"Hearts Aflame" by Ai Yuukan

Chapter 7
"Shoka.. where are you?" Myojuan asked.
Tasuki blinked. "Who the hell is he talking to?" He asked Nuriko.
The purple-haired seishi shrugged. "I have no idea."
"Juan.." Suddenly, to everyone's horror, a spirit rose from Shoka's lifeless body to appear before the doctor.
"Shoka-san!" Miaka cried out before collapsing with fever.
"Miaka!" Hotohori caught her as she fell. Her eyes were shut tight and her skin was on fire. He looked at the spirit. "Shoka-san, is that really you?"
"Shoka.." Myojuan tried to reach out for the spirit, but his hand passed through hers. "Shoka.. you're dead."
Shoka's spirit smiled gently. "Yes, I think I am, too." Her eyes saddened. "I've been dead for over a year, Juan."
"Over a year?" Hotohori echoed. "But we saw you.. living, less than an hour ago!"

Shoka nodded. "Hai, I looked and felt alive.. but I've been dead for quite a while now."
Myojuan frowned. "Shoka, was it you who spread the disease in town? You've become a demon who absorbs people's essence?"
"Hey.. L-Look!" Nuriko pointed to the windows and to Tasuki's horror, saw zombies approaching them. Nuriko looked blue with fear. "Creepy! What's going on?!"
Tasuki slammed the shutters shut. "What the hell're they?!"

Myojuan's eyes flashed. "Most likely, people 'revived' by Shoka. My guess is, though they appear to be living, they're really not."
Tasuki blanched. "Dead people? Should've fried 'em!"
"Shoka.. answer me."
Shoka's eyes narrowed with anger. "Why should I? A year ago, I was dying. No matter how long I waited, you never came." She accused angrily. "But I waited and believed. It was painful.. but I bore it 'til the end. But.. you never came!"
Miaka's eyes flickered. "Those two were.."
"You have no right to say anything to me! I'll just let the demon take your friend! It took my lifeless body and made it its own! I couldn't die because I was already dead! But you're friend's still alive! It'll slowly rot her insides until she dies! But what do I care?!"
Hotohori turned to the red-haired bandit. "Tasuki!"
Tasuki reached for his tessen but paused. He shook his head, furious at himself. "No.. I can't. I'll kill Vi.."
Miaka nodded weakly and tried to stand up. "That's right. Don't kill her.. please."
Hotohori shook his head. "Miaka, she's a demon now! She must be destroyed!" Even if Kathryn would kill him because of it.
Miaka shook her head vehemently. "Kyo-chan's not a monster! When Shoka-san was a demon, was she a monster, too?!" She turned to Shoka's spirit. "You came back to see Myojuan-san, didn't you?
Shoka's spirit stiffened.
"He was your lover, wasn't he?" She bravely stepped forward. "You couldn't see him before you died. You couldn't help it, could you? You came back to see him, didn't you? You loved him.. but you were sad.. because you couldn't say goodbye."
Shoka's spirit trembled. Behind her, Vivien stood quietly, just staring.
"Hey, why isn't Vi doing anything?"
Shoka shook her head brokenly. "She can't.. just like I couldn't do anything when the demon possessed me. But I was already dead. The demon within her is probably sucking up all her life force so it could become even more powerful.. powerful enough to destroy.. all of you. ..Miaka- san.. you're right." She looked to her lover. "She's right, Juan. I've been waiting for you. Onegai.. please help me."

"Shoka-san.."
"Juan, please use your power to defeat this monster before Miaka's friend is completely destroyed.. please.. If you don't.. you'll lose her.. and Miaka also."
Myojuan was greatly shaken. "Shoka.. you.. A demon?! You were taken by this demon?!"
Shoka started to shed ghostly tears. "Gomenasai.. The demon took over my body when I was about to die.. Juan, hurry! Use your power to free Kyoku-san! If you get rid of the demon, my spirit will be released, and the villagers will be saved." Shoka's spirit looked down gently at Miaka. "Miaka-san.. Arigatou. It'll be all right.. you'll heal. You'll see the ones you love.."
"Shoka.." The man's strong face looked broken. His eyes were shining.
"Juan.. Arigatou." Shoka's own eyes were shining. "Please save her.. she's still young, Juan.. she needs to live.. Juan.. Sayonara."
Myojuan slowly lifted his hand. "Dai juryokku.." Green energy started to race to his open palm. Shoka smiled sadly. "..Yoma Messhou!" Suddenly, a green light shot forth and beamed right at Vivien just as she was about to let loose with demonic energy. Vivien screamed.
"Kyo-chan!"
* * *
"Shoka.."
"Juan.." Shoka's spirit was quickly disappearing. "I wanted.. I wanted to see you.."
"Matte." Vivien stood up. Nuriko and Tasuki stood up as well. "Daijobu.. I'm fine. Shoka-san.." She smiled gently at Shoka's rapidly disappearing spirit. "Please.. use my body."
"Nani?"
She smiled sadly. "To say goodbye.. Please use my body.. to say goodbye to him. It's the best way.. I can thank you. When the demon possessed my body, and was sucking my life force away, I could only think of the people I would have left behind.. I still have many things to do.. I was losing hope.. but you saved me. Please.. use my body."
Shoka shook her head. "Iie.. You're still weak. Your life force is still returning to you."
Vivien shook her head. "I'm stronger than I look."
Shoka smiled softly and nodded. "Arigatou, Kyoku-san.." She floated over to the Suzaku seishi and slowly entered her body. Everyone looked on as Vivien grew taller.. her hair grew longer.. She was becoming Shoka.
Finally, the healer stood in front of her lover. "Juan.." She whispered in disbelief. "It worked.."
"Shoka.." Myojuan quickly took Shoka into his arms and embraced her.

"Juan.." Tears quietly slid down her cheeks. "Aishiteru, Juan. Aishiteru."
"Shoka.." He never knew he could feel such pain again. But her heart gripped his own like a vice and he knew he would always love her.
"Juan.. Sayonara.."
Everyone's eyes started to tear up when the couple kissed one last time. When they broke apart, Miaka and Nuriko were howling.
"Shoka.. I love you, too. I'll always love you."
"I'll come back to you one day, Juan.. I promise." She smiled sadly. "Sayonara.. Juan. Sayonara."
Suddenly Vivien was in Myojuan's arms. Myojuan quickly released the Suzaku seishi and turned away. Vivien's eyes were shining. To everyone's surprise, she hugged the doctor, tears in her eyes.
"Er.. Vi?"
Myojuan turned around and stared at Vivien in surprise.
Vivien could still feel the love Shoka had felt for Mitsukake in her heart. Such love.. it had felt so beautiful. Mitsukake was truly a beautiful person. "She loved you so much, Mitsukake.. I saw inside her heart.. and I saw you as she saw you. You're truly a beautiful person.." She smiled tearfully. How could she describe how Shoka's heart had felt so complete.. so full.. so happy? "I now know what true love feels and thanks to her, I know someday I'll feel like she did. Arigatou, Mitsukake.."
"Mitsukake?"
Miaka suddenly collapsed. Hotohori caught her again. "Miaka, hang on! Miaka! What's going on?"

Mitsukake shook his head. He had been humbled by Vivien's thanks.. and was grateful he had been of some help. Before she had offered the use of her body to Shoka, her eyes had been dim with despair. Now, they were filled with hope. He smiled sadly.. Shoka.. He returned his attention to the Suzaku no Miko. "Daijobu. I just need to absorb the demon's power from her.."
As Mitsukake drew out the last of the evil power from Miaka, Miaka's eyes flickered open. It's warm.. She suddenly stared at the glowing red symbol in the middle of the green light. "The mark of Suzaku!" She jumped up and grabbed Mitsukake's hand.
Nuriko grinned with relief. "She's back to normal."
"You..?" Hotohori was mildly surprised.
Myojuan nodded. "Hai. My seishi name is Mitsukake."
"Mitsukake?"
Tasuki stared. "Your power defeated the demon, saved Vi, and healed Miaka." Why hadn't he realized it before?"
Mitsukake nodded. "I have the healing ability.. so I became a doctor. I wanted to save people with my ability." His eyes grew shadowed. "When Shoka came down with a fever.. I was visiting a distant village. I was too late.." His eyes were pained. "I should have gone to her sooner.. I couldn't save her. What good was it, being a doctor? My 'power' didn't work."
Miaka finally understood. "That's why you became a hermit." But then she shook her head. "But you saved her."
"Saved?"
Miaka nodded. "Hai.. you see.. because. .. Shoka-san looks.. happy." She looked down at Shoka's face and her heart sighed when she saw the gentle smile on the healer's face. Because of Shoka-san, we found the sixth seishi. I'll keep going, Shoka-san.. She turned to Vivien. "Am I right, Kyo-chan?"
Vivien nodded, smiling gently. "Hai. Mitsukake.. I felt her heart.. I know what she felt. She was.. happy. Happy to have known you, loved you, and knowing you loved her too." Her heart trembled. I hope I'll get to feel that too.. to know the happiness she felt.. will someday mirror my own.
Tasuki stared at Vivien, brooding. She seemed changed.. his Vi..

"Perry came to Japan with the Black Fleet in 1853. Japan and America's Treaty of Amity ended isolationism in 1858. The campaign led by Ii Naosuki advocating the.."
"You're studying?" Vivien smiled. "Why bother? We're in the Shicho, you know." She thought to remind the Suzaku no Miko.
"Shi Jin Ten Chi Sho." Nuriko corrected grumpily as he tried to get some sleep.
"Hai, but I'm still an examinee for high school." Miaka explained wearily. She looked at Vivien curiously. "Ne, Kyo-chan, how old are you again?"
"Sixteen."
"Are you an examinee for high school, too?" Miaka asked her friend curiously.
Vivien shook her head. "Iie. It's different in the United States, Miaka. I'm already in high school; I'm in tenth grade, to be precise. I didn't take an exam, anyway."
"Hontou?" Miaka was surprised. Then she looked wistful. "I should go there, then."
Vivien chuckled. "Lily's already finished high school, you know. She's supposed to be in college by now. In fact, she was supposed to go last week." This was said in a wry voice.
Miaka looked mildly surprised. "Lily's only in college? She looked like a mom to me."
Vivien grinned. "Didn't she? She's much more mature than any of my sisters.. well, unlike me and Kate at least." She grinned unabashedly. "Lily and Sammy are the more serious types. Well, thankfully not that serious. They still know how to enjoy life. Sammy likes soap operas, you know."
Miaka's eyes twinkled, her studies forgotten. "Hontou? She doesn't seem the type.."
"I know she doesn't. She sees her love for them as one of her grievous faults. She doesn't like the fact that she likes them.. if that makes sense. She said she'd much rather study algebra than watch them."
"Algebra?" Miaka looked sickened. "You have to be kidding."
"That's her favorite subject." Vivien shrugged. "Lily's a bit more eccentric. Her idea of fun is lying down in the grass and gazing up at the stars.. for hours and hours.. You know, come to think of it, between Sammy and Lily, Lily's the one who believes.."
"Believes?"
".. In something called magic." Vivien said quietly. "Though she doesn't voice her opinions on it, all of us know she believes. She believes in true love, especially.."
"True love?" Miaka asked softly. "Does she..?"
"No." Vivien shook her head quietly. "But she hopes to meet her special someone one day.. like all of us do."
Miaka looked at Vivien silently for a few moments. "Kyo-chan.. do you think you'll find your special someone here?" Like she had found Tamahome?
Vivien sighed and slowly shook her head. She loved Tamahome.. and he already had his special someone. "I don't know if I'll ever find him.."
Miaka was about to say something else, but all of a sudden, a haunting music pierced the air. Miaka's eyes widened. "A flute?" She turned to Nuriko and Vivien. "Hey, hey, is that a flute?" She listened avidly. "Why here?"
"JUST SHUT UP ALREADY! BOTH OF YOU!" Nuriko fairly roared in his irritation.

"I swear it's true. I heard a flute." Miaka was adamant. She had not been hearing things.
Tasuki frowned. "Hey, Mits, did you hear it?"
The healer shook his head. "No."
Nuriko looked highly irritated. "She must've heard some insects."
Hotohori shook his head. "If Miaka says she heard it, it's the truth."
Tasuki was the first who noticed the village. "Hey, guys, there's a village down there."
Miaka's eyes lit up in recognition. "It's Tamahome's village."
Nuriko recognized the village too. "Oh, you're right. After so long.."
"Me met Chichiri there." Miaka told the emperor. "We met Tamahome's family, too. His sisters, brothers, and ailing father.." She suddenly grabbed Mitsukake's hand as they entered the village and dismounted the horses. "Oh, yeah, Mitsukake, come with me!"
A little blue-haired boy was talking to a villager urgently. "Excuse me, where's the doctor?!"
"Chuei!" Vivien ran forward.
Chuei's eyes lit up. "Kyoku-san! Miko-san! It's you, Miko-san!"
"Chuei.." Miaka frowned. "What's wrong?"
Chuei looked so tired. "My dad.. my dad's in a lot of pain! The doctor's not in. Miko-sama, please help me!"
Mitsukake stepped forward. "Lad, where's your home?"
Miaka and Vivien never looked more grateful.

"He's very weak." Mitsukake observed.
"Please, help him if you can." Chuei begged.
Mitsukake smiled gently at the boy. "It's going to be all right, Chuei." He held his hand over the father and the children stared as a green light emanated from it and covered the father with its magic.
The father opened his eyes. "Dad!" Chuei cried out.
"What happened?" The father asked, confused.
"You're cured. Your ailment is no more." He told the father gently.
The father stared at the healer. "..Arigatou." He then smiled gratefully. "How can I possibly repay you?"

Mitsukake's face was pale. Miaka gasped. "Mitsukake?!"
Mitsukake shook his head to reassure them. "I'll be fine once I rest. I can only do this once a day."
Tamahome's brother offered the healer some coins. "Sumimasen.. here's some money."
Mitsukake shook his head. "I have no need of it. I'd rather your father ate some fresh fish." Tama meowed. He smiled. "And some for him, as well."
Chuei nodded gratefully. "Sure! Right away?"
Miaka smiled gently at Tamahome's father. If Tamahome were here, he'd be so excited..
Gyoku suddenly noticed something. "Miko-san, how come my brother isn't with you?"
Tasuki snickered at Miaka's suddenly-embarrassed face. "Yeah, Miaka, why?"
"Shut it up, fang-boy!" Vivien whomped Tasuki on the head.
Hotohori looked around. "This is Tamahome's home?" He moved away from the others. "I never imagined such a simple, wretchedly poor family existed. I.. have to improve the political system.. to save the lowest class of people."
One of Tamahome's siblings pulled on his sleeve. Hotohori looked down. 'What is it, child?"
"Miss, are you my big brother's wife?" The child asked curiously.
Hotohori chuckled. "Iie.. I'm a man."
"But you're so beautiful.." Yuiren was full of wonder.
Hotohori was so moved, he knelt down to embrace the child. "Though you're poor, you're so truthful.. How admirable.."
Everyone sweatdropped.
"Doctor, I caught some fish!" Chuei appeared in the doorway. He smiled happily. "I'll cook them right away."
"Tamahome!" Miaka lunged at Chuei, suddenly struck by nostalgia.
Chuei tried to get away, confused. "No.. I'm Chuei!"
Miaka looked very embarrassed as she pulled away. "Gomen.."
Hotohori chuckled. "There's no mistaking they're brothers. With his hair like that, he's a dead ringer."
"Did you get these fish from the river?" Nuriko asked him curiously. "So, where's the money Tamahome earned?"
Chuei suddenly looked dead-serious. "We can't afford to waste the money. We have to keep track of the balance, and use it wisely."
Nuriko grinned. "Just like your brother.
Miaka smiled softly as she stood by the doorway. He really is like him.. Tamahome, I wonder where the last seishi, Chiriko, is. If I find him soon, I'll be able to see you again.. Tamahome..
"Miaka! It's ready!"
"Coming!" Miaka ran back into the hut.
Vivien stood where Miaka had stood and stared hard at the trees, searching.. An assassin burst into flames.

"Welcome back!" Chichiri said cheerfully, greeting everyone at the gates.
Miaka smiled back. "We're back!"
Tasuki backed away from the seishi. "What the hell's that?!
Nuriko laughed. Finally, they were back! "Chichiri.. he's a seishi."
Chiriko.. or rather, Amiboshi, looked happy, too. "Wow! I get to stay at the royal court!"
Vivien sighed. She was really getting used to keeping secrets.. but some things just needed a little shove. "Where's Hotohori?" She murmured.
Mitsukake heard her. Good. "Come to think of it.. I haven't seen Hotohori for a while."
Tasuki frowned. "That's right. Where'd he go?"
Nuriko looked mildly surprised. "You haven't figured it out, yet? He's.."
"Never mind, Nuriko." Hotohori appeared again, royally garbed.
Chichiri smiled. "Sire, I'm happy to see you've returned safely."
Tasuki, Chichiri, and Amiboshi gaped. "His Majesty the Emperor?!"
"Vivi!" Someone garbed in a beautiful kimono dress of white, black, and indigo silk rushed to the seishi with red-gold hair. "You're back!"
"Kate!" Vivien hugged her sister happily. When they broke apart, they were smiling. "And the name's Vi." She said sternly, but her eyes were shining with happiness.
"Kate?" Tasuki queried.
Kathryn looked at Tasuki. "Red hair..?" Her silver eyes lit up. "Ah! You must be Tasuki-san! Could you smile please?"
"Why?"
"I wanna see if you really have fangs."
Tasuki scowled as everyone laughed.
Vivien chuckled. "This is Kate.. er Kathryn Smith. My sister."
Kathryn bowed dramatically. "A pleasure, Tasuki-san. Say, with those fangs of yours, you should have had the 'ogre' sign, huh? It would have been more appropriate.."
Tasuki's face turned red as everyone laughed uproariously.
Hotohori's eyes twinkled. "I ask you to pardon Lady Kathryn, Tasuki. It is her nature to provoke tempers."
Kathryn sighed innocently. "Not really.. I'm just being spiteful, Hotohori-sama."
"Oh?"
"Hai. It's not every day I meet someone as adorable as I am. Those fangs are so cute!"
Tasuki blushed, but he was no longer angry. He even smiled. "You think you're adorable?" How modest.
"Oh, yes. I've heard myself described just so by several people. Strange, they also use the words 'pain' and 'arse" at the same time."
Tasuki chuckled. "You really are Vi's sister."
Vivien smiled.
Kathryn's eyes were wide. "You call her Vi? My, you are an amateur. Don't you know you have to call her Vi-vi to annoy her?"
"Kate!" Vivien looked chagrined now. Everyone chuckled.

"Don't tell me. We need the Suzaku's copy of the Shicho now that we have all the seishi, right?" Vivien said wryly.
"Shi Jin Ten Chi Sho!" Everyone corrected Vivien at the same time.
"Whatever."
Hotohori nodded. "We need if for the ceremony to summon Suzaku. I remember the details.. but we need the scroll itself. We need a solution."
Miaka raised a hand. "I'll go get it. I'll go to Kotou and get Tamahome and the scroll back."
Hotohori was dumbfounded. "It's my fault that the book was lost."
"Demo.."
"I'll go with her." Chichiri volunteered. "But first, we should warn Tamahome."
"Now? You can talk to Tamahome?"

"Oy, Miaka!" Tasuki watched on curiously as Miaka ran down the hall.
Hotohori sighed. "There's nothing you can say to get her attention. She's finally going to see Tamahome, so leave her alone." He advised his fellow seishi.
Tasuki blinked. "What's this? I could have sworn the Emperor and Miaka were in love.." He suddenly grinned in understanding. "Uh-oh.. could it be a love triangle?"
Hotohori closed his eyes as Nuriko immediately proceeded to pound the red-haired Suzaku Seishi to a near-death state. Finally, Nuriko was finished with him. "Shall we leave this insensitive jerk?"
Hotohori just looked on to where Miaka would finally speak with the man she loved. Although his heart ached with sadness, he couldn't help but be happy for the Suzaku no Miko.. and a bit envious. Not only was she going to be reunited with the man she truly loved.. but somehow.. he was envious of the very bond between her and Tamahome. How did it.. feel?

"We're pathetic." Vivien sighed.
"True." Kathryn lifted up her goblet to that.
"We're miserable."
"Beyond misery, even." Kathryn grumbled, taking another sip of her sake.
"Houki-sama.. you shouldn't drink so much of that.. it's not.." A lady-in-waiting tried to interfere.
"I know it's not ladylike.. but I'm drinking it anyway. What does that tell you, Miyo-chan?" Kathryn grumbled unpleasantly.
The lady-in-waiting sighed.
"Where'd you get this stuff?" Vivien wanted to know, sipping her own rice wine. "It sure hits the spot."
"I ordered a whole crateful of the stuff ever since you guys came back. I can't believe what dumb luck we're having. We have to be the unluckiest of women in the entire world!" Kathryn bemoaned. ".. well, at least Sammy's having fun."
Vivien sighed. "We are most definitely an unlucky bunch," She agreed unhappily. "Let's see.. you love Hotohori-sama. but he loves Miaka- chan.." She drained the rest of the sake in her goblet. "I love Tamahome but he loves Miaka.. Everyone loves her. But I don't blame her. She's so much nicer than we are. Then there's Lily. She's being harassed by Nakago all the way in Kotou. Us being 'unlucky'? The understatement of the year, that." Then she blinked. "What do you mean Sammy's having fun?"
Kathryn rolled her eyes. "Puh-lease. Don't tell me you didn't notice the way Amiboshi and Sammy were looking at each other.. I bet they're off somewhere.. getting better acquainted and such. Hmph. How did she steal all of our luck combined and landed herself a man so quickly?" She sighed. "We're very pathetic. Four sisters. Two drunk-and-stuck-in- love-triangles-of-their-own sisters. One sister trapped by a villainous god and his greatest minion.. and only one lucky sister out of them all. Yep. We're very, very pathetic, Vivi, dear." She hiccupped.
Vivien sighed. "You said it, dear sister of mine." She slurred.
Miyo, Kathryn's maid, sighed yet again. "I think you two should go to bed, mistresses."
"I think you're right." Tasuki remarked, coming out of the shadows with Nuriko. "They're drunk."
Kathryn looked up with mild interest. "Well, look who it is: the carrot-topped fang-boy. How are ya doin'?" She asked drunkenly.
Nuriko sighed. "They're wasted."
Vivien looked insulted as she looked at her sister. "Katie, dear, they're implying we're drunk."
Kathryn gasped with drunken indignation. "Drunk? We are most certainly not drunk."
Vivien nodded in agreement. "Ladies do not get drunk." She declared, twirling her goblet with her fingers.
Tasuki rolled his eyes. "Then you girls ain't ladies. You're drunk." He looked at Nuriko. "Hey, faggy, care to carry the other one to her room?"
"We can walk." Vivien protested, standing up then promptly stumbling.
Nuriko arched a brow at Tasuki. "You know, you could use a makeover, fang-boy. How about my fist in your face?"
"Now, gentlemen.." Kathryn stood up. "Well, fang-boy, anyway.." Nuriko arched his other brow. "My sister and I are perfectly capable of making it to our rooms, we assure you."
"That's right." Vivien agreed. She frowned. "Where's my sake?"
Tasuki had tossed the bottle from the balcony. "Safely out of your hands." He promptly picked up Kathryn and started walking away.
Vivien frowned as she watched Tasuki walk away with her sister in his arms. As Nuriko picked her up, she asked him, "Why is he taking her, and not me?"
Nuriko sighed. "You want me to ask?"
Vivien shook her head. "No. But it's not much fun being carried in your arms, Nuriko.. no offense, of course.. because you're gay." She said bluntly.
Nuriko chuckled. "You want to be held by a straight guy?"
"Why yes. Then it would mean something."
"You're really interesting when drunk."
"I'm not drunk." Vivien protested indignantly.
"Then what are you?"
"I'm-I'm.. what am I?"
"Drunk." Nuriko said smugly.
Vivien gave a very unladylike snort. "I don't think so. I, of all people, do not get drunk. If I ever do get drunk, it would be because I'm in love and I don't know what to do about it."
"Who are you in love with?"
"Why, nobody at the moment. That's why I'm not drunk." Vivien blinked. "I'm trying very hard not to be in love with Tamahome-kun.. but it's awfully hard not to be."
Nuriko sighed. "So that's why?" His eyes took on a distant expression. "Are you sure you're in love with Tamahome, Kyo-chan?"
"I must not love him if I'm not drunk.. that's good.."
"So you love him?"
"No.. I hope not.. no.. no..no.. .. .. .. .."
"You're very lonely, aren't you?" Nuriko asked his fellow seishi softly.
"Kyo-chan?"
".. .."
Nuriko sighed as Vivien emitted a quiet snore. She was asleep. He sighed again as he began to carry her to her room. Poor little seishi.