"Song of Lovers" by Ai Yuukan
Chapter 3
Genbu was silent.
"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. Samantha smiled. "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!" Not when it was just about to get good!
"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?"
Samantha yawned. Things were boring again. At first, true, seeing everything that Tetsuya and Taka had talked about happening in front of her had been really cool, but now everything was just too boring. Everything was just so.. expected, that it didn't seem all that interesting anymore.
Miaka was disappearing in that red light now. Samantha's yawned even more. Bo-ring! Then, suddenly, she realized she was also glowing..! With a green light! "Ah!" Samantha yelped. What was going on?!
Genbu appeared in her mind once again. The Suzaku no Miko is being pulled back momentarily so she can see that the Seiryuu no Miko is safe back in her world. You and your sisters are closely linked to the Miko's, you I must keep you in rein else you get pulled back as well.
Samantha's eyes narrowed. But I want to go back.
You have no say in the matter, Genbu said coldly.
Samantha's hands turned into fists. Let me go! She demanded angrily.
You do not give the orders around here.
Something snapped inside Samantha. She was so angry, she barely noticed the guards lay hands on her. Oh, we'll see about that.
Vivien only then noticed the guards also holding her. She swore. "Oy! Leggo!"
"Shut up, demon!"
Samantha struggled angrily. How dare they?! She swiftly raised her leg behind her to cripple the guard behind her. The guard toppled over in pain. "Demon!" Another guard swiftly took his place. Samantha inwardly swore.
"Demon?! What are you babbling about, you imbecile?! I'm no demon! Get your filthy hands off me!" Vivien screeched.
"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.
Samantha saw a guard behind Vivien raise his sword.
"Vivi!"
"Sammy?!" Vivien whirled around.
Samantha crumpled as one of the guards holding her cuffed her on the head. She struggled to get her wrists free. "Let me go!" She hissed.
"Let her go!!" Suddenly, before Samantha's eyes, the guard holding her wrists burst into flames. Samantha stared. What the..? Did Genbu do that?
No. Your sister used her power. I order you to use your own power at once! Show them your own power! Show them your might!
Someone screamed, "Demon!!"
Samantha screamed as Vivien crumpled. "VIVI!!!"
"Sammy.."
A guard caught Vivien and raised his sword. Samantha's eyes widened with rage. She snapped. "LET ME GO!!!" Samantha roared, throwing off all the guards with surprising strength. "GET AWAY FROM HER!!" She roared at the guard standing over Vivien.
Kill him!
Samantha felt icy power gathering in her hands.
That's it. Now show him your wrath!
The guard paled as something white and green glowed in Samantha's hands. A demon!
"LET HER GO!!!" Suddenly, three sharp icy blades shot away from Samantha's hands. One caught the guard in the throat, another in his chest, and one in his eyes. He fell to the ground and shattered.
"Demon!!!" Everyone started running.
Suddenly, Samantha hissed with pain as something icy cut into the back of her right hand. She stared at it in shock. A green.. symbol.. Her heart thumped. Tei.
A brave guard grabbed Samantha from behind. "Demon! You will die!"
Genbu sneered contemptuously in Samantha's mind. Fool.
Samantha's rage resurfaced and poured over her senses like a vengeful avalanche. She whirled around and caught the guard's throat with her hand. He gasped as he started to freeze. Samantha narrowed her eyes. "DIE!"
Samantha cried into her hands. Genbu was gone, the cruel bastard. Samantha wept as she stared at her hands. What had she.. done? She had killed.. She had murdered.. human beings.. with these hands.. She was a murderess.
Genbu was there again. You are my warrior. You have proven your strength. I am proud.
Rage bubbled up inside Samantha. "Proud?! I killed people! I killed human beings! I murdered them!" Hot, shamed tears poured down her cheeks.
You eliminated the weak. Only the strong survive. You are a warrior. Deaths mean nothing to you.. only the proof of your might.
Samantha's shoulders shook. Show yourself.
What?
"I said show yourself. If you want me to kill so much, I'd want to start with you." Samantha gritted out. She covered her face with her hands. "Damn you.. You made me kill.. Damn you.."
I did nothing. You killed those weaklings by yourself. If you are so foolish to feel guilt, then the blame is all yours!
Samantha wept into her hands. She didn't want to admit it, but he was right. She was the murderess.. Even if he had spurred her on, she was the one with the bloodied hands. Shame like no other rushed over her senses. "DAMN YOU! JUST GO AWAY!!!"
"Vivi! Vivi! Wake up!" Samantha shook Vivien's shoulder. She forced her voice to be steady.
Vivien 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?" How had she felt?
"Vi."
"Will you stop it already?"
"No. It's Vi. Viiiiiii."
Samantha sighed again, but inside her spirits lifted a little. "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.." But that guy had burst into flames..
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." She had killed five men. She had murdered them.
"Hontou?"
Smiling sadly, Samantha nodded. "When you fainted.."
"I do not faint." Vivien was insulted.
Samantha grinned. "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..?"
Everything suddenly fell into place. Samantha's eyes widened. "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." Vivien wrinkled her nose. ".. and I serve the balance of the Shicho."
"The Shicho?" Samantha looked confused. What in the hell was that?
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.."
"Hold it," Vivien ordered the voice aloud. Samantha arched a brow. What..? 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?" Was Suzaku telling all this to Vivien only now?
Vivien nodded. "Yeah, something like that." Vivien suddenly grinned.
Samantha sweatdropped. Vivien sure looked funny.. She looked like she was having mental battle or something. Suzaku must still be talking to her. Samantha sighed. And Vivien had smiled.. no, grinned, a minute ago. Suzaku must not be as bad as Genbu then. Samantha closed her eyes. Why did her sister have all the luck and she was stuck with a cranky, evil tyrant of a deity?
Your thoughts will be silent, foolish girl. Genbu commanded her angrily.
Samantha frowned. Oh, he was going to boss around her thoughts now? Not in this life-time. I think what I want to think, eggshells!
You ingrateful..
Shut your trap, turtle-snout.
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. Her sister was really transparent at times. "Fire something else." She suggested in a whisper.
Vivien smiled. "Right."
"I'm so hungry..." Miaka moaned.
Samantha chuckled as Vivien's own stomach growled in agreement. Vivien concentrated on the guard's pants. Samantha covered her mouth to stifle her laughter.
"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.
Samantha sweatdropped. "Vivi.."
Vivien 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. Samantha stared at Miaka incredulously. Was Miaka's power a near echo of Nuriko's power of strength or something?
Tamahome clapped Vivien on the back. "Hey, thanks."
"N-No problem."
Samantha frowned worriedly. She didn't like that look in Vivien's eyes.. Was she falling in love with Tamahome? That couldn't be good.
Chapter 3
Genbu was silent.
"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. Samantha smiled. "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!" Not when it was just about to get good!
"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?"
Samantha yawned. Things were boring again. At first, true, seeing everything that Tetsuya and Taka had talked about happening in front of her had been really cool, but now everything was just too boring. Everything was just so.. expected, that it didn't seem all that interesting anymore.
Miaka was disappearing in that red light now. Samantha's yawned even more. Bo-ring! Then, suddenly, she realized she was also glowing..! With a green light! "Ah!" Samantha yelped. What was going on?!
Genbu appeared in her mind once again. The Suzaku no Miko is being pulled back momentarily so she can see that the Seiryuu no Miko is safe back in her world. You and your sisters are closely linked to the Miko's, you I must keep you in rein else you get pulled back as well.
Samantha's eyes narrowed. But I want to go back.
You have no say in the matter, Genbu said coldly.
Samantha's hands turned into fists. Let me go! She demanded angrily.
You do not give the orders around here.
Something snapped inside Samantha. She was so angry, she barely noticed the guards lay hands on her. Oh, we'll see about that.
Vivien only then noticed the guards also holding her. She swore. "Oy! Leggo!"
"Shut up, demon!"
Samantha struggled angrily. How dare they?! She swiftly raised her leg behind her to cripple the guard behind her. The guard toppled over in pain. "Demon!" Another guard swiftly took his place. Samantha inwardly swore.
"Demon?! What are you babbling about, you imbecile?! I'm no demon! Get your filthy hands off me!" Vivien screeched.
"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.
Samantha saw a guard behind Vivien raise his sword.
"Vivi!"
"Sammy?!" Vivien whirled around.
Samantha crumpled as one of the guards holding her cuffed her on the head. She struggled to get her wrists free. "Let me go!" She hissed.
"Let her go!!" Suddenly, before Samantha's eyes, the guard holding her wrists burst into flames. Samantha stared. What the..? Did Genbu do that?
No. Your sister used her power. I order you to use your own power at once! Show them your own power! Show them your might!
Someone screamed, "Demon!!"
Samantha screamed as Vivien crumpled. "VIVI!!!"
"Sammy.."
A guard caught Vivien and raised his sword. Samantha's eyes widened with rage. She snapped. "LET ME GO!!!" Samantha roared, throwing off all the guards with surprising strength. "GET AWAY FROM HER!!" She roared at the guard standing over Vivien.
Kill him!
Samantha felt icy power gathering in her hands.
That's it. Now show him your wrath!
The guard paled as something white and green glowed in Samantha's hands. A demon!
"LET HER GO!!!" Suddenly, three sharp icy blades shot away from Samantha's hands. One caught the guard in the throat, another in his chest, and one in his eyes. He fell to the ground and shattered.
"Demon!!!" Everyone started running.
Suddenly, Samantha hissed with pain as something icy cut into the back of her right hand. She stared at it in shock. A green.. symbol.. Her heart thumped. Tei.
A brave guard grabbed Samantha from behind. "Demon! You will die!"
Genbu sneered contemptuously in Samantha's mind. Fool.
Samantha's rage resurfaced and poured over her senses like a vengeful avalanche. She whirled around and caught the guard's throat with her hand. He gasped as he started to freeze. Samantha narrowed her eyes. "DIE!"
Samantha cried into her hands. Genbu was gone, the cruel bastard. Samantha wept as she stared at her hands. What had she.. done? She had killed.. She had murdered.. human beings.. with these hands.. She was a murderess.
Genbu was there again. You are my warrior. You have proven your strength. I am proud.
Rage bubbled up inside Samantha. "Proud?! I killed people! I killed human beings! I murdered them!" Hot, shamed tears poured down her cheeks.
You eliminated the weak. Only the strong survive. You are a warrior. Deaths mean nothing to you.. only the proof of your might.
Samantha's shoulders shook. Show yourself.
What?
"I said show yourself. If you want me to kill so much, I'd want to start with you." Samantha gritted out. She covered her face with her hands. "Damn you.. You made me kill.. Damn you.."
I did nothing. You killed those weaklings by yourself. If you are so foolish to feel guilt, then the blame is all yours!
Samantha wept into her hands. She didn't want to admit it, but he was right. She was the murderess.. Even if he had spurred her on, she was the one with the bloodied hands. Shame like no other rushed over her senses. "DAMN YOU! JUST GO AWAY!!!"
"Vivi! Vivi! Wake up!" Samantha shook Vivien's shoulder. She forced her voice to be steady.
Vivien 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?" How had she felt?
"Vi."
"Will you stop it already?"
"No. It's Vi. Viiiiiii."
Samantha sighed again, but inside her spirits lifted a little. "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.." But that guy had burst into flames..
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." She had killed five men. She had murdered them.
"Hontou?"
Smiling sadly, Samantha nodded. "When you fainted.."
"I do not faint." Vivien was insulted.
Samantha grinned. "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..?"
Everything suddenly fell into place. Samantha's eyes widened. "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." Vivien wrinkled her nose. ".. and I serve the balance of the Shicho."
"The Shicho?" Samantha looked confused. What in the hell was that?
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.."
"Hold it," Vivien ordered the voice aloud. Samantha arched a brow. What..? 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?" Was Suzaku telling all this to Vivien only now?
Vivien nodded. "Yeah, something like that." Vivien suddenly grinned.
Samantha sweatdropped. Vivien sure looked funny.. She looked like she was having mental battle or something. Suzaku must still be talking to her. Samantha sighed. And Vivien had smiled.. no, grinned, a minute ago. Suzaku must not be as bad as Genbu then. Samantha closed her eyes. Why did her sister have all the luck and she was stuck with a cranky, evil tyrant of a deity?
Your thoughts will be silent, foolish girl. Genbu commanded her angrily.
Samantha frowned. Oh, he was going to boss around her thoughts now? Not in this life-time. I think what I want to think, eggshells!
You ingrateful..
Shut your trap, turtle-snout.
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. Her sister was really transparent at times. "Fire something else." She suggested in a whisper.
Vivien smiled. "Right."
"I'm so hungry..." Miaka moaned.
Samantha chuckled as Vivien's own stomach growled in agreement. Vivien concentrated on the guard's pants. Samantha covered her mouth to stifle her laughter.
"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.
Samantha sweatdropped. "Vivi.."
Vivien 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. Samantha stared at Miaka incredulously. Was Miaka's power a near echo of Nuriko's power of strength or something?
Tamahome clapped Vivien on the back. "Hey, thanks."
"N-No problem."
Samantha frowned worriedly. She didn't like that look in Vivien's eyes.. Was she falling in love with Tamahome? That couldn't be good.
