I'm back!!!! I'm sorry about the wait, it has been a trying time with my family. Still, here I am, no work today, sunny if damp weather, and ready to write. So…
I don't own Fushigi Yuugi, or any of the characters in this story. Anyone that happens to be a new character from the original storyline happens to be a real person…um…maybe I shouldn't have said that… ok April, Kyra, Amy? Run. Run very fast and very far. I fear those fan girls that have been camping outside my living room window are now heading after you!
The Jade Coffin
Before we left the Humphries's home, Mitsukake-san was most helpful in healing my injuries and restoring a portion of my ki. Urumiya-san's mother had left the room in order to pack food and water for our trip. Miaka-san backed away from me long enough for me to stretch my wings. All through out this, Urumiya-san is quietly talking to Chichiri-san about the trials to come while shyly holding on to Suboshi-san's hand. Soi-san and Nuriko-san are talking about clothing and other subjects of fashion. By the sounds of it, Tamahome-san and Tasuki-san are having yet another argument.
"The first trial will be just getting into the temple itself. The entrance holds two tasks for us to complete. The first task is to remove the boulder that makes it impossible for people open the doors otherwise. Once the boulder is removed, we come to the spell on the door. We will have to answer a riddle for the door to open. I…I think that it is important to warn you that the riddle changes each time, so I won't know the answer. However, that should not be a problem for Chiriko to get pass. If he or any of the rest of us cannot answer the riddle, we will be killed for knowing the location of the temple."
"What if we were to use Nuriko to brake the door down no da?"
"Then we will be killed even quicker, by Gembusei-kun. Besides, despite super strength, not even the other Gods can force that door open."
"Da~"
"Um, Amy-chan, I have a question. Before, Chiriko said that he couldn't tell us this information, but you can?"
"I think I can answer this one no da. Being in the position that he is, it would be considered unfair for him to share that level of information no da. More or less, he would be giving away secrets and possessions that the other Gods have trusted to him, whether he knew it or not na no da. But, as one of Gembusei-kun's own warriors, Urumiya has the privilege to tell this information to whomever she wants no da."
"He's right, Shunkaku-chan. In Chiriko's case, he may have more power than any other seishi, but this power comes to him at the price of having to constantly watch what he says and do. He could not have had an easy childhood."
Thanks to my especially good hearing, I blush as I realize that I caught myself eavesdropping. Luckily, I'm saved the embarrassment of explaining my crimson cheeks to Miaka-san as Humphries-san walks back into the room, carrying a large pack of food. She informs us that she has extra horses prepared to Soi-san, Suboshi-san and myself. To this I'm a just a tad shocked. No one has ever let me ride a horse on my own before. She then informs Suboshi-san that she wants her daughter to ride with him and that he better take good care of her because, seishi or not, if her daughter is harmed in any way and she hears of it, she will personally track Suboshi-san down and give him a slow and painful death.
Needless to say, we were all thoroughly spellbound. It was thanks to Tasuki-san that we were all snapped out of our daze.
"Kowaiiya~" (Scary)
Tamahome replies "Hontou ni!" (Really!)
And so, we left the Humphries's home and started our three-hour journey to Kurozan (Mt. Black). All the while, April-san, Kyra-san and I keep our senses open. We doubt that our departure from the city had gone unnoticed by Nakago-san. Within an hours time, I both April-san and I notice a lone wolf following us. Letting Kyra-san know about this, we keep a close watch on the creature. Especially since I can feel Seiryuu ki coming from the animal.
We eventually do reach the top of Koruzan and the entrance to the temple. I spread my ki out, getting an extra feel for the place. Doing so, I notice that the wolf has left. No doubt, to tell Nakago-san of our location. It is in our best interest that we move faster.
The boulder was easy enough for Nuriko-san to remove. However, it was now time for the real trials to begin. The door itself was beautifully decorated. Made out of white marble, in the center there was a depiction of Gembusei-kun done in emerald, obsidian and amber. Around the bejeweled Gembusei-kun, were the symbols of the Gembu-Shichiseishi, also encrusted with emeralds. Urumiya-san steps up to the door. I smile knowingly, without her being here; we would never have received the riddle. She smiles a gentle smile as she slowly traces her hand over her own symbol on the door. In response, the symbol of Urumiya, whose meaning is danger, glows to life on he top of her left forearm, visible, even under her silver fabric. She steps back, as a voice comes not to our ears, but is spoken into our very minds.
All of you, whom traveled so far, have reached a destination,
Where inside here waits a prize worth your trials and tribulation.
So come now to the door, Urumiya, and begin the first of final test
Match wits with me, the Northern God, and give the answer that fits best.
Urumiya-san walks up to the door and in a clear voice:
"I bring to you, oh God of the Northern Lights, travelers from your youngest brother's country. They have come, in need, for your help to summon their own God, Suzakusei-kun. As you eldest seishi, I have found them worthy. Please, upon my own knees, I beg you, I am pertinent. Ask to them your riddle, and let these warriors try to answer. This is my answer, my wit, my best."
Worthy they are indeed, to earn your trust. Their ki is open to Me, for in them, I sense no hostile intentions; not even from the two warriors of Seiryuu. And so, be it may, that the trials begin. Understand, Urumiya, that being one of My seishi, you may not participate. Listen to My riddle, think clearly and answer truthfully. Trust you instincts for as a warning, simple is best.
There was once an emperor, whom lived to the west, who was thought highly of by his people. His subjects never went hungry, for that even though they had little in the way of farmland, the mountains that surrounded their small kingdom, was rich in materials. To the North, the mountains held iron. To the South, the mountains held gold. To the East, the mountains held silver and to the West, the mountains held copper. When the time of death came to the emperor, as it does to all mortals, his people, loving him so, buried him in a coffin made of jade. My question to you is: why?
All of us, even Tasuki-san, stopped and thought hard. This is a good riddle, and I believe I know the answer, but it is just… my mind screams that it cannot be right. The others decided that it was time to answer.
Chichiri: I think that he was buried in jade, because all emperors of our lands are buried in so to keep their kis and their body's pure.
Incorrect.
Soi: Because it is one of the materials not found within the kingdom, so it was honorable to do so.
Incorrect.
Suboshi: Because he told them to do so.
Incorrect.
Mitsukake: So that the Gods would know his earthly power and birthright.
Incorrect.
Nuriko: Because jade is beautiful.
Incorrect.
Tasuki: Jade happens t'be a heavy stone. Would take a lot of men t'lift the cover. Makes it hard for someone t'steal what was buried with him.
Incorrect.
Tasuki-san's answer surprised us all. It was a good one.
Tamahome: Because it was expensive and they could afford it, so it let the other kingdoms know of his power.
Incorrect.
April: Because given time, water and wind will ware most stones away, but jade is more resilient.
Incorrect.
Kyra: The coffin itself was more of a burial gift than anything else he owned.
Incorrect.
Miaka: Because it was a gift from the other kingdoms. His people believed that it would be an insult to refuse it
Incorrect.
By now, everyone was looking at me. I was our last hope in solving the riddle. But…my answer cannot be right!
Suddenly, I feel as if I'm no longer outside of the temple, but in it's main room. Sitting on an ornate chair of emerald, amber and obsidian, is Gembusei-kun. I find myself kneeling before Him.
"What's wrong, little one? Why are you, above all others, confused?"
"I…I think I know the answer, but…it's just too stupid! My mind says that it can't be correct!"
Gembusei-kun smiles down at me.
"Is that so? Just remember what I told you. Trust you instincts and that simple is best."
Before I can respond, I find myself outside again, with everyone looking worryingly at me. I clear my voice and answer:
"They buried him in a jade coffin, because he was dead."
Everyone looked at me, as if I was crazy. There was a pause, a breath of silence that after what seemed to be an eternity was finally answered.
Correct. Welcome, Suzaku no Miko, Suzaku-Shichiseishi, Seiryuu-Shichiseishi and Amazons, to My temple.
The doors opened, and we walked into the darkness.
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There we go; they're in the temple! I want to thank all of you for being so patient with me. I feel that I have some Happy Birthdays to dish out. Happy Birthday, Chichiri! His birthday was on the 21st of May! Does everyone realize, that given when the Fushigi Yuugi manga came out, Chichiri just turned 33? As for the other birthday, Happy Birthday to myself! I turned 22 on May 19th!
Hm… Given that note, what about the others?
Miaka: 24
Tamahome: 26
Tasuki: 26
Nuriko: 27
Hotohori: 27
Mitsukake: 31
Chiriko: 22
That has to be correct, because I was 13 myself when the manga first came out. I remember buying the first volume after school in Shigaraki, for something to read on the train back to my home in Kounan-cho. I remember that the plot sounded interesting from the description on the back cover. Man, that brings back memories!