The Priest...ess of Suzaku
Chapter Eight: Back Again and the Search for Hotohori
I ran and jogged all the way home, panic washing over me not unlike a shower that was so hot it felt freezing cold... I liked that feeling though at the moment it wasn't welcome. I was trying to make excuses for what was obviously inexcusable.
I inserted the key turning it before scurrying inside my parents home. I had a bunch of clothes here, and considering that would be way to long of a walk or even run to my apartment I settled for home.. Besides I still had to go to the library!
Completely unprepared to find Rokou lounging on the couch watching a foreign soap opera and munching on a piece of pizza, I entered the living room. I would have burst into uncontrollable giggles at the sight simply because... Well Rokou wasn't that type of guy, and gods that was just to funny.. However at the moment I was way to concerned and much to shocked to laugh.
"What the hell!?" He clicked the TV off, embarrassed and scrambled to his feet. "What are you doing here Ryuuen?! You're supposed to be at school!"
I rolled my eyes in response, "And so are you!"
"I don't have any classes today!" Rokou said giving me a suspicious look as I walked down the hall into my room. Ignoring several pointless questions from my older brother I started shoving things into my bag. Books, papers, pencils, clothes, a couple of snacks and few other things. "What are you doing?!" The older boy demanded a confused but annoyed look on his face, "Ryuuen, you're not going to try and run away again are you?"
"No you idiot! I'm going to get Yui, she's been sucked into The Universe of the Four Gods! It's my fault, and I've gotta go find her!" I said hastily as I shoved the last things in my bag.
Rokou rolled his blue-lavender eyes, "Not that book again, didn't I tell you to just forget about it?"
I sighed, eyes closing in frustration. "It's not just about Yui anymore... I think I'm going to be haunted by the book until I finish it..." I zipped it up, rising to my feet and slinging it over a single shoulder flinching slightly at the weight. With a final apology to Rokou I bolted from my home, and from my world.
When I reached the library my brother was right behind me, apparently not taking the hint that he was supposed to stay behind. I frowned noting the man who was fixing the lock on the door, but didn't pay it much mind as I pushed past him and into the back room. "Block the door will you?" I called to Rokou. If he was going to be a pain about it, then at least he could assist me. With those words, I pulled the book from the shelf before turning to Rokou again, "Here... Take this okay? It'll be our connection... and tell Mom and Dad that I'm sorry..." I offered him one of several violet string bracelets I had on before opening the book, and letting the Universe of The Four Gods take over my body.
When I arrived in Konan it was in a rather unexpected way which defiantly scared Tamahome to death! I landed right in the seishi's lap causing him to almost jump up, though I was lucky that he didn't because I would have tumbled rather uncomfortably to the ground.
"Heh... Sorry Tama-kins!" I said jumping off of him. The teen's scared expression vanished at the sight of me and burst out laughing, "You are so dramatic Ryuuen! We haven't seen you in three months and then you land in my lap, eh?" He rolled his eyes, obviously amused by the situation.
"It's been... three months?" I said eyes wide. It had only been two days in the real world!
"Duh..." Tamahome said before adding, "Miaka and Hotohori have been worried about you too... She'll be thrilled to have you back.." He made an annoyed face, "Apparently I'm not good enough company."
I laughed, "I'm sure you're just fine... I'm going to go find her though..." I spun around about to do just that, when I found a tiny energetic girl attached to me.... This only succeeded at making me laugh even harder as I pried her off me, "Long time no see!"
"You can say that again! We missed you... It's gets so lonely here..." Mika said sighing.
Tamahome made another pouty annoyed face, "Geez I guess I'm a nobody..."
"Of course not! But you and His Highness are always sooo busy... It's no wonder I eat so much..." She sighed dramatically flailing her arms, attempting to be serious, though I thought she looked pretty funny... Cute but hilarious.
Wanting to stop their bickering and also desiring to know just where His Majesty was I interjected meekly, "Where is Hotohori anyway?"
"He should be in the study... You wanna go see him?" She said, emerald eyes glinting excitedly. She was so naively adorable, it made me realize just how much I'd missed Konan and all of it's occupants. Here I was important, special... Back home I was just a blank face in a sea of similar ones. A face that held a secret in both words.
"Okay, lead the way!" I said, chuckling as Miaka grabbed my arm and with that amazing strength of hers dragged me down the hallways leaving Tamahome to follow along behind a miffed look on his tanned face.
The girl knocked against the surface of the door, careful not to hit the extravagant carving of the phoenix god, Suzaku. "His Majesty? Hotohoriiii?" Her childlike voice called cheerfully.
The door opened, though the beautiful emperor of Konan was not standing in the doorway. It was one his many advisors.. I felt the weight of disappointment filling my stomach as I sighed dejectedly. So much for seeing the one person I missed most. "His Majesty is out for the day, he needed some fresh air.." The bald man said sighing before he bowed and closed the door.
Miaka was of course undaunted, "Well let's go find him!" The chestnut hair girl turned to leave only stopped my Tamahome's sudden comment, "You're certainly eager to find him..." From the muffled and hurt tone of voice it was just plainly obvious that the teen had some sort of thing for the younger girl. It was kind of cute in a way.
"Well Ryuuen needs to find him, and she can't go alone! She needs some seishi to protect her!" She informed him, oblivious as always.
"Then I'm coming too..." He replied defiantly, though he got no objects. "You know Hotohori's always talking about you... He's been totally out of it since you left..." Miaka said, as she led us out of the palace and down a backward trail, mumbling an explanation how she'd seen Hotohori go down here on several occasions.
My cheeks flushed crimson and in my embarrassment I tripped sending my body sprawling on the ground. I sighed, pulling myself up, and ignoring the laughter of both Miaka and Tamahome who seemed to find it extremely amusing that I'd just fallen and made an idiot out of myself.
When I'd risen and was about to step forward was when I first noticed a tall graceful silhouette in front of me... He stepped closer, a calm smile on his face and a pleased gleam in his beautiful amber eyes. "Ryuuen..." He whispered, arms encircling me and drawing my body into his chest.
My heart raced and dashes of flushing pink scattered across my ivory cheeks. When he released me Hotohori said in his quietly gentle manner, "I've missed you greatly... It felt as if we'd been apart for a thousand years..."
I smiled, "Same here..." Though I was luckier, seeing as how it had only been two days.. Though I'd already began to have delusions about the beautiful emperor appearing in my classes... Not that I was going to mention that.
Hotohori released me somewhat slowly before launching into more important conversation, "There has been trouble since your absence... Priestess, I must ask you for a favor. You have to find the other four constellations of Suzaku as soon as possible..." He paused sighing sadly, "Relations with our neighboring country Kuto have deteriorated. Every year we send ambassadors with peace treaties but they have not returned! In fact Kuto accuses us of never sending them in the first place! Their ministers were outraged and they declared war! They've sought our lands since antiquity..."
This was to horrible... I could see worry and concern were plastered all over the young emperor's face... He must have been going through a lot running a country in times of war... That was to difficult for me to comprehend. And then a dangerous thought struck me. Yui... She was defiantly here... and god knows where... What if she got caught in the crossfire?!
"Hotohori! Have you seen a girl who's dressed strange, kind of like me, but she has short blonde hair?" I demanded panic drenching my usually frivolous voice.
"I haven't..." He said shaking his head sadly. "I'm sorry... But Konan is not a strong country..." The torches that had been lit went out, causing Hotohori's words to cut off.. And then a pair of arms wrapped around my waist and mouth pulling my backwards, and away from the only person I wanted to be with.
Chapter Eight: Back Again and the Search for Hotohori
I ran and jogged all the way home, panic washing over me not unlike a shower that was so hot it felt freezing cold... I liked that feeling though at the moment it wasn't welcome. I was trying to make excuses for what was obviously inexcusable.
I inserted the key turning it before scurrying inside my parents home. I had a bunch of clothes here, and considering that would be way to long of a walk or even run to my apartment I settled for home.. Besides I still had to go to the library!
Completely unprepared to find Rokou lounging on the couch watching a foreign soap opera and munching on a piece of pizza, I entered the living room. I would have burst into uncontrollable giggles at the sight simply because... Well Rokou wasn't that type of guy, and gods that was just to funny.. However at the moment I was way to concerned and much to shocked to laugh.
"What the hell!?" He clicked the TV off, embarrassed and scrambled to his feet. "What are you doing here Ryuuen?! You're supposed to be at school!"
I rolled my eyes in response, "And so are you!"
"I don't have any classes today!" Rokou said giving me a suspicious look as I walked down the hall into my room. Ignoring several pointless questions from my older brother I started shoving things into my bag. Books, papers, pencils, clothes, a couple of snacks and few other things. "What are you doing?!" The older boy demanded a confused but annoyed look on his face, "Ryuuen, you're not going to try and run away again are you?"
"No you idiot! I'm going to get Yui, she's been sucked into The Universe of the Four Gods! It's my fault, and I've gotta go find her!" I said hastily as I shoved the last things in my bag.
Rokou rolled his blue-lavender eyes, "Not that book again, didn't I tell you to just forget about it?"
I sighed, eyes closing in frustration. "It's not just about Yui anymore... I think I'm going to be haunted by the book until I finish it..." I zipped it up, rising to my feet and slinging it over a single shoulder flinching slightly at the weight. With a final apology to Rokou I bolted from my home, and from my world.
When I reached the library my brother was right behind me, apparently not taking the hint that he was supposed to stay behind. I frowned noting the man who was fixing the lock on the door, but didn't pay it much mind as I pushed past him and into the back room. "Block the door will you?" I called to Rokou. If he was going to be a pain about it, then at least he could assist me. With those words, I pulled the book from the shelf before turning to Rokou again, "Here... Take this okay? It'll be our connection... and tell Mom and Dad that I'm sorry..." I offered him one of several violet string bracelets I had on before opening the book, and letting the Universe of The Four Gods take over my body.
When I arrived in Konan it was in a rather unexpected way which defiantly scared Tamahome to death! I landed right in the seishi's lap causing him to almost jump up, though I was lucky that he didn't because I would have tumbled rather uncomfortably to the ground.
"Heh... Sorry Tama-kins!" I said jumping off of him. The teen's scared expression vanished at the sight of me and burst out laughing, "You are so dramatic Ryuuen! We haven't seen you in three months and then you land in my lap, eh?" He rolled his eyes, obviously amused by the situation.
"It's been... three months?" I said eyes wide. It had only been two days in the real world!
"Duh..." Tamahome said before adding, "Miaka and Hotohori have been worried about you too... She'll be thrilled to have you back.." He made an annoyed face, "Apparently I'm not good enough company."
I laughed, "I'm sure you're just fine... I'm going to go find her though..." I spun around about to do just that, when I found a tiny energetic girl attached to me.... This only succeeded at making me laugh even harder as I pried her off me, "Long time no see!"
"You can say that again! We missed you... It's gets so lonely here..." Mika said sighing.
Tamahome made another pouty annoyed face, "Geez I guess I'm a nobody..."
"Of course not! But you and His Highness are always sooo busy... It's no wonder I eat so much..." She sighed dramatically flailing her arms, attempting to be serious, though I thought she looked pretty funny... Cute but hilarious.
Wanting to stop their bickering and also desiring to know just where His Majesty was I interjected meekly, "Where is Hotohori anyway?"
"He should be in the study... You wanna go see him?" She said, emerald eyes glinting excitedly. She was so naively adorable, it made me realize just how much I'd missed Konan and all of it's occupants. Here I was important, special... Back home I was just a blank face in a sea of similar ones. A face that held a secret in both words.
"Okay, lead the way!" I said, chuckling as Miaka grabbed my arm and with that amazing strength of hers dragged me down the hallways leaving Tamahome to follow along behind a miffed look on his tanned face.
The girl knocked against the surface of the door, careful not to hit the extravagant carving of the phoenix god, Suzaku. "His Majesty? Hotohoriiii?" Her childlike voice called cheerfully.
The door opened, though the beautiful emperor of Konan was not standing in the doorway. It was one his many advisors.. I felt the weight of disappointment filling my stomach as I sighed dejectedly. So much for seeing the one person I missed most. "His Majesty is out for the day, he needed some fresh air.." The bald man said sighing before he bowed and closed the door.
Miaka was of course undaunted, "Well let's go find him!" The chestnut hair girl turned to leave only stopped my Tamahome's sudden comment, "You're certainly eager to find him..." From the muffled and hurt tone of voice it was just plainly obvious that the teen had some sort of thing for the younger girl. It was kind of cute in a way.
"Well Ryuuen needs to find him, and she can't go alone! She needs some seishi to protect her!" She informed him, oblivious as always.
"Then I'm coming too..." He replied defiantly, though he got no objects. "You know Hotohori's always talking about you... He's been totally out of it since you left..." Miaka said, as she led us out of the palace and down a backward trail, mumbling an explanation how she'd seen Hotohori go down here on several occasions.
My cheeks flushed crimson and in my embarrassment I tripped sending my body sprawling on the ground. I sighed, pulling myself up, and ignoring the laughter of both Miaka and Tamahome who seemed to find it extremely amusing that I'd just fallen and made an idiot out of myself.
When I'd risen and was about to step forward was when I first noticed a tall graceful silhouette in front of me... He stepped closer, a calm smile on his face and a pleased gleam in his beautiful amber eyes. "Ryuuen..." He whispered, arms encircling me and drawing my body into his chest.
My heart raced and dashes of flushing pink scattered across my ivory cheeks. When he released me Hotohori said in his quietly gentle manner, "I've missed you greatly... It felt as if we'd been apart for a thousand years..."
I smiled, "Same here..." Though I was luckier, seeing as how it had only been two days.. Though I'd already began to have delusions about the beautiful emperor appearing in my classes... Not that I was going to mention that.
Hotohori released me somewhat slowly before launching into more important conversation, "There has been trouble since your absence... Priestess, I must ask you for a favor. You have to find the other four constellations of Suzaku as soon as possible..." He paused sighing sadly, "Relations with our neighboring country Kuto have deteriorated. Every year we send ambassadors with peace treaties but they have not returned! In fact Kuto accuses us of never sending them in the first place! Their ministers were outraged and they declared war! They've sought our lands since antiquity..."
This was to horrible... I could see worry and concern were plastered all over the young emperor's face... He must have been going through a lot running a country in times of war... That was to difficult for me to comprehend. And then a dangerous thought struck me. Yui... She was defiantly here... and god knows where... What if she got caught in the crossfire?!
"Hotohori! Have you seen a girl who's dressed strange, kind of like me, but she has short blonde hair?" I demanded panic drenching my usually frivolous voice.
"I haven't..." He said shaking his head sadly. "I'm sorry... But Konan is not a strong country..." The torches that had been lit went out, causing Hotohori's words to cut off.. And then a pair of arms wrapped around my waist and mouth pulling my backwards, and away from the only person I wanted to be with.