interesting results. Both Chichiri-san and Mitsukake-san shortly told the emperor that they had no family and that they would be better off helping to move the other seishi's love ones. They made it quite obvious that they didn't want to talk about it. Nuriko-san started going on how all of his family lived in the main city, at a prestigious silk shop. He proudly proclaimed that the shop had been in the family for over five generations and that he doubted that his family would abandon it, even to live in the palace. Tasuki-san started to swear rather loudly, about how he had to have his stupid siblings here and how his mother would have rule of the palace in under a day. We all decided to back away from him and let him vent. Finally, I told of my mother, Onii-san and Gishi. I know that I will have no trouble with my Onii-san or his Gishi, but my mother might be a hard case. Her first husband built our home with his own hands while they were struggling to rise into middle class and I doubt that she will leave it. With everything settled in traveling arrangements, we all went to sleep.
But, sleep didn't come easily to me. There was too many different scents, to many sounds of heartbeats. Plus, I'm afraid to admit that I might have fallen head over heels for Sou Gyokuran. She is beautiful and is a sweet girl, but that is what worries me. I really know nothing about her, yet I think I love her? Am I basing this feeling off of her looks and a small bit of her personality alone, or do I instinctive believe that she would understand me and maybe even love me back. And if so, am I ready to reciprocate that feeling, seeing how I am only thirteen years old? And then, what happens if when we get older or personalities change and…Doukun, shut up! Once again, you do worry too much! Just face the fact that you barely even know her! If something is to come to a relationship, than so be it. However… maybe I should just concentrate on sleeping and ask one of the other seishi tomorrow. More than likely, Mitsukake-san. He was the one that is to escort me to my home and to help convince my mother that it is for her own good. Suzakusei-kun, I pray to you that she will listen to reason.
As always, I rise with the birds and eat a simple breakfast of rice, fish and a pickled plum. I'm ready and out of my door, before the other seishi have even risen from their beds. This is why I was surprised to see Miaka-san sitting by the palace's water lily pond. I usually walk to where I don't make a sound, but I decided that stealth would not be the best tactic, seeing how she has yet to even lift her head. When I am less than half a meter from her, I noticed that not only does she still not realize that I'm present, but that she is crying. This causes my heart to feel a touch of pain. Miaka-san is always so cheerful, so to see her crying must mean that either everything with her is not as well as she makes us believe or that stress is starting to wear her out. I choose the latter. I have learned that when a person is overly cheerful; they are usually trying to hide some problem from me. Plus, given the fact that she is now fighting with her best friend, and from what Tasuki-san was able to pry out of Tamahome-san the other night about Tai'itsu-kun's warning, she can no longer turn towards the one she loves during this crisis. I decided that it might be best to get her attention. If she could perhaps get some of the worry off of her chest, she might feel better.
"Ano~Miaka-san, sumimasen. Demo, koko ni suwatte mo ii desu ka?" (Um, Miaka-san, excuse me. But, may I sit here?)
"Ha…hai, Chiriko-chan."
I wait to see if she was going to start the conversation. My patience is rewarded and soon, she is asking me how long do I think it will take to get Gembusei-kun's Shinzahou and if I was scared about the trip.
"I don't know how long it will take, because I have yet to see how hard it will be for us to gather information on the Shinzahou's where abouts. However, yes, I am afraid to leave Konan-koku for a couple of different reasons."
"Oh…"
"But, I'm not overly concerned. There are going to be five other seishi along on this trip and though times will be tough, I'm sure we will all make sure that we look out for each other and of course, you."
"Aa…demo, I don't like the idea of going against Yui-chan. She's been my best friend for most of my life! And knowing that I can't be with Tamahome…"
"I don't know what to really say, Miaka-san. Before I met you and the other seishi, I've never had any friends. All I can tell you is that you must believe that everything will turn out all right in the end. As for being with Tamahome-san, what exactly did Tai'itsu-kun tell you?"
"Well, um, just that we couldn't be together and that I must forget my love for him. But, I can't! I've never been in love this deep before; knowing that the guy I love feels the same. The pain feels like it is crushing my heart!"
"Ano~ do you want to know what I think?"
"I could use any help right now. I was waiting here for Chichiri-san, because he has helped me out before, but I don't think he's done eating yet, so…"
"With what I know about the legend of Suzakusei-kun and his Miko and Shichiseishi, I believe that the warning that Tai'itsu-kun was giving you was not that you couldn't be by Tamahome-san, nor that you can't feel love for him, but that you can't "love" love him. Do you understand?"
"Ummm…"
"What I mean is that you can't…that is to say… um…make love to him?" I'm most sure that my face is as red as a setting sun, by now.
"Oh, you mean we can't…um…"
"Yes, the Miko must be a virgin, so…you can't become too…passionate." Now I know how my Onii-san felt when he not only gave me "The Talk," but also realized that I already knew everything that he was going to say. Too bad he never told me what to do if my current situation arose. I guess he thought that the situation was at least a few years off in the future and that he wouldn't need to embarrass himself any further.
"Thank you, Chiriko-chan. I think you've been more help than you know. Say, why are YOU out here so early?"
"Oh, I just had somethings to think about and I thought that this would be a quiet place to do so in. Besides, in two days time, I will practically have no privacy, so I must enjoy this while I can."
"I'm sorry."
"Don't be, Miaka-san! I'm always glad to know that I can help someone! I'm just sorry that I didn't bring any food on me. I know that the main breakfast has already started and…"
"FOOD!!! OH! I'll see you later Chiriko-chan!"
"Hai!" Oh well, I guess I'll have to wait to talk to Chichiri-san about last night. I guess I should go back to my room and get everything in order for the short trip home. Plus, I should get my inquiries ready for Mitsukake-san.
Oy. Well, I don't think that this was one of my best, but it sets the scene for the talk with Mitsukake and for the fun with the seishi's families! :o)
Till Thursday,
Ja ne!