Seiryu Seishi Soi and Tomo, Heart of the Suzaku Priest
Keishu left the classroom with Ichimu's things as it began to fill. He found an empty room and continued to read the book. For some reason it had become uncontrollably addictive. " And so the Seiryu Priest was unknowingly carried to the heart of Kutou by Seiryu Seishi Nakago. There he would meet two more Seishi who were bound by fate to Nakago.
*
"What's this, Nakago? A boy? I understand the girl. The priestess of Seiryuu, isn't she? But the boy? What do you need him for?" the red-haired women asked, irritatedly.
"Can't your tiny mind comprehend what this means?" The man who's face was covered in make-up smiled. "Baka. It's obvious that he's the Priest."
"The Priest? Have you lost all sense, Tomo?" She rolled her eyes, "There's no priest. Obviously all your illusions have gotten to YOUR head."
"I could crush you, Soi. Say one more word." He held up one of his fingers with it's long red nail to emphasize his point.
"Calm yourselves. Tomo is right, Soi." Nakago responded.
Tomo smirked and raised one eyebrow as if to say 'Who's crazy now?' At that moment, Ichimu chose to awaken.
"N-Nani?" He stood up, shaking his head with one of his hands to the side of it, trying to clear his thoughts. As he looked into the faces of these two new seishi, he backed away startled.
"Idiot, you've startled him!" Soi growled angrily at Tomo.
"I'm suppose to be intimidating." Tomo turned his back on her. "What would a prostitue know about the theatre anyways."
"Shut up."
"Your wit cuts me to the bone, Soi." Tomo grinned.
"Silence." Nakago spoke up. "Seiryu no Houshi."
Ichimu's eyes narrowed. "You! I remember you! BAKA! Why did you knock me out like that?!"
"I didn't have time for pleasantries."
Tomo looked at the boy for a moment with a mild interest and then shrugged it off. Too young.
"What exactly is the purpose of the priest?" Soi asked.
Tomo turned to face her and instead of his normally hate-filled voice, he spoke softly. "He has the power to change the Seishi. Our lives might be very different from the original."
"And how do YOU know this?"
"I've seen the sacred scrolls."
"I don't get this. Why are all of you calling me a priest? I'm not a priest, I'm just a student!" Ichimu looked at them, wanting answers.
There was a scream that echoed through the walls. Nakago turned to the other two Seishi, "Bring him with us. Our Priestess has awakened."
"Hongo-San." Ichimu immediately went up to her. "Are you alright, Hongo-San?"
Yui stood up and looked at him momentarily. She paused. "Hiryu-San?"
"You remember me!" Ichimu beamed.
"Flying Dragon." Soi smiled. "How appropriate that you are Seiryu no Houshi."
"I am not! Stop calling me that!" Ichimu did the first thing that came to mind. He threw chi and then stood there wondering how he had done it. Strangely, Nakago's kanji of 'Shin' glowed on his forehead.
"You've manifested Nakago's symbol." Soi replied from where she had quickly rolled to escape. "Trust me, I would know Nakago's symbol. I know everything there is to know ab-"
"Silence, Soi." Nakago interuppted, irritatedly.
"If you want to see your home," Tomo crossed his arms, "Manifest my symbol. You have the ability to see your home."
Ichimu clenched his fist, "But not actually go. You wouldn't let me get away that easy."
"It is your fate to manifest the seven symbols all at once and destroy Suzaku's power should he be ressurrected." Nakago cut off Tomo as he looked about to say something.
"Where am I?" Yui looked first to Ichimu, then to Nakago. "Where is Miaka? I came here because of Miaka."
Nakago seemed to enjoy what he had to say next, "You've come to her aid, but where was she in the forest? When you were defiled, where was she?"
"Baka." Ichimu laughed. "That's not going to work."
Nakago looked at him for a moment. His eyes narrowed. "What are you talking about?"
"Lady Yui, you were not touched. If you were it would have been by this man and since you're his precious Priestess, he would not have let that happen." He looked at Soi for a second and she saw the faint glimpse of a faint Kanji, 'Bo', glowing on his upper right thigh. "A very interesting ability, Soi. You can increase the chi of male Seishi?"
Soi nodded slowly. "Yes."
"I've borrowed some of your knowledge in the matter. I must confess, it's a bit odd to see things from a woman's perspective when you're a man."
Soi nodded. "I'm sure, Houshi."
"Since you are all intent that I am the priest, I might as well use this ability to my own advantage." Ichimu smiled. "I'm no worse than Nakago if I do."
Nakago growled, irritated. He was beginning to strongly dislike this priest. Why did the boy stand up against him like that? He'd never met anyone who dared do that. He'd just have to teach the boy his place.
Tomo was awe-struck. There was actually someone who would stand up to Nakago? He felt his faceflush red and was glad for the thick white paint covering his cheeks. If he had fallen for Nakago purely because he, Tomo, feared him, he was now realizing the error of that.
Ichimu looked at Yui. "Lady Yui, I think it fitting that you stay by side as we are Priest and Priestess. I will protect you."
*
"So it was that Sieryu Seishi Tomo's fate changed. With the course of his love changed, so too did his loyalty. Seiryu no Houshi's work had begun." Keishu looked at the picture in the book of the painted faced warrior and the priest of Seiryu. He felt oddly reminded of Ichimu by the priest. Then he shook it off.
He turned the page and began reading. "The boy who bravely stood against Nakago's journey was far from over, and now that he had taken his place as Priest, he learned of a new priest arriving to lead a group of seven called the Suzaku Seishi." Keishu suddenly saw red swim before his eyes.
*
The emperor of Konan had recently met the Priestess of Suzaku when the boy fell into the courtyards outside. People rushed to his aid, others called the emperor to come and see him.
Keishu brushed his pink hair back into place and stood up, dazed. "Nani? Where am I?"
"Not this again." A man with turqouise hair responded irritatedly.
"Is he alright?" The purple-haired woman asked.
"Not sure... You're name was Nuriko, wasn't it?"
"Yes. And you are Tamahome, correct?"
"Yeah."
Keishu looked at them irritatedly for a moment. "Are you two ignoring me?"
The emperor was quickly down. He was a beautiful young man with brown hair kept under a hat, but he seemed lost in all the formality of his clothing. It made him look far older than he was.
"Hotohori-Sama." Nuriko and Tamahome both bowed.
Keishu was awed, not by the emperor, but this 'Nuriko'. She was beautiful, graceful. She seemed to have everything that a man could want in a woman. Every movement she made provocatively showed him a little of her figure, but just enough to hit him with the realization that he could not see through her dress. He shook his head. What was it about this woman that captured his attention so?
Hotohori looked over the boy. Keishu wished hard for a moment that his hair wasn't that odd shade of pink. That he hadn't been born looking so odd. Hotohori didn't seem to notice. "Do either of you realize why he is here?"
Nuriko and Tamahome shook their heads. They were clearly puzzled. Keishu felt his heart race a little at the way Nuriko gently shook her head in such a manner as to leave her hair absolutely perfect. She had it down to an art, whoever this woman was.
"This is the legendary Priest of Suzaku."
"Priest?" Nuriko questioned gently. Keishu felt he'd say a million puzzling things just to hear her voicequestioning them.
*
Ichimu smiled. He had the faithful service of atleast Tomo now. He hated the controlling grip Nakago seemed to have and he was going to teach his strongest seishi a thing or two about obeying.
Yui had spoken of returning home. Home? He felt powerful here, as if he could do anything. Why should he wish to return to a world where he went day by day, unnoticed, uncared for, alone? He was going to make a difference here, yes. Things would shape up and he would be feared. He would do his duty as priest and destroy Suzaku's powers. What was home anyways?
He looked out into the starry night into foreign constellations. For a moment he wondered what had become of Keishu, the only boy who had ever dared befriend him.
*
Keishu walked through the doors with Miaka and looked around. There were a pair of girl attendants standing by. That wasn't unusual. All ladies of the court had attendants.
He looked about and saw a graceful hand reach over the top of a thin structure, obviously meant to be changed behind. He felt his heart beat hard in his chest. "M-Miss Nuriko?"
"You should not be in here." One of the attendants frowned.
"It's important." Miaka smiled happily. "Hotohori sent us."
The two attendants looked shocked that anyone would have the nerve to address the emperor so informally. Keishu tried to explain. "We are the Priest and Priestess of Suzaku. We are here on orders to summon Celestial Warrior Nuriko. Why aren't the two of you helping her dress?"
"Because I like my privacy." Nuriko stepped out from behind the screen.
Keishu dropped a hair brush that he had picked up to examine. Why hadn't he come to his senses before? He could now see plainly why Nuriko was so attractive to him.
Nuriko quickly pulled the dress more tightly closed, hoping no one had been looking. As Keishu got back his composure, it seemed no one else had. Miaka quickly hugged on to the purple-haired seishi, the attendants smiling and chattering. It really didn't matter to the priestess that she hardly knew Nuriko or that the beautiful-faced seishi seemed to be her worst rival for the affections of Emperor Hotohori.
Keishu scolded himself. How could he have not noticed? As they walked down the halls, Keishu put his hand on Nuriko's arm and let Miaka walk ahead of the two of them. "Nuriko."
Nuriko paused and looked at him, concerned. "Is something wrong?"
"I-I know." Keishu looked downward.
Nuriko's perfect smile faultered for a bit. "Know what?"
Keishu leaned closer, whispering. "That you're a man."
Nuriko frowned. "You saw, didn't you? Forgive me for my deceptions. Could you please not tell? It'll just be between you and I."
Keishu desperately wanted to tell Nuriko how he felt at that moment. How could Keishu tell Nuriko whathad made him so eager to believe what he had glimpsed?
"Nuriko I," He paused for a moment, struggling against himself. "I won't." Women scared him. Maybe his fear of them came from his mother leaving his family, maybe he was just born that way. He wasn't sure, but that had been his grounds for belief. He couldn't love a woman and he wasn't afraid of Nuriko.
