Chapter Six: Dangerous Mirrors and Taitskun
"You're so weak... You made me ashamed of myself," The person with my voice said bitterly, as he crossed his arms over his chest.
"Who are you...?" I asked staring... It was even dressed like me!
"Me? I'm you. Your reflection. In the mirror that is." He said with a roll of his eyes.
"How can you be me... If I'm me?" I demanded, staring at... Myself? It was the same pale face I'd looked into the mirror to see so many times... Violet hair, and a beauty mark below one lavender eye. Slim and short build... He was surely me.
"Ryuuen!" It was Miaka's cheerful yet concerned voice... And then I realized why it was so faint... they were on the other side of this full length hole in the wall. And yet it wasn't exactly a hole as I couldn't pass through it. "Ryuuen? Where have you gone!" Hotohori's voice called out obviously concerned over my whereabouts.
"Hmm.... I like him... Hotohori," My reflection said, stepping through over me. "And I'm not going home. I'll live here. And now... It's your turn to become my image and watch me from the other side of the mirror." With that said the other me stepped out of the mirror. "Waiiitt! Don't go! Please!" But I got no response.
He glanced back at me and winked before casting a look towards Miaka and Tamahome and then turning to Hotohori. "I'm relieved that you are unharmed," He said a look of gratitude appearing on that beautiful face of his.
"I'm fine! And I'm sorry for worrying you, darling!" My image said flinging his arms around Hotohori's neck.
He looked slightly surprised but not in the least bit upset. "Ryuu!" Miaka exclaimed, frowning and obviously confused. Hotohori shot his gaze towards Miaka, but my reflection shook his head. "Forget about her Hotohori... You've got me now..." It was so unbelievably appalling to see this person with the face and voice as me speaking such thoughts that didn't belong to me... But then it clicked. Everything this reflection said... Everything he did.... I'd wanted to do those things at one point... I'd thought the things he was so boldly saying. And that thought alone made my stomach feel sick.
Hotohori didn't respond to my reflection, however he pulled the emperor down so his face was inches from Hotohori's... Was my reflection about to... Kiss the Emperor himself?! "As long as I'm with you, who needs my world right? Let's just forget about Taitskun! Don't you love me? If you desire me... Take me!" Oh my god. Oh my god. Suzaku!
"No, Hotohori can't you see? That's not me! Miaka?! I'm not like that...." I whispered, making a vain attempt at slamming my fists against the force that kept me from my companions.
Hotohori's hand reached down for his sword, amber eyes alight. "And now... Who are you really? You are nothing like the Ryuuen I know... Show me who you really are!" My reflection laughed coldly. "Where's the real Ryuuen?!" Miaka asked stepping forwards her big eyes narrowed in frustration.
"Right under your nose. I'm the very image of Ryuuen. I am Ryuuen. And I doubt a pathetic bunch of misfits like you could ever reach Taitskun!"
"Don't be absurd!" Hotohori yelled, lunging at the fake me. "All of my strength... It's flowing right out of me..." He whispered, clearly confused.
"You're beloved Ryuuen, is on the other side of this mirror... You would give your lives to protect your priestess right? So it only makes sense that I should take all of your strength from you... I am Ryuuen after all."
"Stop it! No... You can't do this to them..." I half sobbed. God, if they died... If something happened to them because of me... I'd never be able to forgive myself.
"If he's really... Me... Then all I need to do is get rid of myself right?" I said aloud... I could do it... For them... Everything would be okay... Right?
I slammed my fist into the mirror and grabbed a long shard. I could do this...Was my last thought, before with clenched teeth I slammed the shard into my chest.
My reflection began to transform into a demon of sorts, when Hotohori lunged stabbing it with his regal sword.
I was bleeding... But I could feel strong arms enveloping my body... Was I.. Dying?
"You two look away! I'm gonna bandage her!" Miaka said in a far off voice.... And then there was silence... I really was dying... Wasn't I?
And then there was my Dad. He was glaring coldly, "You little brat! You're better off dead... You should have been the one to die, not Kourin! She wasn't such a freak... She was normal. You're a disgusting whore! You hear me?! You aren't a girl... You'll never have a normal relationship..." His bitter voice faded away.
"If you need blood... You can have everything I've got! If that... If that would save you..." It was Hotohori's gentle and yet frantic voice. He sounded so concerned... "I'm not,... going to die..." I whispered, pulling myself up.
"Her bleeding's stopped!" Miaka informed them with a grin. "She should be fine then..."
"You jerk! We were worried about you!" Tamahome said, ruffling my hair.
"I am overjoyed!" Hotohori said, pulling me into an embrace that heated my cheeks.
"It was really dark... And then my father.... He was yelling.... But I heard you... You were calling to me.... So I didn't want to die.." I whispered into his chest, and trying to keep the tears inside. As Hotohori released me, the view was suddenly drastically different. There were towers, and the place seemed almost surreal.... It was truly stunning.
"Your feelings towards one another are now clear. You have arrived at the land of my home," Said a voice that was raspy and hard with the age of centuries.
"This... This is Daikyokuzan Mountain," Hotohori informed me softly.
"Welcome Ryuuen. I shall now inform you and your three Celestial warriors of the method to return to your own world.."
"Are you really Taitskun?" Miaka asked as Hotohori turned away covering his eyes, "Oh, I cannot bear such.. ugliness..." He whispered, and I tried to contain my fits of giggles, but failed.
"Yes... I am the ruler of this world. Hotohori! How dare you turn away from me! And Ryuuen stop laughing you're injured!" But I couldn't stop. Miaka was staring at me when a dozen or so of small sea green haired girls appeared. "Nyan-Nyans..." Taitskun said, scowling. "Take care of their wounds." She said, turning her ugliness away from us.
"This way!" Said one of them as Miaka and myself were led off.
"You men, you stay here!" Nyan Nyan informed Hotohori and Tamahome as we were led into a separate room.
"I heal you," the tiny girl said, tugging at my skirt.
"No! You can't... " I said, pulling myself away! "Don't!
"Let them tend to your wounds," Taitskun said, "We already know..." I stared at the prophet, my eyes wide in horror. "How do you..." My voice trailed off. Taitskun was a Goddess, wasn't she? So of course she'd know...
"Suzaku always was a riddle... Anyways let Nyan Nyan heal you. If you don't get yourself healed your trip home will take eternity! In your present condition you'd never make it back to your world in one piece!"
"I'd like to heal Taitskun's face!" Nyan Nayn said cheerfully and I couldn't help but chuckle.
"But I have some tests... I need to get back... Will you be able to tell me how?" I asked, as Nyan Nyan motioned again at my clothes. I blushed a little, but slowly unbuttoned my shirt.
"An ashen faced child like you had no right to ask. You don't even have an ounce of strength left!" Taitskun said her voice amused.
And then I heard it. "Then won't you let her have our blood Taitskun?" Hotohori's voice... It was so close to the chamber where my secret was being so plainly revealed.
"You're so weak... You made me ashamed of myself," The person with my voice said bitterly, as he crossed his arms over his chest.
"Who are you...?" I asked staring... It was even dressed like me!
"Me? I'm you. Your reflection. In the mirror that is." He said with a roll of his eyes.
"How can you be me... If I'm me?" I demanded, staring at... Myself? It was the same pale face I'd looked into the mirror to see so many times... Violet hair, and a beauty mark below one lavender eye. Slim and short build... He was surely me.
"Ryuuen!" It was Miaka's cheerful yet concerned voice... And then I realized why it was so faint... they were on the other side of this full length hole in the wall. And yet it wasn't exactly a hole as I couldn't pass through it. "Ryuuen? Where have you gone!" Hotohori's voice called out obviously concerned over my whereabouts.
"Hmm.... I like him... Hotohori," My reflection said, stepping through over me. "And I'm not going home. I'll live here. And now... It's your turn to become my image and watch me from the other side of the mirror." With that said the other me stepped out of the mirror. "Waiiitt! Don't go! Please!" But I got no response.
He glanced back at me and winked before casting a look towards Miaka and Tamahome and then turning to Hotohori. "I'm relieved that you are unharmed," He said a look of gratitude appearing on that beautiful face of his.
"I'm fine! And I'm sorry for worrying you, darling!" My image said flinging his arms around Hotohori's neck.
He looked slightly surprised but not in the least bit upset. "Ryuu!" Miaka exclaimed, frowning and obviously confused. Hotohori shot his gaze towards Miaka, but my reflection shook his head. "Forget about her Hotohori... You've got me now..." It was so unbelievably appalling to see this person with the face and voice as me speaking such thoughts that didn't belong to me... But then it clicked. Everything this reflection said... Everything he did.... I'd wanted to do those things at one point... I'd thought the things he was so boldly saying. And that thought alone made my stomach feel sick.
Hotohori didn't respond to my reflection, however he pulled the emperor down so his face was inches from Hotohori's... Was my reflection about to... Kiss the Emperor himself?! "As long as I'm with you, who needs my world right? Let's just forget about Taitskun! Don't you love me? If you desire me... Take me!" Oh my god. Oh my god. Suzaku!
"No, Hotohori can't you see? That's not me! Miaka?! I'm not like that...." I whispered, making a vain attempt at slamming my fists against the force that kept me from my companions.
Hotohori's hand reached down for his sword, amber eyes alight. "And now... Who are you really? You are nothing like the Ryuuen I know... Show me who you really are!" My reflection laughed coldly. "Where's the real Ryuuen?!" Miaka asked stepping forwards her big eyes narrowed in frustration.
"Right under your nose. I'm the very image of Ryuuen. I am Ryuuen. And I doubt a pathetic bunch of misfits like you could ever reach Taitskun!"
"Don't be absurd!" Hotohori yelled, lunging at the fake me. "All of my strength... It's flowing right out of me..." He whispered, clearly confused.
"You're beloved Ryuuen, is on the other side of this mirror... You would give your lives to protect your priestess right? So it only makes sense that I should take all of your strength from you... I am Ryuuen after all."
"Stop it! No... You can't do this to them..." I half sobbed. God, if they died... If something happened to them because of me... I'd never be able to forgive myself.
"If he's really... Me... Then all I need to do is get rid of myself right?" I said aloud... I could do it... For them... Everything would be okay... Right?
I slammed my fist into the mirror and grabbed a long shard. I could do this...Was my last thought, before with clenched teeth I slammed the shard into my chest.
My reflection began to transform into a demon of sorts, when Hotohori lunged stabbing it with his regal sword.
I was bleeding... But I could feel strong arms enveloping my body... Was I.. Dying?
"You two look away! I'm gonna bandage her!" Miaka said in a far off voice.... And then there was silence... I really was dying... Wasn't I?
And then there was my Dad. He was glaring coldly, "You little brat! You're better off dead... You should have been the one to die, not Kourin! She wasn't such a freak... She was normal. You're a disgusting whore! You hear me?! You aren't a girl... You'll never have a normal relationship..." His bitter voice faded away.
"If you need blood... You can have everything I've got! If that... If that would save you..." It was Hotohori's gentle and yet frantic voice. He sounded so concerned... "I'm not,... going to die..." I whispered, pulling myself up.
"Her bleeding's stopped!" Miaka informed them with a grin. "She should be fine then..."
"You jerk! We were worried about you!" Tamahome said, ruffling my hair.
"I am overjoyed!" Hotohori said, pulling me into an embrace that heated my cheeks.
"It was really dark... And then my father.... He was yelling.... But I heard you... You were calling to me.... So I didn't want to die.." I whispered into his chest, and trying to keep the tears inside. As Hotohori released me, the view was suddenly drastically different. There were towers, and the place seemed almost surreal.... It was truly stunning.
"Your feelings towards one another are now clear. You have arrived at the land of my home," Said a voice that was raspy and hard with the age of centuries.
"This... This is Daikyokuzan Mountain," Hotohori informed me softly.
"Welcome Ryuuen. I shall now inform you and your three Celestial warriors of the method to return to your own world.."
"Are you really Taitskun?" Miaka asked as Hotohori turned away covering his eyes, "Oh, I cannot bear such.. ugliness..." He whispered, and I tried to contain my fits of giggles, but failed.
"Yes... I am the ruler of this world. Hotohori! How dare you turn away from me! And Ryuuen stop laughing you're injured!" But I couldn't stop. Miaka was staring at me when a dozen or so of small sea green haired girls appeared. "Nyan-Nyans..." Taitskun said, scowling. "Take care of their wounds." She said, turning her ugliness away from us.
"This way!" Said one of them as Miaka and myself were led off.
"You men, you stay here!" Nyan Nyan informed Hotohori and Tamahome as we were led into a separate room.
"I heal you," the tiny girl said, tugging at my skirt.
"No! You can't... " I said, pulling myself away! "Don't!
"Let them tend to your wounds," Taitskun said, "We already know..." I stared at the prophet, my eyes wide in horror. "How do you..." My voice trailed off. Taitskun was a Goddess, wasn't she? So of course she'd know...
"Suzaku always was a riddle... Anyways let Nyan Nyan heal you. If you don't get yourself healed your trip home will take eternity! In your present condition you'd never make it back to your world in one piece!"
"I'd like to heal Taitskun's face!" Nyan Nayn said cheerfully and I couldn't help but chuckle.
"But I have some tests... I need to get back... Will you be able to tell me how?" I asked, as Nyan Nyan motioned again at my clothes. I blushed a little, but slowly unbuttoned my shirt.
"An ashen faced child like you had no right to ask. You don't even have an ounce of strength left!" Taitskun said her voice amused.
And then I heard it. "Then won't you let her have our blood Taitskun?" Hotohori's voice... It was so close to the chamber where my secret was being so plainly revealed.