"Hearts Aflame" by Ai Yuukan
Chapter 3
"Okay, okay." Tamahome sighed, waving a white flag.
Miaka sat up, a hopeful expression upon her face. "You'll honestly tell me?"
"Hai."
Miaka clapped her hands gleefully. "Then tell me: where's Yui?"
Tamahome looked at Miaka sourly, his nose bruised. Miaka winced. "I have no idea." He repeated dully. He tried to go away again.
Samantha sighed. "You're not going anywhere."
Miaka nodded emphatically. "That's right!"
Vivien smiled. "Look, Miaka and Yui here are best friends. You don't want to help her? That's just wrong." Tamahome just walked away. Vivien, Samantha, and Miaka hurried after him.
Miaka looked annoyed. "That's right! Hey, we're wandering around in a strange place!" Tamahome kept on walking. The girls kept on following. "Hey! Geez, can't you hear me?! You're not even going to try?! And you call yourself a man?!"
Tamahome stopped at that. Vivien grinned. "That's low." He muttered irritably. He turned around to face Miaka. "You're not worth my time if you don't have any money. If you want me to help, you'll have to pay up." He held out his hand. "So give me the money in advance."
Miaka looked appalled. "It's always 'money, money'. Is money all that matters to you?"
Tamahome didn't look the least bit ashamed. "Yes, it is."
Samantha and Vivien smiled, remembering this part very well. This was really all quite comical. Miaka suddenly looked aghast. "That's it.. You SOLD Yui!"
Tamahome blinked at this accusation. The grins on Samantha and Vivien's faces broadened. "Nani?"
Samantha and Vivien snickered. "I can't believe it.. trading in girls!"
"Hey!"
"You're disgusting! You BEAST!"
Samantha and Vivien were holding on to each other, both hurting from trying to stifle their laughter. Tamahome tried to grab hold of Miaka. "Who're you calling a beast?!"
Miaka leapt away from Tamahome. "Aah! Stay away from me, you slave- trader!"
"Nani?!"
Samantha and Vivien couldn't take it any more. They both burst out laughing. Unfortunately, the surrounding townspeople mistook their loud amusement for the maniacal, cackles of the 'slavetrader's' friends. "Who do they think they are?! Laughing at a poor helpless girl!"
Samantha and Vivien sweatdropped. "A-ano?" Samantha choked.
"They're dangerous."
"Do they think we're in it with Tamahome?" Vivien was incredulous.
"Stay away from them!"
"I think they do think that." Samantha answered wryly.
"Low-lifes!" Another hissed.
Vivien was affronted. "Now see here!"
"What's the world coming to?!"
A sly look entered Miaka's eyes as she realized all the attention she was getting. "Everyone! Listen to me!"
Tamahome grabbed Miaka, covering her mouth. He looked around at the glaring people, sweatdropping. "Really, I can't take you anywhere, can I? She's hopeless." Miaka struggling, he picked her up and hurried away from the crowd and into an alley.
"Oy! Matte!" Samantha and Vivien shouted, hurrying after them.
"Well, do you feel like finding Yui now?" Miaka asked Tamahome smugly.
"Will you knock it off?!"
Miaka sighed. "Well, then, I guess I have to warn everyone about you, slave-trader!"
Tamahome fairly growled. "Are you threatening me? I'm not a slavetrader!"
"Oy!!" Samantha and Vivien were closing in.
"I know."
"Nani?!" Tamahome came to an abrupt stop. Then, just as Samantha and Vivien finally caught up with him, unceremoniously dumped her on the ground. Vivien was too out of breath to laugh.
Miaka rubbed her sore posterior. "Are you trying to hurt me?!"
Tamahome looked away. "It's payback."
Miaka stood up and glared at him. "That's mean.." Her eyes started to get suspiciously bright.
"We're about to see a master." Samantha murmured to Vivien. "Taka- I mean, Tamahome's a sucker for tears."
Vivien grinned.
"It's only because I don't know where I am.. I don't have anyone.."
Vivien's grin vanished to be replaced by a frown. "Now hold on.." She muttered. "Hello! We're over here! Remember us?"
"Shh!" Samantha hissed. "Don't ruin the show!"
"Show?"
"I need to find Yui soon.. I'm worried about her.." Miaka turned around and started to cry.
Vivien's eyes softened. "Can I tell her?"
"No."
"H..hey.."
Samantha smiled. "It's about to get interesting.."
Vivien gaped. "Interesting? About to..? Where have you been, Sammy?"
Everything after that was a blur. When Vivien had seen the royal procession, she had finally realized how close the time was when Miaka would agree to become the Suzaku no Miko. Time was running out.. and she still had some very important questions. The main question was.. should she wait until Suzaku would ask her again? Or should she agree now? She barely noticed it when Miaka started to disappear in a red light. She was so lost in her thoughts.
Samantha had been claimed.. by who?
Your sister, Tei, has been claimed by Genbu. I am asking you to be my seishi.
Vivien sighed. She might as well know all. Genbu? She closed her eyes, suddenly remembering. Don't tell me. He's the god.. of the .. north, right? Lord, then everything was true.. And who are you?
I am Suzaku.
Suzaku? Vivien opened her eyes in surprise. The name of Miaka's god! The more rational part of her mind demanded, What do you want with me?
Vivien remained unseeing as several guards grabbed hold of her. I will tell you once you have removed those hands that dare grab you so. I will not have my seishi so rudely accosted.
Hands? Only then did Vivien see the way the guards were holding her. She swore. Suzaku was right! How dare they! "Oy! Leggo!"
"Shut up, demon!"
"Demon?! What are you babbling about, you imbecile?! I'm no demon! Get your filthy hands off me!"
"Filthy?! I'll show you, you dirty upstart!"
"Upstart?!" Vivien's eyes flashed angrily. "Don't you dare call me names!" Vivien finally wrenched her arm free. More guards rushed to disarm her.
"Vivi!"
"Sammy?!" Vivien whirled around. Several guards were holding her, and as she struggled, one of them cuffed her on the head. Vivien's temper flared. Suzaku was suddenly in her head again. Protect your sister! Use the power within you! Vivien suddenly felt the area behind her eyes grow increasingly warm.
What the..?! Vivien gasped as the area behind her eyes grew intensely hot. Use it! Suzaku said loudly in her head. "Let her go!!" Suddenly she glared directly at the guard holding Samantha's wrists together.
He burst into flames.
Someone screamed, "Demon!!" Something felt hot on her abdomen. Red hot. Something in Vivien snapped. Vivien collapsed and a guard caught her.
"VIVI!!!" Everything was going black.
"Sammy.." The last thing Vivien remembered was the cold.. the icy.. cold.
"Vivi! Vivi! Wake up!"
Vivien was suddenly fine. She heard Samantha's voice and opened her eyes. Samantha stared down at her with tired, weak eyes. "Vivi.. you're awake. Thank goodness."
Vivien sat up. "Where are we?"
"Just outside the palace wall. Vivi, Miaka and Tamahome are inside."
Vivien frowned as she felt something flash warm on her abdomen. "They are..? What's this..! Oh!" She had lifted her blouse up to peer at her abdomen to see if anything was wrong. A symbol flashed red on her abdomen. ".. Nani?"
Samantha smiled weakly. "The symbol.. of Suzaku.. he gave you back your power.. Hey, Vivi?"
"Vi."
"Right. You don't notice it yet, do you?"
"Notice what?"
"This?" Samantha asked, smiling.
Vivien frowned. Had her sister finally lost it? "What?"
Samantha's smile grew broader. "I'm speaking in Chinese, Vivi. You are, too."
"No way." Vivien suddenly clasped her hands over her mouth. Her eyes were wide with shock.. and wonder. She finally put her hands down. "No freakin' way." She breathed.
Samantha grinned. "Cool, isn't it?"
"It's awesome!" Vivien gasped as she heard herself speak. "Coolness!" She said that in English. Vivien frowned.
Samantha laughed. "I don't think they have a word for that in Chinese."
Vivien smiled. "You may be right."
Samantha sighed. "So what happened back there, Vivi?"
"Vi."
"Will you stop it already?"
"No. It's Vi. Viiiiiii."
Samantha sighed again. "Alright already, Vi. Do you know what happened or what?"
Vivien suddenly sobered. "I think.." She remembered the flames. "I killed someone." Her heart suddenly felt heavy.
Samantha's eyes softened. "Did you really? I didn't see you touch him.."
Vivien sadly shook her head. "I didn't need to." She closed her eyes. "Suzaku was speaking in my head and.."
"Suzaku?"
"Hai.. My eyes suddenly got hot and I.. I glared at the man.. and he.." Her shoulders started shaking.
Samantha held Vivien tightly. "It's alright, Vivi.. It's alright." Her own eyes grew shadowed. "I.. also killed a man. Five, in fact."
"Hontou?"
Smiling sadly, Samantha nodded. "When you fainted.."
"I do not faint." Vivien was insulted.
"You do now. When you fainted.. a guard caught you and several others captured you. I grew so angry.. I killed them.. with ice."
"Ice..?"
"Apparently I'm one of the only priestesses with an early, evident power."
Vivien frowned. "Priestess? Not seishi?"
Samantha shook her head. "No. I am the second Genbu no Miko. Did.. Miaka ever tell you of the first Genbu no Miko?"
Vivien tried to remember. "Only that she was killed by her father before she could be fully devoured by Genbu.."
Samantha nodded. "That's right. She was killed before she could make her final wish. I have to summon Genbu and make that last wish. You see, there is a balance in the Shi Jin Ten Chi Sho that has to be corrected. Takiko.. Ohsugi Takiko's death before the completion of her legend partially damaged the balance in this world. As the second Genbu no Miko, I am to summon Genbu and make that final wish." She sighed. "What about you?"
Vivien frowned. "Suzaku didn't tell me any of that.. All I know is that my 'seishi name' is Kyoku. You serve the balance of the Shi Jin Ten Chi Sho. ".. and I serve the balance of the Shicho."
"The Shicho?" Samantha looked confused.
The Shi Jin Ten Chi Sho, the voice corrected her irritably. Shi. Jin. Ten. Chi. Sho. Vivien's frown grew more pronounced. "Shi Jin Ten Chi Sho?"
"Ah!" Samantha finally understood. "The Shi Jin Ten Chi Sho? Yes, that's what Genbu told me to. I also serve that balance.. but why? That is the question."
It is your duty. You have been trained by Taittsukun as her seishi. She has offered you to me as a means to right the bal-- "Hold it," Vivien ordered the voice aloud. She looked to Samantha. "Are you hearing this?"
Samantha's expression looked funny. "Do you mean Genbu telling me that it is my duty, that I have been trained by the center deity as her seishi, and that he has claimed me to right the balance?"
Vivien nodded. "Yeah, something like that." Suzaku sounded exasperated. Will you agree to fulfill your duty or must I still await your decision until a later time? Vivien grinned. How cute. He was giving her a choice. She shrugged. Sure, why not? But what's the catch? She swore she could feel Suzaku smile. Only that should you fulfill your duty by having my Miko summon me with natural means, you will be given a wish of your own. Vivien brightened. A wish? Then it was settled. Sign me up, then, bird- boy. Suzaku chuckled.
"Daijobu?"
Miaka opened her eyes and found herself being held by Tamahome. She jumped away from him! "You pervert!!" Dimly, she forgot that her arms had been around him as well.
Tamahome scowled. "You grabbed me first!"
Miaka blinked, suddenly remembering. "Oh yeah. we were caught by the Konan soldiers."
Tamahome looked sour. "Are you still out there? We're in a dungeon. You're acting like it's no big deal." He suddenly remembered that red light. "Oh yeah, I wanted to ask you: who are you people?"
"Nani?"
"What was that red light earlier? And your friends, too. Are they demons?" He asked her suspiciously.
"Demons?! Why do you call them demons?"
Tamahome snorted. "Don't act dense. One of them. the one with the red-gold hair. she glared at a guy and he burst into flames. The other one turned five other soldiers into ice statues just by pointing at them! If they're not demons, what are they?"
Miaka stared. "They what?"
Tamahome mistook Miaka's confusion for deliberate obtuseness and humphed. "Fine, if you don't want to tell me, you don't have to."
Miaka suddenly remembered something. "Yui. she went back home." Her eyes saddened. "Yui."
"Yui was that other girl, right?"
Miaka suddenly felt alone. "But I couldn't get back."
Tamahome sighed, his eyes softening. "Don't cry." He smiled gently. "Don't worry; I'll get you home."
"Hontou?" Miaka felt hopeful.
Tamahome chuckled softly. "Don't worry, I already got my payment in advance." He said, gently poking Miaka's forehead where he had kissed her.
Miaka blushed and looked down. "Baka."
"Your highness." The advisor bowed his head low. "May I speak?"
The shadowed emperor inclined his head minutely. The advisor nodded. "I beseech you, your highness, sentence the girl and the boy to death. The girl gave off a red light and disappeared. And the two other girls. they are responsible for the deaths of six of your soldiers. It is obvious they are involved with the girl and the boy. They might be demons!" He bowed again. "Your highness, please!"
A shadow listened intently to the advisor's plea. Then, to her surprise, she heard the emperor speak. "Matte. The clothes. of the three girls. were foreign. There must be some reason behind it."
The shadow stiffened. "Demo."
"Matte!" The shadow stepped into the light. The emperor and the two courtiers turned to stare at her. A maiden servant rushed into the room at that moment. "Houki-san! Why did you take off like that?" Then she realized where she was and gasped. "Houki-san, what are you doing in here?!" She sounded horrified. The emperor looked at the young lady curiously, ignoring the maid. She was dressed very strangely. She wore trousers, for one, of some dark blue tough material, and some sort of wooly top that covered her neck. Her footwear was also strange. they were the oddest pair of sandals he had ever seen. Then his eyes went to her face and his eyes widened with surprise. She was beautiful. Her hair, wavy and of a lustrous indigo color, framed her fair, heart-shaped face very prettily, and her eyes. they were silver in color. Most intriguing. The emperor almost smiled. She was almost as beautiful as he. The girl did not take kindly to her maid's interruption. "Look, Eri, my name is not Houki! I told you that one time too many now!" Her gaze returned to the emperor. "Your highness, will you please describe those girls to me?" With some curiosity, he heard the note of desperation in her voice. He nodded and looked to his aghast advisors. "Describe them." He ordered them. The older courtier recovered first. "H-hai! The one who shone with a red light. she had brown hair and brown eyes. she also wore some sort of brown uniform." The emperor nodded, silently telling him to go on. "The other two girls. The ice demon." "Ice demon?" "Hai, the ice demon had short light brown hair, and green eyes, according to one of the soldiers who survived. The fire demon had strange, foreign hair, and violet eyes." The girl drew in a sharp breath. "The second girl. the fire demon. was her hair. red-gold?" "Hai, that's what he said." The girl was trembling. "And their clothes. were they like mine?" The other advisor, observing the girl's clothes. "Come to think of it. he also mentioned one of them wearing something that looks like your trousers." The girl was breathless with relief at the sound of that, but the younger advisor looked aghast. "You! You're with them!" The girl nodded eagerly. "Yes! Yes, I am!" She looked to the emperor. "Hotohori-san. I know what you're thinking, and it's true." Her silver eyes gleamed with desperation. The emperor's eyes widened. How had she known his name? His seishi name? "Hotohori-san, those girls. one of them is the Suzaku no Miko! Just as you suspected!" Hotohori frowned. He couldn't believe it. Had she read his mind? "And the rest of them?"
"The boy is Tamahome, a Suzaku seishi like yourself. The two other girls. are my sisters." Her eyes were shining. "My name is Kathryn." "Who are you?" Her eyes flashed. "I told you. My name is Kathryn. But my seishi name is. Shoshi." "Shoshi?!"
Vivien frowned. She didn't want to glare the poor man into flames, but how else was she supposed to get past him to free Miaka and Tamahome? Samantha smiled at her hesitation. "Fire something else." She suggested in a whisper. Vivien smiled. "Right." "I'm so hungry." Miaka moaned. Vivien's own stomach growled. Vivien sighed. She needed some food. right after this little episode. She looked at the guard thoughtfully. The area behind her eyes grew warmer. Stifling her fear of overdoing her concentration with the urgency of the situation, Vivien glared at the seat of the man's pants. "Hey, what're you smoking?" The guard demanded of Miaka. Samantha and Vivien giggled. Miaka frowned as she chewed her gum. Tamahome glanced dully at the guard. "She's not smoking anything, moron. Your butt's on fire, that's all." "Oh, I thought." He finally grasped what Tamahome had been trying to say and realized the seat of his pants indeed felt like it was on fire. He turned his head. "AAAAH!!!" Vivien cheerfully grabbed the guard's keys as he ran out the door. "That was fun!" She said happily, almost skipping to Miaka and Tamahome's cell. She very cheerfully unlocked their cell. "Kyoku! Tei!" Miaka was overjoyed to see them. She hugged them both as she ran out of the cell. When she finally released them, Vivien and Samantha had to take several seconds to get air back into their lungs. Vivien sighed. She had forgotten about Miaka's abnormal strength. Tamahome clapped Vivien on the back. "Hey, thanks." Something in Vivien's heart thumped. "N-No problem."
Chapter 3
"Okay, okay." Tamahome sighed, waving a white flag.
Miaka sat up, a hopeful expression upon her face. "You'll honestly tell me?"
"Hai."
Miaka clapped her hands gleefully. "Then tell me: where's Yui?"
Tamahome looked at Miaka sourly, his nose bruised. Miaka winced. "I have no idea." He repeated dully. He tried to go away again.
Samantha sighed. "You're not going anywhere."
Miaka nodded emphatically. "That's right!"
Vivien smiled. "Look, Miaka and Yui here are best friends. You don't want to help her? That's just wrong." Tamahome just walked away. Vivien, Samantha, and Miaka hurried after him.
Miaka looked annoyed. "That's right! Hey, we're wandering around in a strange place!" Tamahome kept on walking. The girls kept on following. "Hey! Geez, can't you hear me?! You're not even going to try?! And you call yourself a man?!"
Tamahome stopped at that. Vivien grinned. "That's low." He muttered irritably. He turned around to face Miaka. "You're not worth my time if you don't have any money. If you want me to help, you'll have to pay up." He held out his hand. "So give me the money in advance."
Miaka looked appalled. "It's always 'money, money'. Is money all that matters to you?"
Tamahome didn't look the least bit ashamed. "Yes, it is."
Samantha and Vivien smiled, remembering this part very well. This was really all quite comical. Miaka suddenly looked aghast. "That's it.. You SOLD Yui!"
Tamahome blinked at this accusation. The grins on Samantha and Vivien's faces broadened. "Nani?"
Samantha and Vivien snickered. "I can't believe it.. trading in girls!"
"Hey!"
"You're disgusting! You BEAST!"
Samantha and Vivien were holding on to each other, both hurting from trying to stifle their laughter. Tamahome tried to grab hold of Miaka. "Who're you calling a beast?!"
Miaka leapt away from Tamahome. "Aah! Stay away from me, you slave- trader!"
"Nani?!"
Samantha and Vivien couldn't take it any more. They both burst out laughing. Unfortunately, the surrounding townspeople mistook their loud amusement for the maniacal, cackles of the 'slavetrader's' friends. "Who do they think they are?! Laughing at a poor helpless girl!"
Samantha and Vivien sweatdropped. "A-ano?" Samantha choked.
"They're dangerous."
"Do they think we're in it with Tamahome?" Vivien was incredulous.
"Stay away from them!"
"I think they do think that." Samantha answered wryly.
"Low-lifes!" Another hissed.
Vivien was affronted. "Now see here!"
"What's the world coming to?!"
A sly look entered Miaka's eyes as she realized all the attention she was getting. "Everyone! Listen to me!"
Tamahome grabbed Miaka, covering her mouth. He looked around at the glaring people, sweatdropping. "Really, I can't take you anywhere, can I? She's hopeless." Miaka struggling, he picked her up and hurried away from the crowd and into an alley.
"Oy! Matte!" Samantha and Vivien shouted, hurrying after them.
"Well, do you feel like finding Yui now?" Miaka asked Tamahome smugly.
"Will you knock it off?!"
Miaka sighed. "Well, then, I guess I have to warn everyone about you, slave-trader!"
Tamahome fairly growled. "Are you threatening me? I'm not a slavetrader!"
"Oy!!" Samantha and Vivien were closing in.
"I know."
"Nani?!" Tamahome came to an abrupt stop. Then, just as Samantha and Vivien finally caught up with him, unceremoniously dumped her on the ground. Vivien was too out of breath to laugh.
Miaka rubbed her sore posterior. "Are you trying to hurt me?!"
Tamahome looked away. "It's payback."
Miaka stood up and glared at him. "That's mean.." Her eyes started to get suspiciously bright.
"We're about to see a master." Samantha murmured to Vivien. "Taka- I mean, Tamahome's a sucker for tears."
Vivien grinned.
"It's only because I don't know where I am.. I don't have anyone.."
Vivien's grin vanished to be replaced by a frown. "Now hold on.." She muttered. "Hello! We're over here! Remember us?"
"Shh!" Samantha hissed. "Don't ruin the show!"
"Show?"
"I need to find Yui soon.. I'm worried about her.." Miaka turned around and started to cry.
Vivien's eyes softened. "Can I tell her?"
"No."
"H..hey.."
Samantha smiled. "It's about to get interesting.."
Vivien gaped. "Interesting? About to..? Where have you been, Sammy?"
Everything after that was a blur. When Vivien had seen the royal procession, she had finally realized how close the time was when Miaka would agree to become the Suzaku no Miko. Time was running out.. and she still had some very important questions. The main question was.. should she wait until Suzaku would ask her again? Or should she agree now? She barely noticed it when Miaka started to disappear in a red light. She was so lost in her thoughts.
Samantha had been claimed.. by who?
Your sister, Tei, has been claimed by Genbu. I am asking you to be my seishi.
Vivien sighed. She might as well know all. Genbu? She closed her eyes, suddenly remembering. Don't tell me. He's the god.. of the .. north, right? Lord, then everything was true.. And who are you?
I am Suzaku.
Suzaku? Vivien opened her eyes in surprise. The name of Miaka's god! The more rational part of her mind demanded, What do you want with me?
Vivien remained unseeing as several guards grabbed hold of her. I will tell you once you have removed those hands that dare grab you so. I will not have my seishi so rudely accosted.
Hands? Only then did Vivien see the way the guards were holding her. She swore. Suzaku was right! How dare they! "Oy! Leggo!"
"Shut up, demon!"
"Demon?! What are you babbling about, you imbecile?! I'm no demon! Get your filthy hands off me!"
"Filthy?! I'll show you, you dirty upstart!"
"Upstart?!" Vivien's eyes flashed angrily. "Don't you dare call me names!" Vivien finally wrenched her arm free. More guards rushed to disarm her.
"Vivi!"
"Sammy?!" Vivien whirled around. Several guards were holding her, and as she struggled, one of them cuffed her on the head. Vivien's temper flared. Suzaku was suddenly in her head again. Protect your sister! Use the power within you! Vivien suddenly felt the area behind her eyes grow increasingly warm.
What the..?! Vivien gasped as the area behind her eyes grew intensely hot. Use it! Suzaku said loudly in her head. "Let her go!!" Suddenly she glared directly at the guard holding Samantha's wrists together.
He burst into flames.
Someone screamed, "Demon!!" Something felt hot on her abdomen. Red hot. Something in Vivien snapped. Vivien collapsed and a guard caught her.
"VIVI!!!" Everything was going black.
"Sammy.." The last thing Vivien remembered was the cold.. the icy.. cold.
"Vivi! Vivi! Wake up!"
Vivien was suddenly fine. She heard Samantha's voice and opened her eyes. Samantha stared down at her with tired, weak eyes. "Vivi.. you're awake. Thank goodness."
Vivien sat up. "Where are we?"
"Just outside the palace wall. Vivi, Miaka and Tamahome are inside."
Vivien frowned as she felt something flash warm on her abdomen. "They are..? What's this..! Oh!" She had lifted her blouse up to peer at her abdomen to see if anything was wrong. A symbol flashed red on her abdomen. ".. Nani?"
Samantha smiled weakly. "The symbol.. of Suzaku.. he gave you back your power.. Hey, Vivi?"
"Vi."
"Right. You don't notice it yet, do you?"
"Notice what?"
"This?" Samantha asked, smiling.
Vivien frowned. Had her sister finally lost it? "What?"
Samantha's smile grew broader. "I'm speaking in Chinese, Vivi. You are, too."
"No way." Vivien suddenly clasped her hands over her mouth. Her eyes were wide with shock.. and wonder. She finally put her hands down. "No freakin' way." She breathed.
Samantha grinned. "Cool, isn't it?"
"It's awesome!" Vivien gasped as she heard herself speak. "Coolness!" She said that in English. Vivien frowned.
Samantha laughed. "I don't think they have a word for that in Chinese."
Vivien smiled. "You may be right."
Samantha sighed. "So what happened back there, Vivi?"
"Vi."
"Will you stop it already?"
"No. It's Vi. Viiiiiii."
Samantha sighed again. "Alright already, Vi. Do you know what happened or what?"
Vivien suddenly sobered. "I think.." She remembered the flames. "I killed someone." Her heart suddenly felt heavy.
Samantha's eyes softened. "Did you really? I didn't see you touch him.."
Vivien sadly shook her head. "I didn't need to." She closed her eyes. "Suzaku was speaking in my head and.."
"Suzaku?"
"Hai.. My eyes suddenly got hot and I.. I glared at the man.. and he.." Her shoulders started shaking.
Samantha held Vivien tightly. "It's alright, Vivi.. It's alright." Her own eyes grew shadowed. "I.. also killed a man. Five, in fact."
"Hontou?"
Smiling sadly, Samantha nodded. "When you fainted.."
"I do not faint." Vivien was insulted.
"You do now. When you fainted.. a guard caught you and several others captured you. I grew so angry.. I killed them.. with ice."
"Ice..?"
"Apparently I'm one of the only priestesses with an early, evident power."
Vivien frowned. "Priestess? Not seishi?"
Samantha shook her head. "No. I am the second Genbu no Miko. Did.. Miaka ever tell you of the first Genbu no Miko?"
Vivien tried to remember. "Only that she was killed by her father before she could be fully devoured by Genbu.."
Samantha nodded. "That's right. She was killed before she could make her final wish. I have to summon Genbu and make that last wish. You see, there is a balance in the Shi Jin Ten Chi Sho that has to be corrected. Takiko.. Ohsugi Takiko's death before the completion of her legend partially damaged the balance in this world. As the second Genbu no Miko, I am to summon Genbu and make that final wish." She sighed. "What about you?"
Vivien frowned. "Suzaku didn't tell me any of that.. All I know is that my 'seishi name' is Kyoku. You serve the balance of the Shi Jin Ten Chi Sho. ".. and I serve the balance of the Shicho."
"The Shicho?" Samantha looked confused.
The Shi Jin Ten Chi Sho, the voice corrected her irritably. Shi. Jin. Ten. Chi. Sho. Vivien's frown grew more pronounced. "Shi Jin Ten Chi Sho?"
"Ah!" Samantha finally understood. "The Shi Jin Ten Chi Sho? Yes, that's what Genbu told me to. I also serve that balance.. but why? That is the question."
It is your duty. You have been trained by Taittsukun as her seishi. She has offered you to me as a means to right the bal-- "Hold it," Vivien ordered the voice aloud. She looked to Samantha. "Are you hearing this?"
Samantha's expression looked funny. "Do you mean Genbu telling me that it is my duty, that I have been trained by the center deity as her seishi, and that he has claimed me to right the balance?"
Vivien nodded. "Yeah, something like that." Suzaku sounded exasperated. Will you agree to fulfill your duty or must I still await your decision until a later time? Vivien grinned. How cute. He was giving her a choice. She shrugged. Sure, why not? But what's the catch? She swore she could feel Suzaku smile. Only that should you fulfill your duty by having my Miko summon me with natural means, you will be given a wish of your own. Vivien brightened. A wish? Then it was settled. Sign me up, then, bird- boy. Suzaku chuckled.
"Daijobu?"
Miaka opened her eyes and found herself being held by Tamahome. She jumped away from him! "You pervert!!" Dimly, she forgot that her arms had been around him as well.
Tamahome scowled. "You grabbed me first!"
Miaka blinked, suddenly remembering. "Oh yeah. we were caught by the Konan soldiers."
Tamahome looked sour. "Are you still out there? We're in a dungeon. You're acting like it's no big deal." He suddenly remembered that red light. "Oh yeah, I wanted to ask you: who are you people?"
"Nani?"
"What was that red light earlier? And your friends, too. Are they demons?" He asked her suspiciously.
"Demons?! Why do you call them demons?"
Tamahome snorted. "Don't act dense. One of them. the one with the red-gold hair. she glared at a guy and he burst into flames. The other one turned five other soldiers into ice statues just by pointing at them! If they're not demons, what are they?"
Miaka stared. "They what?"
Tamahome mistook Miaka's confusion for deliberate obtuseness and humphed. "Fine, if you don't want to tell me, you don't have to."
Miaka suddenly remembered something. "Yui. she went back home." Her eyes saddened. "Yui."
"Yui was that other girl, right?"
Miaka suddenly felt alone. "But I couldn't get back."
Tamahome sighed, his eyes softening. "Don't cry." He smiled gently. "Don't worry; I'll get you home."
"Hontou?" Miaka felt hopeful.
Tamahome chuckled softly. "Don't worry, I already got my payment in advance." He said, gently poking Miaka's forehead where he had kissed her.
Miaka blushed and looked down. "Baka."
"Your highness." The advisor bowed his head low. "May I speak?"
The shadowed emperor inclined his head minutely. The advisor nodded. "I beseech you, your highness, sentence the girl and the boy to death. The girl gave off a red light and disappeared. And the two other girls. they are responsible for the deaths of six of your soldiers. It is obvious they are involved with the girl and the boy. They might be demons!" He bowed again. "Your highness, please!"
A shadow listened intently to the advisor's plea. Then, to her surprise, she heard the emperor speak. "Matte. The clothes. of the three girls. were foreign. There must be some reason behind it."
The shadow stiffened. "Demo."
"Matte!" The shadow stepped into the light. The emperor and the two courtiers turned to stare at her. A maiden servant rushed into the room at that moment. "Houki-san! Why did you take off like that?" Then she realized where she was and gasped. "Houki-san, what are you doing in here?!" She sounded horrified. The emperor looked at the young lady curiously, ignoring the maid. She was dressed very strangely. She wore trousers, for one, of some dark blue tough material, and some sort of wooly top that covered her neck. Her footwear was also strange. they were the oddest pair of sandals he had ever seen. Then his eyes went to her face and his eyes widened with surprise. She was beautiful. Her hair, wavy and of a lustrous indigo color, framed her fair, heart-shaped face very prettily, and her eyes. they were silver in color. Most intriguing. The emperor almost smiled. She was almost as beautiful as he. The girl did not take kindly to her maid's interruption. "Look, Eri, my name is not Houki! I told you that one time too many now!" Her gaze returned to the emperor. "Your highness, will you please describe those girls to me?" With some curiosity, he heard the note of desperation in her voice. He nodded and looked to his aghast advisors. "Describe them." He ordered them. The older courtier recovered first. "H-hai! The one who shone with a red light. she had brown hair and brown eyes. she also wore some sort of brown uniform." The emperor nodded, silently telling him to go on. "The other two girls. The ice demon." "Ice demon?" "Hai, the ice demon had short light brown hair, and green eyes, according to one of the soldiers who survived. The fire demon had strange, foreign hair, and violet eyes." The girl drew in a sharp breath. "The second girl. the fire demon. was her hair. red-gold?" "Hai, that's what he said." The girl was trembling. "And their clothes. were they like mine?" The other advisor, observing the girl's clothes. "Come to think of it. he also mentioned one of them wearing something that looks like your trousers." The girl was breathless with relief at the sound of that, but the younger advisor looked aghast. "You! You're with them!" The girl nodded eagerly. "Yes! Yes, I am!" She looked to the emperor. "Hotohori-san. I know what you're thinking, and it's true." Her silver eyes gleamed with desperation. The emperor's eyes widened. How had she known his name? His seishi name? "Hotohori-san, those girls. one of them is the Suzaku no Miko! Just as you suspected!" Hotohori frowned. He couldn't believe it. Had she read his mind? "And the rest of them?"
"The boy is Tamahome, a Suzaku seishi like yourself. The two other girls. are my sisters." Her eyes were shining. "My name is Kathryn." "Who are you?" Her eyes flashed. "I told you. My name is Kathryn. But my seishi name is. Shoshi." "Shoshi?!"
Vivien frowned. She didn't want to glare the poor man into flames, but how else was she supposed to get past him to free Miaka and Tamahome? Samantha smiled at her hesitation. "Fire something else." She suggested in a whisper. Vivien smiled. "Right." "I'm so hungry." Miaka moaned. Vivien's own stomach growled. Vivien sighed. She needed some food. right after this little episode. She looked at the guard thoughtfully. The area behind her eyes grew warmer. Stifling her fear of overdoing her concentration with the urgency of the situation, Vivien glared at the seat of the man's pants. "Hey, what're you smoking?" The guard demanded of Miaka. Samantha and Vivien giggled. Miaka frowned as she chewed her gum. Tamahome glanced dully at the guard. "She's not smoking anything, moron. Your butt's on fire, that's all." "Oh, I thought." He finally grasped what Tamahome had been trying to say and realized the seat of his pants indeed felt like it was on fire. He turned his head. "AAAAH!!!" Vivien cheerfully grabbed the guard's keys as he ran out the door. "That was fun!" She said happily, almost skipping to Miaka and Tamahome's cell. She very cheerfully unlocked their cell. "Kyoku! Tei!" Miaka was overjoyed to see them. She hugged them both as she ran out of the cell. When she finally released them, Vivien and Samantha had to take several seconds to get air back into their lungs. Vivien sighed. She had forgotten about Miaka's abnormal strength. Tamahome clapped Vivien on the back. "Hey, thanks." Something in Vivien's heart thumped. "N-No problem."
