~An American Miko~
Chapter Nine
Gifts & a Big Brother
"WOW!"
"It's so beautiful!"
"I've never seen anything so big!"
"It's beautiful!"
The children were awed as they rode through the palace gates. Everyone stopped their horses and dismounted, helping the children down as well.
Hotohori and Myst were immediately surrounded by their royal advisors and even a few handmaidens all of whom seemed to be speaking at once.
Myst, still holding Yuiren in her arms leaned over to mutter in Hotohori's ear, "Welcome home." She rolled her eyes and Hotohori sighed. Seeing that he wasn't going to do anything, she took matters into her own hands. She put her index finger and her thumb between her lips and an ear-piercing whistle echoed through the courtyard.
Everyone present clapped their hands over their ears and when Myst stopped, silence rang as loud as the whistle itself.
Myst waited quietly until everyone was looking at her. When she spoke, it was regally and calmly. "Thank you. Now that I have your attention, unless this is of the utmost import, and you cannot handle it yourself, then it will have to wait. We are tired from days on the road and we have a sick man that should be settled into his room immediately. We have children that are tired and most likely hungry as well. Therefore, for now, we are to be left alone unless we call. Is that clear?"
The last sentence was said with the authority of her office as Suzaku no Miko, and as Empress, and left no room for dispute.
Hotohori beamed pride at her as the advisor chorused their obedience and sent servant to make the proper arrangements. 'I was right. She most definitely knows how to handle authority. She is a good empress. So strong. So beautiful.'
Myst caught him staring at her and smiled. She walked to the carriage and gave Yuiren to Chuei so that she could help their father out and onto his feet. "You steady there Otou-san?"
Tou-san smiled when she called him that. "I think so Empress, thank you."
Myst nodded then, still holding onto him to balance him, she reached over and touched one of her handmaidens. "Is the clothing I ordered made before we left ready?"
"Yes Empress. Shall I go get them for you?"
"Yes, thank you. Bring them to our guest's rooms."
The handmaiden bowed and scuttled off to do as she was bid.
Myst and Nuriko helped Tou-san walk to the rooms with the doctor, children, and Hotohori following behind.
The handmaiden arrived just as they were helping Tou-san to sit on the plush bed. She handed Myst the bundle of clothing. "Empress, I also brought some of your clothing as well as some of his Majesty's, and seishi Nuriko's, in case you wanted to change in here as well."
Myst smiled at her. "How thoughtful. Thank you. If you would do me one more favor, please bring some honey-tea and some light snacks as well, please."
"Yes Empress." With that, the handmaiden bowed and left again.
Myst turned back to the others in the room and smiled. "I have some gifts for all of you."
Tou-san looked at his empress with humble surprise in his eyes. "Highness, you do not need to do this. You've already done so much for us. More than we could ever hope to repay."
Myst stopped him before he could say no. "I know I don't have to, but I want to. This is for you Tou-san." She set the clothes down on the table and held up a beautiful deep green, men's, silk kimono for everyone to see. She looked into Tou-san's eyes and saw the tears of happiness fall.
"Oh it is beautiful Empress. Thank you. Thank you for such kindness!"
Myst shook her head. "No need for thanks. It gave me great pleasure to do this, plus I knew all of your sizes from the vision I had, so they'll fit. I only want one thing in return."
"Yes Majesty! Anything if it is mine to give!"
She knelt on her knees in front of him, shocking the poor man that she would put herself lower than him. "I only want the honor of being able to call you a friend. A hug wouldn't hurt either."
He nodded, his eyes full of emotion. "I gladly give you both Majesty. I gladly give it to all of you." He looked up at the other adults in the room.
When they finished the embrace, Myst laid out the green kimono and two smaller silk ones, one of pale blue, the other a cream color. She then looked up and at the others in the room. "Okay. Doc, could you stay and help Tou-san into his garment? Chuei, Shunkei, the other's are yours. The rest of us will go into the adjoining rooms and change."
Hotohori tapped her on the shoulder and cleared his throat.
Myst looked up at him with a teasing grin. "Oh! Dear husband. Did I forget you? Well, of course you could either go back to our rooms and change, or you could stay here and change behind the screen, because if you try to change with us women, I might just have to have Nuriko throw you through the wall."
Hotohori chuckled and took hold of her shoulders. "I was just wandering if you had remembered he."
Myst leaned up and kissed his soft lips. "Of course. How could I forget my heart?"
They kissed again until Nuriko cleared his throat, and they turned their heads to look at the purple-haired seishi who was standing with his hands on his hips. "There are children present you know."
Gyoukuran and Yuiren were looking at the two royals with sparkles in their eyes. Gyoukuran spoke first in a dreamy voice. "How romantic."
"Yeah, how romantic." Yuiren mimicked her sister.
They laughed and Hotohori took his "hair-box" and imperial robes and went behind the screen.
Myst, carrying the rest of the clothes, took Gyoukuran's hand while Nuriko took Yuiren's and led them into the next room.
Nuriko changed behind the screen there, then came out to help the other girls. When they walked back into the main room the men and boys collectively gasped. They were stunning.
Yuiren was in bright pink silk with matching silk slippers and hand gold bands inlaid with small rosequarts stone around the base of her buns.
Gyoukuran was in silk and slippers of pale lavender. Half of her hair was left to flow freely around her shoulders and back and the rest of it hung in three overlapping braids that hung against her forehead and were held in with combs of carved amethyst. Both of them wore matching lockets with elaborate etchings of Suzaku on the front.
The two older beauties were dressed in elaborate court-garb with equally elaborate headdresses and hairstyles, and hints of makeup.
The two little girls ran up to their father who was sitting up in bed resting against the headboard. "Papa! Look what the Empress gave us!"
"Yes looky, looky!"
Tou-san gasped again and stared at his daughters, wide-eyed. "You two look so beautiful!"
"Your boys look quite handsome too." Myst had gone to stand behind Hotohori who was sitting in a chair at the table.
Tou-san looked at her. "You look gorgeous Empress. And you too Seishi- sama."
Nuriko blushed prettily and put his head down. He was saved from further flattery by the arriving food.
It was set on the table and Hotohori tanked and dismissed the handmaiden. Food was gathered and handed out and they all sat in various places as the doctor excused himself while everyone ate, talked, laughed, and just plain relaxed.
**********
It was a week later when one of the guards interrupted an audience the emperor and empress were holding, with some half expected news.
The man knelt in front of the dais. "Your Majesties. A young man is here saying that we are holding his family and he is demanding that we let them go. He's raising quite a struggle. Shall I take care of this?"
Hotohori felt a soft hand on his forearm and looked at his wife who was sitting on a smaller throne that he had ordered be put on the dais to his left and a little behind his own.
Myst smiled and winked at him and he nodded to her. He turned back to the guard. "No. Show him to us. We wish to see him."
"Yes Majesty." A few minuets later a man of about seventeen was brought before them, his young face flushed with anger. When he saw who he was standing before however, his face went pale and he dropped to his knees bowing his head to the floor.
The flustered young man stuttered out, "Your. your Majesties. I'm sorry. I. I just heard that my family was brought here and I came to get them back. They've done nothing wrong and."
"Please be silent." Hotohori's deep voice was soft but it shut the boy right up.
Myst's voice carried to all present. "Welcome, Tamahome!"
Tamahome looked up to see the empress on her feet with her arms spread in greeting as if to gather him to her.
"I am Suzaku no Miko, also called Mistyc, Empress of Konan. My husband as you know is Emperor Saihitei, but is also called Hotohori and is a Suzaku Seishi like yourself. Your family is indeed here. We, my husband, seishi Nuriko, and myself, brought them here personally. Rise Tamahome, and be welcome as one of us."
Tamahome stood as Hotohori leaned over to a servant and said something to quite for anyone to hear. The servant nodded and scuttled away. Hotohori looked back to Tamahome again. "Forgive me for an impertinent question, but perhaps you will humor me. Can You raise your glyph, I wish to see it if it is possible."
Tamahome nodded. "Yes your Majesty." Tamahome closed his eyes for a moment, then snapped them open and the red symbol flared to life on his forehead.
Hotohori smiled and nodded. "In return, I show you mine." With that, he pulled the collar of his robes away from his throat and turned his head slightly to the right as his own symbol flashed.
Suddenly a solid weight hit Myst's legs and held on. She looked down to see Yuiren in her pink finery. Shunkei and Gyoukuran soon joined their little sister, and Myst looked back behind the dais to see Chuei and Nuriko coming at a slower pace.
Yuiren tugged at Myst's robes. "Hi Myst! We missed you. You haven't come by today!"
Myst knelt. "Hello Yuiren, everyone. Listen, can you tell who that is?"
Yuiren looked to where she was pointing and shrieked, "Big brother!" She and the rest of the children including Chuei ran down the dais and tackled their brother with shouts of, "Big brother," and "We missed you!"
Tamahome knelt in evident joy and amazement. "Chuei! Shunkei! Yuiren! Gyoukuran! You all look great! How much did all this cost?"
Gyoukuran looked up from where she was glomped to him. "Nothing big brother. Myst and Hotohori gave them and a lot more to us."
Tamahome looked up at the royal couple who had come down from the dais to stand next to them. "Thank you! Thank you your Majesties! I'll find some way to repay you if it takes me my whole life."
Hotohori smiled down at him and the children. "No need. You and your family may life here as long as you'd like, even if you do wish it to be your whole life."
Myst snickered. "No charge. Oh yes! Tamahome I'd like you to met someone else. This is Suzaku Seishi Nuriko.
Nuriko put a hand to his cheek and smiled, blushing a little. "Hi."
As Tamahome stood, Gyoukuran piped up again. "She very pretty, isn't she big brother?"
Yuiren hopped up and down holding onto Tamahome's hand. "Yes very pretty!"
Hotohori and Myst laughed as Tamahome sputtered and Nuriko blushed harder. Myst put her hand against Tamahome's back and lead them all outside as she spoke to the children. "All right you two little matchmakers. Save it for after he's seen your father okay?"
Tamahome turned serious at this as they continued to walk. "How is my father?"
Myst opened the door. "Ask him yourself."
Tamahome grinned when he saw his father. Tou-san was sitting in a comfortable padded chair at the table sipping at the honey Myst had gotten him hooked on after all the times they had visited together. "Hi Dad. You're looking so much better." He was so overcome with emotion that he went and tearfully hugged his father.
Tou-san hugged him back and ran his hand lovingly over Tamahome's back and long ponytail. "Tamahome. Son, we have missed you. I am feeling much better. Their Majesties are gracious and kind, and we have become friends. They have assured us day after day that you would come. They were right."
The Two other seishi and miko closed the door quietly and left the happy family to their reunion. They smiled for they knew the family of Suzaku was coming together and would soon be complete at last.
**********
A.N.: The plot here is going to thicken and start to get a little more exciting in a little bit. So hang on and watch for the next chapter ne?! JA!
~Celesta Hellewise Harman
"WOW!"
"It's so beautiful!"
"I've never seen anything so big!"
"It's beautiful!"
The children were awed as they rode through the palace gates. Everyone stopped their horses and dismounted, helping the children down as well.
Hotohori and Myst were immediately surrounded by their royal advisors and even a few handmaidens all of whom seemed to be speaking at once.
Myst, still holding Yuiren in her arms leaned over to mutter in Hotohori's ear, "Welcome home." She rolled her eyes and Hotohori sighed. Seeing that he wasn't going to do anything, she took matters into her own hands. She put her index finger and her thumb between her lips and an ear-piercing whistle echoed through the courtyard.
Everyone present clapped their hands over their ears and when Myst stopped, silence rang as loud as the whistle itself.
Myst waited quietly until everyone was looking at her. When she spoke, it was regally and calmly. "Thank you. Now that I have your attention, unless this is of the utmost import, and you cannot handle it yourself, then it will have to wait. We are tired from days on the road and we have a sick man that should be settled into his room immediately. We have children that are tired and most likely hungry as well. Therefore, for now, we are to be left alone unless we call. Is that clear?"
The last sentence was said with the authority of her office as Suzaku no Miko, and as Empress, and left no room for dispute.
Hotohori beamed pride at her as the advisor chorused their obedience and sent servant to make the proper arrangements. 'I was right. She most definitely knows how to handle authority. She is a good empress. So strong. So beautiful.'
Myst caught him staring at her and smiled. She walked to the carriage and gave Yuiren to Chuei so that she could help their father out and onto his feet. "You steady there Otou-san?"
Tou-san smiled when she called him that. "I think so Empress, thank you."
Myst nodded then, still holding onto him to balance him, she reached over and touched one of her handmaidens. "Is the clothing I ordered made before we left ready?"
"Yes Empress. Shall I go get them for you?"
"Yes, thank you. Bring them to our guest's rooms."
The handmaiden bowed and scuttled off to do as she was bid.
Myst and Nuriko helped Tou-san walk to the rooms with the doctor, children, and Hotohori following behind.
The handmaiden arrived just as they were helping Tou-san to sit on the plush bed. She handed Myst the bundle of clothing. "Empress, I also brought some of your clothing as well as some of his Majesty's, and seishi Nuriko's, in case you wanted to change in here as well."
Myst smiled at her. "How thoughtful. Thank you. If you would do me one more favor, please bring some honey-tea and some light snacks as well, please."
"Yes Empress." With that, the handmaiden bowed and left again.
Myst turned back to the others in the room and smiled. "I have some gifts for all of you."
Tou-san looked at his empress with humble surprise in his eyes. "Highness, you do not need to do this. You've already done so much for us. More than we could ever hope to repay."
Myst stopped him before he could say no. "I know I don't have to, but I want to. This is for you Tou-san." She set the clothes down on the table and held up a beautiful deep green, men's, silk kimono for everyone to see. She looked into Tou-san's eyes and saw the tears of happiness fall.
"Oh it is beautiful Empress. Thank you. Thank you for such kindness!"
Myst shook her head. "No need for thanks. It gave me great pleasure to do this, plus I knew all of your sizes from the vision I had, so they'll fit. I only want one thing in return."
"Yes Majesty! Anything if it is mine to give!"
She knelt on her knees in front of him, shocking the poor man that she would put herself lower than him. "I only want the honor of being able to call you a friend. A hug wouldn't hurt either."
He nodded, his eyes full of emotion. "I gladly give you both Majesty. I gladly give it to all of you." He looked up at the other adults in the room.
When they finished the embrace, Myst laid out the green kimono and two smaller silk ones, one of pale blue, the other a cream color. She then looked up and at the others in the room. "Okay. Doc, could you stay and help Tou-san into his garment? Chuei, Shunkei, the other's are yours. The rest of us will go into the adjoining rooms and change."
Hotohori tapped her on the shoulder and cleared his throat.
Myst looked up at him with a teasing grin. "Oh! Dear husband. Did I forget you? Well, of course you could either go back to our rooms and change, or you could stay here and change behind the screen, because if you try to change with us women, I might just have to have Nuriko throw you through the wall."
Hotohori chuckled and took hold of her shoulders. "I was just wandering if you had remembered he."
Myst leaned up and kissed his soft lips. "Of course. How could I forget my heart?"
They kissed again until Nuriko cleared his throat, and they turned their heads to look at the purple-haired seishi who was standing with his hands on his hips. "There are children present you know."
Gyoukuran and Yuiren were looking at the two royals with sparkles in their eyes. Gyoukuran spoke first in a dreamy voice. "How romantic."
"Yeah, how romantic." Yuiren mimicked her sister.
They laughed and Hotohori took his "hair-box" and imperial robes and went behind the screen.
Myst, carrying the rest of the clothes, took Gyoukuran's hand while Nuriko took Yuiren's and led them into the next room.
Nuriko changed behind the screen there, then came out to help the other girls. When they walked back into the main room the men and boys collectively gasped. They were stunning.
Yuiren was in bright pink silk with matching silk slippers and hand gold bands inlaid with small rosequarts stone around the base of her buns.
Gyoukuran was in silk and slippers of pale lavender. Half of her hair was left to flow freely around her shoulders and back and the rest of it hung in three overlapping braids that hung against her forehead and were held in with combs of carved amethyst. Both of them wore matching lockets with elaborate etchings of Suzaku on the front.
The two older beauties were dressed in elaborate court-garb with equally elaborate headdresses and hairstyles, and hints of makeup.
The two little girls ran up to their father who was sitting up in bed resting against the headboard. "Papa! Look what the Empress gave us!"
"Yes looky, looky!"
Tou-san gasped again and stared at his daughters, wide-eyed. "You two look so beautiful!"
"Your boys look quite handsome too." Myst had gone to stand behind Hotohori who was sitting in a chair at the table.
Tou-san looked at her. "You look gorgeous Empress. And you too Seishi- sama."
Nuriko blushed prettily and put his head down. He was saved from further flattery by the arriving food.
It was set on the table and Hotohori tanked and dismissed the handmaiden. Food was gathered and handed out and they all sat in various places as the doctor excused himself while everyone ate, talked, laughed, and just plain relaxed.
**********
It was a week later when one of the guards interrupted an audience the emperor and empress were holding, with some half expected news.
The man knelt in front of the dais. "Your Majesties. A young man is here saying that we are holding his family and he is demanding that we let them go. He's raising quite a struggle. Shall I take care of this?"
Hotohori felt a soft hand on his forearm and looked at his wife who was sitting on a smaller throne that he had ordered be put on the dais to his left and a little behind his own.
Myst smiled and winked at him and he nodded to her. He turned back to the guard. "No. Show him to us. We wish to see him."
"Yes Majesty." A few minuets later a man of about seventeen was brought before them, his young face flushed with anger. When he saw who he was standing before however, his face went pale and he dropped to his knees bowing his head to the floor.
The flustered young man stuttered out, "Your. your Majesties. I'm sorry. I. I just heard that my family was brought here and I came to get them back. They've done nothing wrong and."
"Please be silent." Hotohori's deep voice was soft but it shut the boy right up.
Myst's voice carried to all present. "Welcome, Tamahome!"
Tamahome looked up to see the empress on her feet with her arms spread in greeting as if to gather him to her.
"I am Suzaku no Miko, also called Mistyc, Empress of Konan. My husband as you know is Emperor Saihitei, but is also called Hotohori and is a Suzaku Seishi like yourself. Your family is indeed here. We, my husband, seishi Nuriko, and myself, brought them here personally. Rise Tamahome, and be welcome as one of us."
Tamahome stood as Hotohori leaned over to a servant and said something to quite for anyone to hear. The servant nodded and scuttled away. Hotohori looked back to Tamahome again. "Forgive me for an impertinent question, but perhaps you will humor me. Can You raise your glyph, I wish to see it if it is possible."
Tamahome nodded. "Yes your Majesty." Tamahome closed his eyes for a moment, then snapped them open and the red symbol flared to life on his forehead.
Hotohori smiled and nodded. "In return, I show you mine." With that, he pulled the collar of his robes away from his throat and turned his head slightly to the right as his own symbol flashed.
Suddenly a solid weight hit Myst's legs and held on. She looked down to see Yuiren in her pink finery. Shunkei and Gyoukuran soon joined their little sister, and Myst looked back behind the dais to see Chuei and Nuriko coming at a slower pace.
Yuiren tugged at Myst's robes. "Hi Myst! We missed you. You haven't come by today!"
Myst knelt. "Hello Yuiren, everyone. Listen, can you tell who that is?"
Yuiren looked to where she was pointing and shrieked, "Big brother!" She and the rest of the children including Chuei ran down the dais and tackled their brother with shouts of, "Big brother," and "We missed you!"
Tamahome knelt in evident joy and amazement. "Chuei! Shunkei! Yuiren! Gyoukuran! You all look great! How much did all this cost?"
Gyoukuran looked up from where she was glomped to him. "Nothing big brother. Myst and Hotohori gave them and a lot more to us."
Tamahome looked up at the royal couple who had come down from the dais to stand next to them. "Thank you! Thank you your Majesties! I'll find some way to repay you if it takes me my whole life."
Hotohori smiled down at him and the children. "No need. You and your family may life here as long as you'd like, even if you do wish it to be your whole life."
Myst snickered. "No charge. Oh yes! Tamahome I'd like you to met someone else. This is Suzaku Seishi Nuriko.
Nuriko put a hand to his cheek and smiled, blushing a little. "Hi."
As Tamahome stood, Gyoukuran piped up again. "She very pretty, isn't she big brother?"
Yuiren hopped up and down holding onto Tamahome's hand. "Yes very pretty!"
Hotohori and Myst laughed as Tamahome sputtered and Nuriko blushed harder. Myst put her hand against Tamahome's back and lead them all outside as she spoke to the children. "All right you two little matchmakers. Save it for after he's seen your father okay?"
Tamahome turned serious at this as they continued to walk. "How is my father?"
Myst opened the door. "Ask him yourself."
Tamahome grinned when he saw his father. Tou-san was sitting in a comfortable padded chair at the table sipping at the honey Myst had gotten him hooked on after all the times they had visited together. "Hi Dad. You're looking so much better." He was so overcome with emotion that he went and tearfully hugged his father.
Tou-san hugged him back and ran his hand lovingly over Tamahome's back and long ponytail. "Tamahome. Son, we have missed you. I am feeling much better. Their Majesties are gracious and kind, and we have become friends. They have assured us day after day that you would come. They were right."
The Two other seishi and miko closed the door quietly and left the happy family to their reunion. They smiled for they knew the family of Suzaku was coming together and would soon be complete at last.
**********
A.N.: The plot here is going to thicken and start to get a little more exciting in a little bit. So hang on and watch for the next chapter ne?! JA!
~Celesta Hellewise Harman