~An American Miko~
Lose One & Gain One
Chapter Thirty-One
When Myst woke later on that day it was once again to Hotohori's face, only this time he was awake and propped up on an elbow to watch her. She smiled up at his bright gold eyes and he smiled back and caressed her cheek. She stretched a little and said, "What are you doing?"
He continued to caress her cheek. "Watching an angel sleep."
Myst sighed and kissed his palm. "So I'm an angel now?"
Hotohori nodded. "Oh yes. My angel."
She chuckled and rolled onto her back. "We should get up now anyway. It's almost time for dinner. We can talk about finding Chiriko then with all the seishi gathered."
Hotohori nodded and waited for her to get out of the warm bed and then followed. They once again dressed in clean Imperial garments and then walked side by side to the dinning hall. To their surprise all the seishi were already seated and waiting for them, include the twins who were indeed just as much Suzaku Seishi as Hotohori was, save for where they got their power.
They all seemed to be waiting patiently, well, except Tasuki who was trying to start something with Tamahome.
Myst cleared her throat and they all, including Tasuki, fell silent. One of the handmaidens came forward with a squirming Prince Boushin in her arms and handed him to Myst once she and Hotohori had taken their seats side by side at the head of the table. It was after all, custom now for the royal family to eat as a family whenever possible, something that the three of them enjoyed greatly.
Myst snuggled Boushin happily. "We missed you today Boushin. Did you miss Mommy and Daddy?"
Boushin looked up and smiled at his mother and father with the same bright gold eyes as his father.
The group of them talked quietly for a few minuets and barely broke conversation when Hakurou slipped in and slid into his normal seat.
Finally the food arrived and was set out in steaming platters before them. This is when Myst truly looked up and saw that one of the seishi was still not there. She looked around and said, "Where's Nuriko?"
Talk stopped and the others looked around as well. Then a voice sounded from one of the doorways. "Nuriko is currently dragging his blockheaded Aniki into eat with all of us because he's been whining and moping about it since he's been here. Saying things like, he wants to eat with me and the Empress and Emperor and everyone else, and he would never be good enough and a picnic is one thing... and stop dragging your feet before I have to pick you up and carry you because you know I'll do it!"
They all watched as Nuriko walked steadily into the room not hampered at all by the weight of his brother as he effortlessly dragged in the nicely dressed, older, more masculine and timid version of himself that was Rouko.
Rouko opened his eyes and when he saw that everyone was looking at him he stopped struggling and let Nuriko lead him to a chair. Before he sat though he bowed deeply the two rulers at the head of the table. "I'm sorry for that scene and for intruding. I'm really, really sorry. Please forgive me. I didn't mean..."
"Rouko-san." Hotohori interrupted him and a glowing red Rouko looked up at him silently. Hotohori went on now that he had the man's attention. "Rouko- san, there's nothing to forgive. It's quite all right and you are quite welcome to eat with us whenever we are gathered here. Though I must admit, dinner conversation tonight might be a little dull for you since it concerns mainly the seishi." He smiled and leaned forward, propping his elbows up on the table and resting his chin on his laced fingers.
Myst spoke up as Rouko took his seat. "That brings me to a question of my own. How did you all know to gather here tonight?"
Tasuki was the one that answered. "The twins talked ta each of us today. Said ya might have some news ta share with us about the final seishi since ya had a vision and all. About that, too... yer feelin okay now right? They said the vision hit ya pretty hard. We've all been kinda worried."
Myst smiled as the others gather nodded and looked at her a little concerned. "Thank you all for your concerns. I really am doing fine. Oh! That reminds me! Mitsukake, could you please come to Hotohori's and my private chambers later tonight?"
Mitsukake nodded. "Of course Your Highness."
He sensed that she didn't want to talk about why right then and she nodded her thanks to him then went on. "Yes, I did have a vision and I asked Hotohori and the twins to look into something for me. Well, His Majesty was up most of the night evidently," She glared at Hotohori briefly, "but at least he managed to find something for his efforts. He hasn't told me what yet, but lets save that for after dinner. For now, I'm starving! Lets eat!"
Some of them cheered and they all dug heartily into the delicious food and talked of common harmless things.
*****
After they had all eaten their fill and the plates had been cleared, Hotohori called one of his servants to him. "Bring the files I have set out on my desk in my office."
The servant bowed and was off to do his job.
Myst leaned back and closed her eyes, savoring the feel of her sleeping son in her arms. She listened to his soft breathing in her ear as he draped peacefully over her chest. She rubbed his back and hummed to him as they waited for the servant to return.
When the servant did return with the requested documents, Myst opened her eyes and stopped humming, but kept rubbing Boushin's back gently.
Hotohori leafed through the files and finally drew one out. "Here it is. I think this is what we are searching for." He handed the file to Myst who took it with one hand.
Myst was quite glad and proud of herself that she had learned to read the language in the year that she had been there, as if she had been born to it. She read aloud, but softly for the others to hear. "Ou Dokun, fourteen years old, did exceptionally well on the Shou shii part of the Kakyou Exams. A young scholar known in his hometown of Jonan for his high intelligence and his uncanny ability to read the stars. Jonan... that's one of the neighboring cities isn't it?"
Hotohori nodded. "Yes. And I believe that this matches everything you were looking for. Should we call him in?"
Myst nodded and the others sat silently listening and thinking. "Yes. I think that would be best. I think we should do it right away too. I feel something bad coming. We'll need all the help we can get."
They all talked more and Hotohori wrote out and official summons to be sent to the boy in the morning. With that they all went their separate ways.
Nuriko and the twins followed Tasuki back to his room for a drinking contest with Hakurou and Rouko following behind them snickering since they both knew Nuriko's tolerance and knew that the other three didn't. Tamahome and Chichiri went to bring some desserts to Tamahome's family, and Mitsukake followed the royal family to take the sleeping prince back to his room and then on to the couple's bedchamber.
When they were alone in the bedchamber, Hotohori took down his hair and Mitsukake had him strip to the waist. After a quick physical check-over Mitsukake sat back in his chair by the bed and asked Hotohori some simple questions about Hotohori's overall mood lately, any stressing situations, diet, and sleeping habits, all for the past few days or weeks.
Mitsukake nodded at last and looked up at Hotohori who was sitting on the bed and Myst who was sitting by his side still fully dressed, sans headdress. "Hotohori-sama is merely suffering from minor exhaustion. I recommend that you rest and relax for a few days. No stressing situations, like court, if possible, and plenty of sleep. In fact, I'm going to give you something right now to make you sleep. Guaranteed you won't wake up until well in the morning."
Hotohori nodded and waited quietly while Mitsukake mixed some packets of powder from inside his robes into a large cup of water. He brought it over to Hotohori and said, "Drink it all. It'll be bitter ad it will work fast. Don't fight the effects or you'll get dizzy and sick."
Hotohori nodded. "Thank you Mitsukake." He took a breath and gulped the medicine down as fast as he could while Myst rubbed his bare back gently. When it was finally gone he handed the cup back to Mitsukake and made a face. "You were certainly right about it being bitter."
Myst smiled and walked to Hotohori's wardrobe, pulling out a sky-blue, silk, sleeping robe and holding it out for Hotohori to shrug on. He kept the cream-colored silk pants on as well then climbed under the blankets as he started to feel the effects of the sleeping medication.
Mitsukake sat and watched as Myst brushed Hotohori's hair to the side with the brush and bound it like he usually did when it wasn't in the hair-box. After a few minuets Hotohori's eyes slid closed and his breathing evened out as he eased into a deep sleep.
Myst brushed Hotohori's bangs away from his face. "You know Mits, he's the reason I can be so strong, because he's right there. He's always been there since the moment I got here. There hasn't been a day I haven't seen him for over a year and we loved each other more and more with each passing second. He's the reason I can stand up to all the trials here, because if it's ever too much, I have his arms to help steady me and the light in his eyes to help guide me to what really matters."
She smiled and stood to show Mitsukake out. At the door, she hugged the large man. "Thank you Mitsukake. He really does need more rest and sleep."
The healer smiled. "You're welcome Miko-sama. I'm happy he is lucky enough to have someone like you. Someone who loves him and everyone else so unconditionally. I'll see you tomorrow. Sleep well and call me if you need anything else."
Myst smiled. "Yes. Goodnight Mits. Sleep well my friend."
The door shut and Mitsukake walked down the hall. He stopped suddenly as a loud crash followed by a familiar scream shook the palace. He ran back to Myst and Hotohori's room and threw open the door gasping in shock at what he saw.
Two hideous, eyeless demons had broken the window clean out of the wall and now each had one of the unconscious rulers under their arms. The other seishi and Hakurou got there in record time but for some reason everything they threw at the beasts had no effect.
The things still seemed to be standing there just to taunt them until Nuriko grabbed the vanity and rushed at one of them. The thing whipped it's arm out and struck Nuriko in the stomach, making him fly into one of the walls then fall to the ground with the vanity on top of him.
There was just nothing they could do. Nuriko seemed to be unconscious now and no amount of magic or weapons did anything. It almost seemed as if the creatures weren't there.
Suddenly a new voice called from the hallway. "Aim for the circle on their foreheads!"
Not paying attention to who said it, Hakurou, the only one with the sword, jumped forward and plunged the tip into the circle of the one holding Myst. The thing screamed but knocked him out of the way as well. It flailed and dropped Myst, trying to pull the sword out of its huge head.
"Oh no you don't!" Tamahome's symbol blazed on his forehead as he jumped into the air and kicked the sword fully into the things head. The thing screamed again and this time disappeared.
The other demon seemed to see this, even though it had no eyes and slung Hotohori over its shoulder as it jumped out into the night. Tasuki and Tamahome tired to follow but when they reached the now gaping hole where the window used to be they were thrown back by a strong blue light. "What the hell?! What the fuck is this?!"
Kotoku spoke up from where he and his brother where lifting the vanity off Nuriko and helping the slightly wounded seishi up. "It's Seiryuu chi. If it's Nakago, you won't be able to get through it in time if at all."
Tamahome slammed his fist into the ground. "Damnit!"
Kotoku helped Nuriko to sit over by Myst who was in Mitsukake's arms being healed. The small seishi had a bleeding cut at his temple and he was cradling an arm that looked broken to his body.
Hakurou was already up again with no more than some bruised ribs, a bump on the back of his head and the wind knocked out of him.
Myst groaned from the floor as Mitsukake healed the wound on her head where she had been hit. They all gathered around as she opened her eyes. Nuriko asked her, "What happened?"
Myst, still a little disoriented said, "Happened do suddenly... didn't sense them until it was too late since I was thinking about how I was worried about Hotohori... Hotohori!"
She sat up suddenly as Mitsukake but his hands on her shoulders to keep her sitting, and she looked around frantically. "Hotohori! Where's Hotohori?!"
Shunkaku was the one that answered. "The other one took him. It fled before we could destroy it like the first one."
Myst shook her head slowly as the news sank in. Her eyes fill with tears and then spilled over, as she screamed, "NO! No Hotohori! God no! Hotohoriii!" Then she just broke down against Mitsukake's chest in sobbing wails.
She cried for a long time. Finally she calmed down enough to look up and ask, "How did you destroy it anyway? My daggers did nothing."
Chichiri's mask raised an eyebrow. "Someone told us no da."
Myst sniffled. "Who?"
The voice from the fight spoke again, this time from in the room by the doorway. "I did."
They all looked and saw a young boy in green robes and a ponytail, standing there.
Hakurou asked, "How did you get in here? Who are you?"
The boy looked at each of them calmly. "All the people in the palace who were not seishi or by them, were knocked out when those illusions and the chi attacked. As for who I am," The boy lifted the hem of his robes and showed them his foot where a symbol burned bright fiery red as only a true mark of Suzaku could do. "I am Ou Dokun, Chiriko of the Suzaku Seishi."
**********
A.N.: CLIFFHANGER!!!!!!!!! Ohhhh... Bad me! Band me!!!!!!!!! *smiles* You love me... Well, I guess you'll just have to wait for the next part to see if Hotohori lives or not and what's going to happen. Also, it's your guess what those "demons" were until then. Thank you all for responding!!! And do please respond to each of the chapters since this and the last one are out almost at the same time. I really want to hear what you think for each of the chapters ne? Tell me what you like, tell me what you didn't like, tell me what leaves you in suspense or tars or fears ne? Well, just tell me. You guys influence a little how I write this story! Well, JA!!!
~Celesta Hellewise Harman
When Myst woke later on that day it was once again to Hotohori's face, only this time he was awake and propped up on an elbow to watch her. She smiled up at his bright gold eyes and he smiled back and caressed her cheek. She stretched a little and said, "What are you doing?"
He continued to caress her cheek. "Watching an angel sleep."
Myst sighed and kissed his palm. "So I'm an angel now?"
Hotohori nodded. "Oh yes. My angel."
She chuckled and rolled onto her back. "We should get up now anyway. It's almost time for dinner. We can talk about finding Chiriko then with all the seishi gathered."
Hotohori nodded and waited for her to get out of the warm bed and then followed. They once again dressed in clean Imperial garments and then walked side by side to the dinning hall. To their surprise all the seishi were already seated and waiting for them, include the twins who were indeed just as much Suzaku Seishi as Hotohori was, save for where they got their power.
They all seemed to be waiting patiently, well, except Tasuki who was trying to start something with Tamahome.
Myst cleared her throat and they all, including Tasuki, fell silent. One of the handmaidens came forward with a squirming Prince Boushin in her arms and handed him to Myst once she and Hotohori had taken their seats side by side at the head of the table. It was after all, custom now for the royal family to eat as a family whenever possible, something that the three of them enjoyed greatly.
Myst snuggled Boushin happily. "We missed you today Boushin. Did you miss Mommy and Daddy?"
Boushin looked up and smiled at his mother and father with the same bright gold eyes as his father.
The group of them talked quietly for a few minuets and barely broke conversation when Hakurou slipped in and slid into his normal seat.
Finally the food arrived and was set out in steaming platters before them. This is when Myst truly looked up and saw that one of the seishi was still not there. She looked around and said, "Where's Nuriko?"
Talk stopped and the others looked around as well. Then a voice sounded from one of the doorways. "Nuriko is currently dragging his blockheaded Aniki into eat with all of us because he's been whining and moping about it since he's been here. Saying things like, he wants to eat with me and the Empress and Emperor and everyone else, and he would never be good enough and a picnic is one thing... and stop dragging your feet before I have to pick you up and carry you because you know I'll do it!"
They all watched as Nuriko walked steadily into the room not hampered at all by the weight of his brother as he effortlessly dragged in the nicely dressed, older, more masculine and timid version of himself that was Rouko.
Rouko opened his eyes and when he saw that everyone was looking at him he stopped struggling and let Nuriko lead him to a chair. Before he sat though he bowed deeply the two rulers at the head of the table. "I'm sorry for that scene and for intruding. I'm really, really sorry. Please forgive me. I didn't mean..."
"Rouko-san." Hotohori interrupted him and a glowing red Rouko looked up at him silently. Hotohori went on now that he had the man's attention. "Rouko- san, there's nothing to forgive. It's quite all right and you are quite welcome to eat with us whenever we are gathered here. Though I must admit, dinner conversation tonight might be a little dull for you since it concerns mainly the seishi." He smiled and leaned forward, propping his elbows up on the table and resting his chin on his laced fingers.
Myst spoke up as Rouko took his seat. "That brings me to a question of my own. How did you all know to gather here tonight?"
Tasuki was the one that answered. "The twins talked ta each of us today. Said ya might have some news ta share with us about the final seishi since ya had a vision and all. About that, too... yer feelin okay now right? They said the vision hit ya pretty hard. We've all been kinda worried."
Myst smiled as the others gather nodded and looked at her a little concerned. "Thank you all for your concerns. I really am doing fine. Oh! That reminds me! Mitsukake, could you please come to Hotohori's and my private chambers later tonight?"
Mitsukake nodded. "Of course Your Highness."
He sensed that she didn't want to talk about why right then and she nodded her thanks to him then went on. "Yes, I did have a vision and I asked Hotohori and the twins to look into something for me. Well, His Majesty was up most of the night evidently," She glared at Hotohori briefly, "but at least he managed to find something for his efforts. He hasn't told me what yet, but lets save that for after dinner. For now, I'm starving! Lets eat!"
Some of them cheered and they all dug heartily into the delicious food and talked of common harmless things.
*****
After they had all eaten their fill and the plates had been cleared, Hotohori called one of his servants to him. "Bring the files I have set out on my desk in my office."
The servant bowed and was off to do his job.
Myst leaned back and closed her eyes, savoring the feel of her sleeping son in her arms. She listened to his soft breathing in her ear as he draped peacefully over her chest. She rubbed his back and hummed to him as they waited for the servant to return.
When the servant did return with the requested documents, Myst opened her eyes and stopped humming, but kept rubbing Boushin's back gently.
Hotohori leafed through the files and finally drew one out. "Here it is. I think this is what we are searching for." He handed the file to Myst who took it with one hand.
Myst was quite glad and proud of herself that she had learned to read the language in the year that she had been there, as if she had been born to it. She read aloud, but softly for the others to hear. "Ou Dokun, fourteen years old, did exceptionally well on the Shou shii part of the Kakyou Exams. A young scholar known in his hometown of Jonan for his high intelligence and his uncanny ability to read the stars. Jonan... that's one of the neighboring cities isn't it?"
Hotohori nodded. "Yes. And I believe that this matches everything you were looking for. Should we call him in?"
Myst nodded and the others sat silently listening and thinking. "Yes. I think that would be best. I think we should do it right away too. I feel something bad coming. We'll need all the help we can get."
They all talked more and Hotohori wrote out and official summons to be sent to the boy in the morning. With that they all went their separate ways.
Nuriko and the twins followed Tasuki back to his room for a drinking contest with Hakurou and Rouko following behind them snickering since they both knew Nuriko's tolerance and knew that the other three didn't. Tamahome and Chichiri went to bring some desserts to Tamahome's family, and Mitsukake followed the royal family to take the sleeping prince back to his room and then on to the couple's bedchamber.
When they were alone in the bedchamber, Hotohori took down his hair and Mitsukake had him strip to the waist. After a quick physical check-over Mitsukake sat back in his chair by the bed and asked Hotohori some simple questions about Hotohori's overall mood lately, any stressing situations, diet, and sleeping habits, all for the past few days or weeks.
Mitsukake nodded at last and looked up at Hotohori who was sitting on the bed and Myst who was sitting by his side still fully dressed, sans headdress. "Hotohori-sama is merely suffering from minor exhaustion. I recommend that you rest and relax for a few days. No stressing situations, like court, if possible, and plenty of sleep. In fact, I'm going to give you something right now to make you sleep. Guaranteed you won't wake up until well in the morning."
Hotohori nodded and waited quietly while Mitsukake mixed some packets of powder from inside his robes into a large cup of water. He brought it over to Hotohori and said, "Drink it all. It'll be bitter ad it will work fast. Don't fight the effects or you'll get dizzy and sick."
Hotohori nodded. "Thank you Mitsukake." He took a breath and gulped the medicine down as fast as he could while Myst rubbed his bare back gently. When it was finally gone he handed the cup back to Mitsukake and made a face. "You were certainly right about it being bitter."
Myst smiled and walked to Hotohori's wardrobe, pulling out a sky-blue, silk, sleeping robe and holding it out for Hotohori to shrug on. He kept the cream-colored silk pants on as well then climbed under the blankets as he started to feel the effects of the sleeping medication.
Mitsukake sat and watched as Myst brushed Hotohori's hair to the side with the brush and bound it like he usually did when it wasn't in the hair-box. After a few minuets Hotohori's eyes slid closed and his breathing evened out as he eased into a deep sleep.
Myst brushed Hotohori's bangs away from his face. "You know Mits, he's the reason I can be so strong, because he's right there. He's always been there since the moment I got here. There hasn't been a day I haven't seen him for over a year and we loved each other more and more with each passing second. He's the reason I can stand up to all the trials here, because if it's ever too much, I have his arms to help steady me and the light in his eyes to help guide me to what really matters."
She smiled and stood to show Mitsukake out. At the door, she hugged the large man. "Thank you Mitsukake. He really does need more rest and sleep."
The healer smiled. "You're welcome Miko-sama. I'm happy he is lucky enough to have someone like you. Someone who loves him and everyone else so unconditionally. I'll see you tomorrow. Sleep well and call me if you need anything else."
Myst smiled. "Yes. Goodnight Mits. Sleep well my friend."
The door shut and Mitsukake walked down the hall. He stopped suddenly as a loud crash followed by a familiar scream shook the palace. He ran back to Myst and Hotohori's room and threw open the door gasping in shock at what he saw.
Two hideous, eyeless demons had broken the window clean out of the wall and now each had one of the unconscious rulers under their arms. The other seishi and Hakurou got there in record time but for some reason everything they threw at the beasts had no effect.
The things still seemed to be standing there just to taunt them until Nuriko grabbed the vanity and rushed at one of them. The thing whipped it's arm out and struck Nuriko in the stomach, making him fly into one of the walls then fall to the ground with the vanity on top of him.
There was just nothing they could do. Nuriko seemed to be unconscious now and no amount of magic or weapons did anything. It almost seemed as if the creatures weren't there.
Suddenly a new voice called from the hallway. "Aim for the circle on their foreheads!"
Not paying attention to who said it, Hakurou, the only one with the sword, jumped forward and plunged the tip into the circle of the one holding Myst. The thing screamed but knocked him out of the way as well. It flailed and dropped Myst, trying to pull the sword out of its huge head.
"Oh no you don't!" Tamahome's symbol blazed on his forehead as he jumped into the air and kicked the sword fully into the things head. The thing screamed again and this time disappeared.
The other demon seemed to see this, even though it had no eyes and slung Hotohori over its shoulder as it jumped out into the night. Tasuki and Tamahome tired to follow but when they reached the now gaping hole where the window used to be they were thrown back by a strong blue light. "What the hell?! What the fuck is this?!"
Kotoku spoke up from where he and his brother where lifting the vanity off Nuriko and helping the slightly wounded seishi up. "It's Seiryuu chi. If it's Nakago, you won't be able to get through it in time if at all."
Tamahome slammed his fist into the ground. "Damnit!"
Kotoku helped Nuriko to sit over by Myst who was in Mitsukake's arms being healed. The small seishi had a bleeding cut at his temple and he was cradling an arm that looked broken to his body.
Hakurou was already up again with no more than some bruised ribs, a bump on the back of his head and the wind knocked out of him.
Myst groaned from the floor as Mitsukake healed the wound on her head where she had been hit. They all gathered around as she opened her eyes. Nuriko asked her, "What happened?"
Myst, still a little disoriented said, "Happened do suddenly... didn't sense them until it was too late since I was thinking about how I was worried about Hotohori... Hotohori!"
She sat up suddenly as Mitsukake but his hands on her shoulders to keep her sitting, and she looked around frantically. "Hotohori! Where's Hotohori?!"
Shunkaku was the one that answered. "The other one took him. It fled before we could destroy it like the first one."
Myst shook her head slowly as the news sank in. Her eyes fill with tears and then spilled over, as she screamed, "NO! No Hotohori! God no! Hotohoriii!" Then she just broke down against Mitsukake's chest in sobbing wails.
She cried for a long time. Finally she calmed down enough to look up and ask, "How did you destroy it anyway? My daggers did nothing."
Chichiri's mask raised an eyebrow. "Someone told us no da."
Myst sniffled. "Who?"
The voice from the fight spoke again, this time from in the room by the doorway. "I did."
They all looked and saw a young boy in green robes and a ponytail, standing there.
Hakurou asked, "How did you get in here? Who are you?"
The boy looked at each of them calmly. "All the people in the palace who were not seishi or by them, were knocked out when those illusions and the chi attacked. As for who I am," The boy lifted the hem of his robes and showed them his foot where a symbol burned bright fiery red as only a true mark of Suzaku could do. "I am Ou Dokun, Chiriko of the Suzaku Seishi."
**********
A.N.: CLIFFHANGER!!!!!!!!! Ohhhh... Bad me! Band me!!!!!!!!! *smiles* You love me... Well, I guess you'll just have to wait for the next part to see if Hotohori lives or not and what's going to happen. Also, it's your guess what those "demons" were until then. Thank you all for responding!!! And do please respond to each of the chapters since this and the last one are out almost at the same time. I really want to hear what you think for each of the chapters ne? Tell me what you like, tell me what you didn't like, tell me what leaves you in suspense or tars or fears ne? Well, just tell me. You guys influence a little how I write this story! Well, JA!!!
~Celesta Hellewise Harman