"Our Love Everlasting" by Ai Yuukan
Chapter 4
The birds twittered, the trees outside rustled pleasantly, and a nearby stream trickled playfully in the sun. Inside her room, Kathryn only had eyes for her sketchpad, and for the image that played over and over inside her head.
She was Houki.. no.. Houki was who she was supposed to replace. Kathryn's eyes saddened. But she didn't want to replace anyone.. And she most certainly did not want to marry Hotohori! She didn't want to marry anyone at all!
Her fingers flew over the paper with quick, short strokes. The charcoal she had obtained from Eri was down to a little black nub, but still, she kept on sketching. She could see everything so clearly in her mind's eye. As she drew, tears started to gather in her eyes.. and before long, she had to stop before she ruined the picture with her tears.
She turned around and cried into her charcoal-smudged hands.
"Shoshi-sama..?"
Kathryn couldn't stop crying. "Just go away, Eri. Just.. go.."
The voice smiled sadly. "Please.. I know this is hard for you.. but I just wish to talk with you.."
Kathryn looked up. That voice wasn't Eri's. She stared at the beautiful, tall woman standing just a few feet away from her. "..? Who are you?" She asked tearfully, trying to wipe away her tears with her black-smudged limbs.
The woman smiled softly. "Please.. You needn't cry.. Oh, you're getting tears all over your clothes.. Please.. I don't wish to upset you.."
Kathryn sniffed. Whoever the woman was.. she was really nice. Nicer than she was, at least. At that thought, she burst into tears all over again. The woman cried out with dismay. Kathryn sobbed into her sleeve. "Please.. whoever you are.. please.. come again at another time.."
The woman sighed sadly. "I cannot. This is one of the few times I can come to you.."
At that, Kathryn turned. "..Who are you?" Had Byakko sent her?
The woman smiled sadly. "..Yes, you father did send me."
Kathryn eyes widened. She sniffed. ".. You are a messenger?"
".. You can say that.." The woman's smile broadened. "My name is.."
"Shoshi-sama! Shoshi-sama!"
Kathryn's eyes widened, then she groaned. "Dang it. When will that Eri ever learn?!"
The woman's violet hair fluttered in an unseen wind and her lovely green eyes sparkled with gentle amusement. "I see I will have to wait until I can speak to you face to face again.. I will go now, Shoshi-sama.. but I will only be within you.. So do not be alarmed about what you are about to see."
Kathryn was instantly on guard. "What do you mean? Who are you..?"
"My name is.. Houki."
"Houki?!" Kathryn gaped, but then suddenly, the lovely woman was gone. Something like a gentle, cool breeze suddenly merged with Kathryn's body, giving her goose-bumps. Kathryn staggered. What in the world..?
"Shoshi-sama!" The doors slid open and Kathryn's irritable maid entered. "Shoshi-sama! You're late for your Korin's lady lesson! Shoshi- sama..! What have you done to yourself?!" Eri screeched.
Kathryn blinked then looked down at herself. She was smudged with charcoal on only her arms and hands.. what was the big deal? Oh.. her face. She must look a sight.
Someone's gentle laughter filled her head like a cool rush of playful wind. :Indeed you do. When I first saw what you had done to my face, I almost fainted with shock. You look quite terrible, Shoshi-sama.:
Kathryn couldn't help but smile. Houki.. was within her.. still. She wasn't gone. And her teasing.. was like her own, indeed. She smiled at Eri. "Sorry, Emi. I'll clean up."
"Make sure you do! And my name is E-R-I, Shoshi-sama! With a 'r', not a 'm'." Eri stressed.
Houki sighed. :She was always so very pushy.:
Kathryn mimicked Houki's sigh. Pushy, indeed. "Whatever. And tell Korin I'll be skipping today's lady lesson."
Eri gasped with indignation. "I certainly will not! It is your first lady lesson, and by what I'm beginning to understand of you, you'll certainly need Korin-sama's help!" She wrinkled her nose. "You have black smudges all over you. You look like a spotted rat. And pin up your hair. Your hair is simply too.. common. It looks like it was dumped with wheelbarrow paint.. But the right pins should hide that flaw well."
Kathryn blushed, then forced herself to relax. Eri always criticized her, and sometimes even compared her to Houki herself. But if Kathryn wanted to do this right, she had to act the part. And Eri knew more about being a lady than Kathryn did.. She must be only speaking the truth.
Houki sighed again. :She speaks only out of spite, Shoshi-sama. She is just resentful of your earlier treatment of her. She is not used to being ignored and dismissed quite so easily. And you should not listen to her.. you are the lady, not her.:
The light in Kathryn's eyes dimmed. But she was not Houki.. and Houki.. had been perfect. She had been the perfect lady.. She had been refined, polite, sophisticated, and..
Houki gave an unladylike snort. :Perfect? Me? Hardly. You do not need grace and beauty to be a true lady.. A lady is a woman who is sure of her worth and knows that whatever other people say about her isn't true if she knows the truth.:
"Are you listening to me, Shoshi-sama?" Eri chattered loudly, her hands on her hips. She sneered. "You're nothing but a worthless peasant.. Byakko must be one mislead deity.. to choose you for his second Miko. You're nothing but a worthless commoner! Look at yourself!"
Kathryn couldn't speak. And she felt the tears rise.. She was outspoken, sure, but only when other people were mild-mannered.. She had never been so blatantly reviled before.. Tears stung her eyes. No.. this was only.. the second time..
Eri sneered even more when she realized Kathryn's silence was one of hurt. "You are a weak one, you are. Houki-sama would have had me tossed out for my insolence minutes ago! You're just a spineless scullery maid, you good-for-nothing tramp!"
Finally, Kathryn's rage started to build.. but it could not overcome her very strong feelings of hurt and self-loathing. "Don't.. talk to me like.. that." She said quietly.
"And what are you going to do about it? You look like you've been working in the kitchen, like the kitchen maid you are! How did you get so dirty?" She then spied the papers etched with charcoal on Kathryn's dresser. She stomped over to them in disbelief. "Drawings!! And with coal, no less! What kind of idiot are you?! This is very unbecoming of a lady!" Then she sneered again. "Then again, how would you know?" She picked up a sketch. "And these are awful! How pathetic are you?"
The dam holding Kathryn's rage back crumbled. "Put.. it.. down."
Eri waved the paper. "What? This? I think I'm going to keep it, to show to my friends once I tell my superior I will not tolerate being your maid anymore! You're so ungrateful, you and your holier-than-thou attitude! I'm sure he'll understand! Besides, it's the maniac I'm serving."
Kathryn was now visibly shaking. "Stop.. talking."
"Or what? You'll scream me into submission? Like you did to your tramp sister?" Eri's confidence was overflowing.
"Tramp..?" Kathryn's clenched and unclenched her fist.
"Yes, tramp! Your youngest sister is a scholar, yes, that's fine.. but your devil-haired sister is no more than an ill-mannered strumpet! What gives her the right to act so loosely and uncaring of propriety? She has no inhibitions, that low-life!"
Kathyrn's eyes blazed with a black light. Eri gasped and backed away. "ENOUGH!" Kathryn roared. She took a step to her maid, eyes blazing with fury. "You will not slander my sister like that!! How DARE you speak to me like that! I may be no lady, but I'm no weak fool that you can afford to speak to like that!" She took another step closer. "You think because I ignore you that I'm a complete buffoon? That it gives you the right to treat me like I'm nothing more than the dust beneath your feet?! You thought because I did not immediately punish you for your hurtful words, that I was a cowering fool?! I AM NO FOOL, Eri! I will not have you barging into my room like this and go about squishing me beneath your cursed slipper!!" Her hair started to whip in an unseen, fierce wind. Eri gasped with fear and backed up against the closed sliding doors. "I will not have you dirty my drawings.. my feelings released with all this confusion, fear, guilt, and.. anger.. ... And I will NOT allow you to slander me and my sisters! You have no right, you miserable woman!" Kathryn's rage was overwhelming. Silver lights sparked around her clenched fists. "NOW.. OUT!!!"
With a sweeping wave of Kathryn's hand, the sliding doors opened and Eri was thrown outside. Kathryn stood by the doors and glared at the frightened maid. "Now go! And never come to this part of the palace again!" She raised her hand, as if to use her power to make Eri go flying, and the servant fled, screaming, down the hall.
Suddenly, Houki was there. She touched Kathryn's shoulder and smiled softly. "Well done, Shoshi-sama. Well done. A bit unconventional, but impressive nonetheless." She smiled gently. "I am proud of you, Shoshi- sama.." She frowned worriedly. "Shoshi-sama.. are you not feeling well?"
Kathryn covered her mouth, her face green. "I think I'm going to be sick."
Houki sweatdropped. "Oh, dear."
Houki gazed at the lake with sad eyes. "I came here often, you know. Even though ladies were not supposed to come here.."
Kathryn smiled sadly at Houki. "I'm sorry.. It's just that it's kind of overwhelming.. I thought because I came here.. That I was.."
Houki smiled gently at Kathryn. ".. That you were responsible for my disappearance. Do not be silly. You cannot be to blame for the future.. that was never to be.. I was meant to leave.." She closed her eyes. ".. and I wanted to leave.."
"What do you mean?" Kathryn asked, wanting to understand.
Houki smiled gently at Kathryn. "In time, you will learn the truth.. but right now, you must discover as much as you can by yourself. I am here only to guide you.. Once you have found your way.. I will.. disappear.. for good."
Kathryn laughed as she surfaced, and tossed back her hair.
Her new maid, Miyu, Samantha's own former maid, chuckled at Kathryn's gaiety, but implored her to get out of the lake. "Shoshi-sama! The emperor's coming this way!"
Kathryn grinned mischievously. "Then hide in the bushes. I'll keep low so they can't see me."
Miyu grinned her approval and promptly ducked as the emperor came by with his closest advisors. Kathryn smiled and began quietly swimming to the bank.
"Hotohori-sama.. you really must do something about Taittsukun's seishi. They're driving the staff crazy!"
Kathryn smiled and hid herself in the shadows of a small bridge. She was less than two feet away from the emperor. She could almost hear Hotohori's smile. "Is that so?"
The advisor nodded vigorously. "Indeed, Hotohori-sama! The girl, Tei, has been giving migraines to your Majesty's librarians by asking for texts! And that other girl, Kyoku, is driving everyone else crazy! That wretched girl is disrupting everyone's work, and getting into all sorts of scrapes! That female is trouble, sire, trouble!"
Kathryn stifled her giggle. That sounded like Vivien, all right. She leaned in closer to hear what the advisor had to say about her.
"And Shoshi is the worst of the lot! She screams and tosses servants out of her room like rag dolls! She is ever scorched with demon's fire, and flies all around the palace, scaring the servants out of their skins! Your majesty, they must be stopped!"
Kathryn frowned. Eri apparently had done a lot of exaggerating. Especially with her coal smudges and the 'demon scorches'. And she had only flown around once, to see what it was like..
"Is that all?" Kathryn smiled. The emperor sounded amused.
"No, not all!"
Kathryn rolled her eyes. The man should have been an exorcist, with the way he was rambling.
"She also dares to walk the palace grounds at night! Very improper for a lady, your Majesty!"
".. I see. And has she been seen swimming in lakes, too?"
"Yes, sire!"
Kathryn winced. Oh-uh. She slowly looked up to see the emperor looking right at her.. but not too obviously. She grinned sheepishly at the amused smile playing on the emperor's face. She was busted.
Kathryn waited until the footsteps faded before rising out of the pool. She saw her clothes and started pulling them on. Once she was done, she stepped out of the bushes and hissed, "Miyu, where are you?"
"Shoshi-sama..! Where were you?" Miyu hissed back, stepping from the shadows. "I was so scared!" But she sounded exhilarated, too.
Kathryn smiled guiltily. "I couldn't move. They were right on top of me. Hotohori saw me." She confessed, shame-faced.
Miyu was horrified. "The emperor?! But Shoshi-sama..! Oh, what will Eri say? She will spread vicious rumors about you!"
"Like she hasn't already? Hey, Miyu.."
"Would you please wait in your mistress' room while I speak with her?" Hotohori asked, coming out from the shadows.
Miyu gaped. Kathryn jumped and looked to where the advisors had gone. "But.. how..? They.. there.. you.. here.. huh?"
Hotohori smiled. "Will you please.. Miyu-san?"
Miyu bowed. "H-Hai! I will await you in your chamber, Shoshi-sama!" And with that, the maid hurried away.
Kathryn slumped. "Now did you have to do that?"
Hotohori chuckled. "You are that uncomfortable with me?"
Kathryn decided to be honest with the emperor. "Well.. yes.. of course, I am. Let's see, you're the emperor, I'm a lady.. well.. not really.. But it's dark.. and you're a man.. and I'm an innocent unwitting damsel alone on the palace grounds.. But aside from that, you previously got a very lucky bird's eye view of me, as clothed as I was the day I was born, and.. Do I need to get any more specific?"
Hotohori smiled. "You have quite a tongue on you, don't you?"
Kathryn tried to stop herself, but her natural charm was first. "Yep, and you've seen the rest of me too."
Hotohori laughed. "It was dark.. I couldn't see anything but your shoulders."
Kathryn grinned, relaxing. "Aww.. you look so disappointed."
Hotohori blinked, then blushed. Kathryn blinked. ..Was.. he disappointed? Well, he kinda looked it, come to think of it. She forced herself to stay cool. "So.. what do ya want to talk about?"
Hotohori nodded. "Yes.. I wished to talk to you.. it's concerning your powers."
Kathryn sweatdropped. "Look, I'm sorry for tossing Eri out of my room like that.. but there's a good reason for everything." Was all of Konan set against her? She had only given Eri a light bruise.. nothing worth tattling to the emperor about.. right? Her psychic toss had actually been very gentle..
Hotohori smiled slightly. "It's not that.. It is the fact you have two powers.. not just one."
Kathryn blinked. "But didn't I tell you that already? I have three powers.. that just need to be activated."
"But is it possible..? The powers that have been activated are the powers of flying.. and the power to move objects.. I would like to know whether they are one and the same."
Kathryn frowned. That was a good question. Was her telekinetic ability involved with her flying? Were they just one power.. combined?
No, Byakko answered her. Your powers of flying and telekinesis are separate. You can fly as high as a bird.. yes, you have the power of telekinesis as well, but you cannot move yourself. It is not that strong. Your power of telekinesis.. is limited to moving objects at least as small as a house. You cannot move heavier or larger objects than a house.. and you cannot move yourself.
Kathryn slumped with disappointment. "No.. flying and telekinesis are two different powers. Apparently, my telekinetic abilities are limited.. a muted echo of what they should be.." She pouted. ".. That's really not fair. I cannot move myself, and I cannot move objects heavier or larger than a house."
Hotohori sweatdropped. "That's nothing to be sorry about, you know."
Kathryn smiled slightly. He was right. "Yeah.. I guess.. I mean it is sorta cool that I have powers.." She perked up slightly. "Hey, wait a minute. What's your power?"
Hotohori's eyes darkened. "I have the ability of superior swordmanship.."
Kathryn shook her head, puzzled. "No, that can't be all. You learned how to use swords all by yourself.. that's not a given power.. it's a learned ability." Then she realized something.. The other Suzaku seishi.. the ones with suspicious powers.. Chiriko, Tasuki.. and Tamahome. Something was messed up with their powers. They were all naturally acquired. Chiriko.. was a child genius.. so supernatural accident in that. Tasuki had inherited his tessen. It wasn't his actual power. And Tamahome.. had learned martial arts from his sensei, a former Byakko seishi. They were all learned or naturally given powers. That meant.. they all had other powers.. But what were they? And more importantly, what was Hotohori's? Yes, he was an amazing swordsman.. and he had become amazing through years of training.. But what was the power actually given to him by Suzaku?
Hotohori turned away. "I'm sorry.. but I have no idea what you are talking about."
Kathryn rolled her eyes. "Gimme a break. You know perfectly well what I'm talking about. "You have another power, don't you? I want to know!"
Hotohori sweatdropped. She was less than three inches away from his face.. and she looked very curious.. and determined.
Byakko chuckled. All you had to do was ask. His symbol is Hotohori, the sea snake.. or the Hydra, as some would call it. He has the ability to summon sea serpents.. He knows of this power, but he would rather not use it. But he is fond of them, so he has one in the lake.
Kathryn blanched. There was a.. sea.. serpent.. in the lake..? And she had just swam in it.. butt-naked.. She felt faint. She must have looked like a pretty tempting morsel for a big sea snake. She could have gotten eaten! She wobbled.
"Shoshi-sama?" Hotohori took hold of her so she could regain her balance, then scooted away. The woman looked positively nauseous. "Is something wrong?"
Kathryn felt sick. "Why in the world would you keep something as dangerous as a sea serpent in the lake..?" She put a hand to her mouth. ".. I think I'm going to be sick." She hurried away to find somewhere to puke. She was never going near that lake again! "I'll.. see you later.. away.. from the snake.." She felt her lunch rise. ".. Ohh.."
"Hotohori-sama can summon sea serpents?" Miyu was shocked. "And there's one in the lake..? Oh, you must have been so scared.." She sympathized. "Please eat. Maybe it'll make you feel better."
Kathryn looked at the food and almost threw up again. She looked away. "Please.. no food.. my stomach's empty enough as it is."
Miyu made a face. "Too true."
Kathryn sighed. She couldn't believe she had been in a lake inhabited by a sea serpent! And hadn't Miaka been in that lake once before, too? Why hadn't the thing attacked her, too? Maybe then she would've had some warning. "I'll just turn in for the night, Miyu-san.. See you in the morning.."
Once Miyu had left, Kathryn lit a lamp and took the letter from her dresser. She remembered that Eri had been talking about this letter when she had first woken up in this world. And she still hadn't read it..
"Hm." Kathryn pondered, wondering if she should open it. It was Houki's personal letter, and she wasn't Houki. She sighed. Better leave it sealed, then.
Then Houki was there, sitting next to Kathryn on her bed. "No.. I'm curious. Would you please open it.. and read out loud for me?" Houki smiled sheepishly. "I'm afraid I cannot hold the letter.."
Kathryn smiled with understanding. "Of course.." Then she made a face. "Er.. one problem.."
Houki cocked her head. "What is it?"
Kathryn smiled apologetically. "I can speak and write Japanese perfectly adequately.. but I'm afraid I'm clueless when it comes to ancient Chinese.."
Houki smiled, remembering. "Oh.. yes. I keep on forgetting you speak.." She said hesitantly. "..ing-irisu?"
Kathryn sweatdropped. "Yeah.. I speak English. I'm American."
Houki looked puzzled. "American.. and.. English? I don't understand.. If English is not your country, then why do you not speak.. American?"
Kathryn sweatdropped again. "Er.. it's a long story. But the English and Americans speak the same language.." She wasn't really keen on American history, so she changed the subject. "Anyways, who's the letter from?" She held it up so Houki could read.
Houki glanced at the letter.. then paled.
Kathryn frowned with concern. "Houki? Is something wrong?"
Houki was trembling. "No.. nothing is wrong.. but would it be terribly rude of me.. to ask you to leave the letter on the table so I could read it.. alone?"
Kathryn's gaze softened. Whatever what was in the letter had really shaken Houki. ".. Are you sure..?"
When Houki nodded brokenly, Kathryn quietly got up and left her room, closing her doors quietly behind her. She walked to the railing of the hall and looked over the palace grounds. Who had written to Houki..?
"Your Majesty, are you sure you should be out here? It's starting to rain.."
Kathryn started and looked down the hall. Hotohori was there, with one of his advisors. She quickly looked for somewhere to go, so she wouldn't interrupt them. She started to go down the hall when something the advisor said stopped her. She hurried to hide behind a pillar.
"Your Majesty, would you please spend the morrow with some of the palace ladies? If it's not too much to ask, of course."
Hotohori sighed and walked over to the railing. "The country is in the middle of a crisis.. Do you really think is the time to be talking of taking an empress?"
The advisor sighed. "Your Majesty, the council and I have agreed that it would indeed be best."
Hotohori turned. "I beg your pardon?"
The advisor sighed with resignation. "Your Majesty, we understand that you do not wish to burden yourself with taking an empress, but the people need reassurance. What better way than to take yourself an empress, to lift their hopes? Such a celebration would brighten their hopes for the future.. And with the impending war.." The advisor looked uneasy. ".. We believe there is a need for a royal heir.. just in case.."
".. I get killed in the war." Hotohori finished for his advisor. He looked down. "I understand.." He had wanted to stall for as long as possible.. but he was the emperor. Procrastination did not suit him. ".. I'll begin interviewing the palace ladies first thing tomorrow."
The advisor sighed, relieved. "The council will be glad to hear it, your Majesty.. May I offer a few suggestions?"
Hotohori smiled patiently. "But of course." He looked away. Give the man an inch..
"Well, we happen to have several goodly candidates, your Majesty.. There is Lady.."
As the advisor droned on, Hotohori looked out across the palace grounds as the rain drizzled down, giving the air a coolness that was both refreshing and depressing. His eyes suddenly caught movement at the far end of the hall. Curious, he leaned over to see..
"Of course.. Lady Korin was a candidate.. before we discovered 'she' was a 'he', and therefore disqualified.."
Kathryn, listening, started when her gaze met Hotohori's. A slow flush crept up her neck. Embarrassed, she tried to align herself with the pillar.
Hotohori smiled. "Shoshi..?"
The advisor blinked. "Shoshi-sama, your Majesty? You cannot be serious."
Hotohori blinked. "No.. I just.."
The advisor looked chagrined. "I would advise you not to look at Shoshi-sama, your Majesty. She is not a lady and therefore she does not even qualify for consideration."
Kathryn blushed. That was harsh..
Hotohori was puzzled. "And why is that? I know as a fact, that she is even.. above nobility.." Well, she did have a deity for a father..
The advisor blinked. "Truly, your Majesty? I had no clue." He dismissed it the next instant. "But even if she were nobility, she most certainly would not due. You do not have to be nobility to be a lady, your Majesty.. The palace ladies are the ever epitome of what Lady Shoshi is not.. They are quiet.. she screamed at one of her former maids most horribly, your Majesty; they are graceful and beautiful.. and while there is no denying her beauty.. her mannerisms leave a sour taste in one's mouth. She is outspoken and ill-mannered.. As a prospective empress, she cannot possibly be considered..!" Suddenly, the advisor caught sight of Kathryn's dress behind the pillar. ".. Shoshi-sama!"
Kathryn's expression was unreadable. Without another word, she walked further down the hall and turned the corner.
"Shoshi.." Hotohori hurried after her.
Chapter 4
The birds twittered, the trees outside rustled pleasantly, and a nearby stream trickled playfully in the sun. Inside her room, Kathryn only had eyes for her sketchpad, and for the image that played over and over inside her head.
She was Houki.. no.. Houki was who she was supposed to replace. Kathryn's eyes saddened. But she didn't want to replace anyone.. And she most certainly did not want to marry Hotohori! She didn't want to marry anyone at all!
Her fingers flew over the paper with quick, short strokes. The charcoal she had obtained from Eri was down to a little black nub, but still, she kept on sketching. She could see everything so clearly in her mind's eye. As she drew, tears started to gather in her eyes.. and before long, she had to stop before she ruined the picture with her tears.
She turned around and cried into her charcoal-smudged hands.
"Shoshi-sama..?"
Kathryn couldn't stop crying. "Just go away, Eri. Just.. go.."
The voice smiled sadly. "Please.. I know this is hard for you.. but I just wish to talk with you.."
Kathryn looked up. That voice wasn't Eri's. She stared at the beautiful, tall woman standing just a few feet away from her. "..? Who are you?" She asked tearfully, trying to wipe away her tears with her black-smudged limbs.
The woman smiled softly. "Please.. You needn't cry.. Oh, you're getting tears all over your clothes.. Please.. I don't wish to upset you.."
Kathryn sniffed. Whoever the woman was.. she was really nice. Nicer than she was, at least. At that thought, she burst into tears all over again. The woman cried out with dismay. Kathryn sobbed into her sleeve. "Please.. whoever you are.. please.. come again at another time.."
The woman sighed sadly. "I cannot. This is one of the few times I can come to you.."
At that, Kathryn turned. "..Who are you?" Had Byakko sent her?
The woman smiled sadly. "..Yes, you father did send me."
Kathryn eyes widened. She sniffed. ".. You are a messenger?"
".. You can say that.." The woman's smile broadened. "My name is.."
"Shoshi-sama! Shoshi-sama!"
Kathryn's eyes widened, then she groaned. "Dang it. When will that Eri ever learn?!"
The woman's violet hair fluttered in an unseen wind and her lovely green eyes sparkled with gentle amusement. "I see I will have to wait until I can speak to you face to face again.. I will go now, Shoshi-sama.. but I will only be within you.. So do not be alarmed about what you are about to see."
Kathryn was instantly on guard. "What do you mean? Who are you..?"
"My name is.. Houki."
"Houki?!" Kathryn gaped, but then suddenly, the lovely woman was gone. Something like a gentle, cool breeze suddenly merged with Kathryn's body, giving her goose-bumps. Kathryn staggered. What in the world..?
"Shoshi-sama!" The doors slid open and Kathryn's irritable maid entered. "Shoshi-sama! You're late for your Korin's lady lesson! Shoshi- sama..! What have you done to yourself?!" Eri screeched.
Kathryn blinked then looked down at herself. She was smudged with charcoal on only her arms and hands.. what was the big deal? Oh.. her face. She must look a sight.
Someone's gentle laughter filled her head like a cool rush of playful wind. :Indeed you do. When I first saw what you had done to my face, I almost fainted with shock. You look quite terrible, Shoshi-sama.:
Kathryn couldn't help but smile. Houki.. was within her.. still. She wasn't gone. And her teasing.. was like her own, indeed. She smiled at Eri. "Sorry, Emi. I'll clean up."
"Make sure you do! And my name is E-R-I, Shoshi-sama! With a 'r', not a 'm'." Eri stressed.
Houki sighed. :She was always so very pushy.:
Kathryn mimicked Houki's sigh. Pushy, indeed. "Whatever. And tell Korin I'll be skipping today's lady lesson."
Eri gasped with indignation. "I certainly will not! It is your first lady lesson, and by what I'm beginning to understand of you, you'll certainly need Korin-sama's help!" She wrinkled her nose. "You have black smudges all over you. You look like a spotted rat. And pin up your hair. Your hair is simply too.. common. It looks like it was dumped with wheelbarrow paint.. But the right pins should hide that flaw well."
Kathryn blushed, then forced herself to relax. Eri always criticized her, and sometimes even compared her to Houki herself. But if Kathryn wanted to do this right, she had to act the part. And Eri knew more about being a lady than Kathryn did.. She must be only speaking the truth.
Houki sighed again. :She speaks only out of spite, Shoshi-sama. She is just resentful of your earlier treatment of her. She is not used to being ignored and dismissed quite so easily. And you should not listen to her.. you are the lady, not her.:
The light in Kathryn's eyes dimmed. But she was not Houki.. and Houki.. had been perfect. She had been the perfect lady.. She had been refined, polite, sophisticated, and..
Houki gave an unladylike snort. :Perfect? Me? Hardly. You do not need grace and beauty to be a true lady.. A lady is a woman who is sure of her worth and knows that whatever other people say about her isn't true if she knows the truth.:
"Are you listening to me, Shoshi-sama?" Eri chattered loudly, her hands on her hips. She sneered. "You're nothing but a worthless peasant.. Byakko must be one mislead deity.. to choose you for his second Miko. You're nothing but a worthless commoner! Look at yourself!"
Kathryn couldn't speak. And she felt the tears rise.. She was outspoken, sure, but only when other people were mild-mannered.. She had never been so blatantly reviled before.. Tears stung her eyes. No.. this was only.. the second time..
Eri sneered even more when she realized Kathryn's silence was one of hurt. "You are a weak one, you are. Houki-sama would have had me tossed out for my insolence minutes ago! You're just a spineless scullery maid, you good-for-nothing tramp!"
Finally, Kathryn's rage started to build.. but it could not overcome her very strong feelings of hurt and self-loathing. "Don't.. talk to me like.. that." She said quietly.
"And what are you going to do about it? You look like you've been working in the kitchen, like the kitchen maid you are! How did you get so dirty?" She then spied the papers etched with charcoal on Kathryn's dresser. She stomped over to them in disbelief. "Drawings!! And with coal, no less! What kind of idiot are you?! This is very unbecoming of a lady!" Then she sneered again. "Then again, how would you know?" She picked up a sketch. "And these are awful! How pathetic are you?"
The dam holding Kathryn's rage back crumbled. "Put.. it.. down."
Eri waved the paper. "What? This? I think I'm going to keep it, to show to my friends once I tell my superior I will not tolerate being your maid anymore! You're so ungrateful, you and your holier-than-thou attitude! I'm sure he'll understand! Besides, it's the maniac I'm serving."
Kathryn was now visibly shaking. "Stop.. talking."
"Or what? You'll scream me into submission? Like you did to your tramp sister?" Eri's confidence was overflowing.
"Tramp..?" Kathryn's clenched and unclenched her fist.
"Yes, tramp! Your youngest sister is a scholar, yes, that's fine.. but your devil-haired sister is no more than an ill-mannered strumpet! What gives her the right to act so loosely and uncaring of propriety? She has no inhibitions, that low-life!"
Kathyrn's eyes blazed with a black light. Eri gasped and backed away. "ENOUGH!" Kathryn roared. She took a step to her maid, eyes blazing with fury. "You will not slander my sister like that!! How DARE you speak to me like that! I may be no lady, but I'm no weak fool that you can afford to speak to like that!" She took another step closer. "You think because I ignore you that I'm a complete buffoon? That it gives you the right to treat me like I'm nothing more than the dust beneath your feet?! You thought because I did not immediately punish you for your hurtful words, that I was a cowering fool?! I AM NO FOOL, Eri! I will not have you barging into my room like this and go about squishing me beneath your cursed slipper!!" Her hair started to whip in an unseen, fierce wind. Eri gasped with fear and backed up against the closed sliding doors. "I will not have you dirty my drawings.. my feelings released with all this confusion, fear, guilt, and.. anger.. ... And I will NOT allow you to slander me and my sisters! You have no right, you miserable woman!" Kathryn's rage was overwhelming. Silver lights sparked around her clenched fists. "NOW.. OUT!!!"
With a sweeping wave of Kathryn's hand, the sliding doors opened and Eri was thrown outside. Kathryn stood by the doors and glared at the frightened maid. "Now go! And never come to this part of the palace again!" She raised her hand, as if to use her power to make Eri go flying, and the servant fled, screaming, down the hall.
Suddenly, Houki was there. She touched Kathryn's shoulder and smiled softly. "Well done, Shoshi-sama. Well done. A bit unconventional, but impressive nonetheless." She smiled gently. "I am proud of you, Shoshi- sama.." She frowned worriedly. "Shoshi-sama.. are you not feeling well?"
Kathryn covered her mouth, her face green. "I think I'm going to be sick."
Houki sweatdropped. "Oh, dear."
Houki gazed at the lake with sad eyes. "I came here often, you know. Even though ladies were not supposed to come here.."
Kathryn smiled sadly at Houki. "I'm sorry.. It's just that it's kind of overwhelming.. I thought because I came here.. That I was.."
Houki smiled gently at Kathryn. ".. That you were responsible for my disappearance. Do not be silly. You cannot be to blame for the future.. that was never to be.. I was meant to leave.." She closed her eyes. ".. and I wanted to leave.."
"What do you mean?" Kathryn asked, wanting to understand.
Houki smiled gently at Kathryn. "In time, you will learn the truth.. but right now, you must discover as much as you can by yourself. I am here only to guide you.. Once you have found your way.. I will.. disappear.. for good."
Kathryn laughed as she surfaced, and tossed back her hair.
Her new maid, Miyu, Samantha's own former maid, chuckled at Kathryn's gaiety, but implored her to get out of the lake. "Shoshi-sama! The emperor's coming this way!"
Kathryn grinned mischievously. "Then hide in the bushes. I'll keep low so they can't see me."
Miyu grinned her approval and promptly ducked as the emperor came by with his closest advisors. Kathryn smiled and began quietly swimming to the bank.
"Hotohori-sama.. you really must do something about Taittsukun's seishi. They're driving the staff crazy!"
Kathryn smiled and hid herself in the shadows of a small bridge. She was less than two feet away from the emperor. She could almost hear Hotohori's smile. "Is that so?"
The advisor nodded vigorously. "Indeed, Hotohori-sama! The girl, Tei, has been giving migraines to your Majesty's librarians by asking for texts! And that other girl, Kyoku, is driving everyone else crazy! That wretched girl is disrupting everyone's work, and getting into all sorts of scrapes! That female is trouble, sire, trouble!"
Kathryn stifled her giggle. That sounded like Vivien, all right. She leaned in closer to hear what the advisor had to say about her.
"And Shoshi is the worst of the lot! She screams and tosses servants out of her room like rag dolls! She is ever scorched with demon's fire, and flies all around the palace, scaring the servants out of their skins! Your majesty, they must be stopped!"
Kathryn frowned. Eri apparently had done a lot of exaggerating. Especially with her coal smudges and the 'demon scorches'. And she had only flown around once, to see what it was like..
"Is that all?" Kathryn smiled. The emperor sounded amused.
"No, not all!"
Kathryn rolled her eyes. The man should have been an exorcist, with the way he was rambling.
"She also dares to walk the palace grounds at night! Very improper for a lady, your Majesty!"
".. I see. And has she been seen swimming in lakes, too?"
"Yes, sire!"
Kathryn winced. Oh-uh. She slowly looked up to see the emperor looking right at her.. but not too obviously. She grinned sheepishly at the amused smile playing on the emperor's face. She was busted.
Kathryn waited until the footsteps faded before rising out of the pool. She saw her clothes and started pulling them on. Once she was done, she stepped out of the bushes and hissed, "Miyu, where are you?"
"Shoshi-sama..! Where were you?" Miyu hissed back, stepping from the shadows. "I was so scared!" But she sounded exhilarated, too.
Kathryn smiled guiltily. "I couldn't move. They were right on top of me. Hotohori saw me." She confessed, shame-faced.
Miyu was horrified. "The emperor?! But Shoshi-sama..! Oh, what will Eri say? She will spread vicious rumors about you!"
"Like she hasn't already? Hey, Miyu.."
"Would you please wait in your mistress' room while I speak with her?" Hotohori asked, coming out from the shadows.
Miyu gaped. Kathryn jumped and looked to where the advisors had gone. "But.. how..? They.. there.. you.. here.. huh?"
Hotohori smiled. "Will you please.. Miyu-san?"
Miyu bowed. "H-Hai! I will await you in your chamber, Shoshi-sama!" And with that, the maid hurried away.
Kathryn slumped. "Now did you have to do that?"
Hotohori chuckled. "You are that uncomfortable with me?"
Kathryn decided to be honest with the emperor. "Well.. yes.. of course, I am. Let's see, you're the emperor, I'm a lady.. well.. not really.. But it's dark.. and you're a man.. and I'm an innocent unwitting damsel alone on the palace grounds.. But aside from that, you previously got a very lucky bird's eye view of me, as clothed as I was the day I was born, and.. Do I need to get any more specific?"
Hotohori smiled. "You have quite a tongue on you, don't you?"
Kathryn tried to stop herself, but her natural charm was first. "Yep, and you've seen the rest of me too."
Hotohori laughed. "It was dark.. I couldn't see anything but your shoulders."
Kathryn grinned, relaxing. "Aww.. you look so disappointed."
Hotohori blinked, then blushed. Kathryn blinked. ..Was.. he disappointed? Well, he kinda looked it, come to think of it. She forced herself to stay cool. "So.. what do ya want to talk about?"
Hotohori nodded. "Yes.. I wished to talk to you.. it's concerning your powers."
Kathryn sweatdropped. "Look, I'm sorry for tossing Eri out of my room like that.. but there's a good reason for everything." Was all of Konan set against her? She had only given Eri a light bruise.. nothing worth tattling to the emperor about.. right? Her psychic toss had actually been very gentle..
Hotohori smiled slightly. "It's not that.. It is the fact you have two powers.. not just one."
Kathryn blinked. "But didn't I tell you that already? I have three powers.. that just need to be activated."
"But is it possible..? The powers that have been activated are the powers of flying.. and the power to move objects.. I would like to know whether they are one and the same."
Kathryn frowned. That was a good question. Was her telekinetic ability involved with her flying? Were they just one power.. combined?
No, Byakko answered her. Your powers of flying and telekinesis are separate. You can fly as high as a bird.. yes, you have the power of telekinesis as well, but you cannot move yourself. It is not that strong. Your power of telekinesis.. is limited to moving objects at least as small as a house. You cannot move heavier or larger objects than a house.. and you cannot move yourself.
Kathryn slumped with disappointment. "No.. flying and telekinesis are two different powers. Apparently, my telekinetic abilities are limited.. a muted echo of what they should be.." She pouted. ".. That's really not fair. I cannot move myself, and I cannot move objects heavier or larger than a house."
Hotohori sweatdropped. "That's nothing to be sorry about, you know."
Kathryn smiled slightly. He was right. "Yeah.. I guess.. I mean it is sorta cool that I have powers.." She perked up slightly. "Hey, wait a minute. What's your power?"
Hotohori's eyes darkened. "I have the ability of superior swordmanship.."
Kathryn shook her head, puzzled. "No, that can't be all. You learned how to use swords all by yourself.. that's not a given power.. it's a learned ability." Then she realized something.. The other Suzaku seishi.. the ones with suspicious powers.. Chiriko, Tasuki.. and Tamahome. Something was messed up with their powers. They were all naturally acquired. Chiriko.. was a child genius.. so supernatural accident in that. Tasuki had inherited his tessen. It wasn't his actual power. And Tamahome.. had learned martial arts from his sensei, a former Byakko seishi. They were all learned or naturally given powers. That meant.. they all had other powers.. But what were they? And more importantly, what was Hotohori's? Yes, he was an amazing swordsman.. and he had become amazing through years of training.. But what was the power actually given to him by Suzaku?
Hotohori turned away. "I'm sorry.. but I have no idea what you are talking about."
Kathryn rolled her eyes. "Gimme a break. You know perfectly well what I'm talking about. "You have another power, don't you? I want to know!"
Hotohori sweatdropped. She was less than three inches away from his face.. and she looked very curious.. and determined.
Byakko chuckled. All you had to do was ask. His symbol is Hotohori, the sea snake.. or the Hydra, as some would call it. He has the ability to summon sea serpents.. He knows of this power, but he would rather not use it. But he is fond of them, so he has one in the lake.
Kathryn blanched. There was a.. sea.. serpent.. in the lake..? And she had just swam in it.. butt-naked.. She felt faint. She must have looked like a pretty tempting morsel for a big sea snake. She could have gotten eaten! She wobbled.
"Shoshi-sama?" Hotohori took hold of her so she could regain her balance, then scooted away. The woman looked positively nauseous. "Is something wrong?"
Kathryn felt sick. "Why in the world would you keep something as dangerous as a sea serpent in the lake..?" She put a hand to her mouth. ".. I think I'm going to be sick." She hurried away to find somewhere to puke. She was never going near that lake again! "I'll.. see you later.. away.. from the snake.." She felt her lunch rise. ".. Ohh.."
"Hotohori-sama can summon sea serpents?" Miyu was shocked. "And there's one in the lake..? Oh, you must have been so scared.." She sympathized. "Please eat. Maybe it'll make you feel better."
Kathryn looked at the food and almost threw up again. She looked away. "Please.. no food.. my stomach's empty enough as it is."
Miyu made a face. "Too true."
Kathryn sighed. She couldn't believe she had been in a lake inhabited by a sea serpent! And hadn't Miaka been in that lake once before, too? Why hadn't the thing attacked her, too? Maybe then she would've had some warning. "I'll just turn in for the night, Miyu-san.. See you in the morning.."
Once Miyu had left, Kathryn lit a lamp and took the letter from her dresser. She remembered that Eri had been talking about this letter when she had first woken up in this world. And she still hadn't read it..
"Hm." Kathryn pondered, wondering if she should open it. It was Houki's personal letter, and she wasn't Houki. She sighed. Better leave it sealed, then.
Then Houki was there, sitting next to Kathryn on her bed. "No.. I'm curious. Would you please open it.. and read out loud for me?" Houki smiled sheepishly. "I'm afraid I cannot hold the letter.."
Kathryn smiled with understanding. "Of course.." Then she made a face. "Er.. one problem.."
Houki cocked her head. "What is it?"
Kathryn smiled apologetically. "I can speak and write Japanese perfectly adequately.. but I'm afraid I'm clueless when it comes to ancient Chinese.."
Houki smiled, remembering. "Oh.. yes. I keep on forgetting you speak.." She said hesitantly. "..ing-irisu?"
Kathryn sweatdropped. "Yeah.. I speak English. I'm American."
Houki looked puzzled. "American.. and.. English? I don't understand.. If English is not your country, then why do you not speak.. American?"
Kathryn sweatdropped again. "Er.. it's a long story. But the English and Americans speak the same language.." She wasn't really keen on American history, so she changed the subject. "Anyways, who's the letter from?" She held it up so Houki could read.
Houki glanced at the letter.. then paled.
Kathryn frowned with concern. "Houki? Is something wrong?"
Houki was trembling. "No.. nothing is wrong.. but would it be terribly rude of me.. to ask you to leave the letter on the table so I could read it.. alone?"
Kathryn's gaze softened. Whatever what was in the letter had really shaken Houki. ".. Are you sure..?"
When Houki nodded brokenly, Kathryn quietly got up and left her room, closing her doors quietly behind her. She walked to the railing of the hall and looked over the palace grounds. Who had written to Houki..?
"Your Majesty, are you sure you should be out here? It's starting to rain.."
Kathryn started and looked down the hall. Hotohori was there, with one of his advisors. She quickly looked for somewhere to go, so she wouldn't interrupt them. She started to go down the hall when something the advisor said stopped her. She hurried to hide behind a pillar.
"Your Majesty, would you please spend the morrow with some of the palace ladies? If it's not too much to ask, of course."
Hotohori sighed and walked over to the railing. "The country is in the middle of a crisis.. Do you really think is the time to be talking of taking an empress?"
The advisor sighed. "Your Majesty, the council and I have agreed that it would indeed be best."
Hotohori turned. "I beg your pardon?"
The advisor sighed with resignation. "Your Majesty, we understand that you do not wish to burden yourself with taking an empress, but the people need reassurance. What better way than to take yourself an empress, to lift their hopes? Such a celebration would brighten their hopes for the future.. And with the impending war.." The advisor looked uneasy. ".. We believe there is a need for a royal heir.. just in case.."
".. I get killed in the war." Hotohori finished for his advisor. He looked down. "I understand.." He had wanted to stall for as long as possible.. but he was the emperor. Procrastination did not suit him. ".. I'll begin interviewing the palace ladies first thing tomorrow."
The advisor sighed, relieved. "The council will be glad to hear it, your Majesty.. May I offer a few suggestions?"
Hotohori smiled patiently. "But of course." He looked away. Give the man an inch..
"Well, we happen to have several goodly candidates, your Majesty.. There is Lady.."
As the advisor droned on, Hotohori looked out across the palace grounds as the rain drizzled down, giving the air a coolness that was both refreshing and depressing. His eyes suddenly caught movement at the far end of the hall. Curious, he leaned over to see..
"Of course.. Lady Korin was a candidate.. before we discovered 'she' was a 'he', and therefore disqualified.."
Kathryn, listening, started when her gaze met Hotohori's. A slow flush crept up her neck. Embarrassed, she tried to align herself with the pillar.
Hotohori smiled. "Shoshi..?"
The advisor blinked. "Shoshi-sama, your Majesty? You cannot be serious."
Hotohori blinked. "No.. I just.."
The advisor looked chagrined. "I would advise you not to look at Shoshi-sama, your Majesty. She is not a lady and therefore she does not even qualify for consideration."
Kathryn blushed. That was harsh..
Hotohori was puzzled. "And why is that? I know as a fact, that she is even.. above nobility.." Well, she did have a deity for a father..
The advisor blinked. "Truly, your Majesty? I had no clue." He dismissed it the next instant. "But even if she were nobility, she most certainly would not due. You do not have to be nobility to be a lady, your Majesty.. The palace ladies are the ever epitome of what Lady Shoshi is not.. They are quiet.. she screamed at one of her former maids most horribly, your Majesty; they are graceful and beautiful.. and while there is no denying her beauty.. her mannerisms leave a sour taste in one's mouth. She is outspoken and ill-mannered.. As a prospective empress, she cannot possibly be considered..!" Suddenly, the advisor caught sight of Kathryn's dress behind the pillar. ".. Shoshi-sama!"
Kathryn's expression was unreadable. Without another word, she walked further down the hall and turned the corner.
"Shoshi.." Hotohori hurried after her.