Written by: Hoshihikari4ever
Disclaimer: I finally noticed I forgot to put one. Whops! Just to let you guys know, none of this belongs to me. I don't own anything!
Summary:
Sequel to The Untold Legend (please read that)
Only two of her Seishi remain. Seiryuu is forever sealed. Miaka takes on the heavy burden of being both empress and Miko. Everything seems to be going smoothly. Hopes of summoning Suzaku rise again. However when a mysterious person shows up at the palace, disasters begin to strike. Dark secrets of the past are revealed…ones, which were meant to remain hidden forever. Now with his secret revealed… the whole Universe of Four Gods is thrown of course… the whole story is forever altered.
Spoilers Warning: Just to be safe…everything…including side stories…
Please Read and Review!
Parings: Miaka /Hotohori Miaka / Shou Tendo
Chapter 7
Miaka woke up to feeling of warmth and comfort. Not wanting to open her eyes just yet, she let her mind wonder back to what happened before she lost consciousness.
That's right; Chichiri and I were searching for Hotohori. We were attacked and separated. Then I was attacked agin and and was it was it Hotohori who saved me.
She jolted upright, her eyes flicking open. Looking around she saw that she was in a clearing in the forest. The moon was shining brightly above her. Looking down she saw that a long coat was placed above her. Looking straight ahead, she saw a man crouched on the floor, his back turned to her , feeding wood to a campfire.
"Hotohori?" she questioned, hesitantly. The man froze, he place down the piece of firewood, and slowly turned towards her.
Its him, it's really Hotohori. It must be, there's no one else who looks like him.
The man stepped up to her and pulled her into her embrace. She stiffened slightly, suddenly realizing it wasn't Hotohori. Gently she pushed him away from her. "What's wrong Miaka?" "Hotohori?" She questioned again. The man sighed and slowly shook his head. "Ah, Miaka, You sure miss him don't you? It's ok, it'll be alright, he's gone now. You know, if it makes you feel any better, you can always turn to me for comfort, not much of a big difference, after all I am his brother…" "Shou…Shou Tendo?" The man nodded. He held up his hands, and placed it around her waist, pulling her close to him. "I know what it feels to lose a love one….I know how you feel. It hurts…." Miaka didn't know what to do, and being so she held on to him. Finally she pulled away.
"Anno Shou Tendo Gomen nasai… I don't know how to repay you…. We just met once…I was so cold to you that time, and now you saved my life, and let me cry on you…" The man smiled. "Hey, Anki cared a lot about you and now that you've lost him…." His voice trailed off "Besides, we've always looked out for each other, it's only humanly to look out for you too, and after all you are my younger sister in law…." "Not legally, but true." "And since my brother isn't here now, well I hope that you could look up to me as a replacement." Miaka nodded, and he embraced her once more, this time more tenderly then the last. As they pulled apart, both eyes met, and Miaka flashed a smile at him, which he gladly returned.
"Well Aniki" "yes Miaka?" "It was such a coincidence huh, how I ended up in danger and you saved me." "Hey, I was just passing by, I was heading for the palace, and well I just so happened to come across you, and of course I had to step in…." "The palace?" Miaka asked distracted. "Yeah, well after I returned home from the palace, that sad face of yours kept popping up, and well I couldn't stand it anymore, so I decided that I wanted to move in there and well try to make you happy." "Well you're always welcome there…no matter what some other people may think…. after personally meeting you tonight, I've come to the conclusion that you're not anything like what those people said…." "What…. what do they say about me…." Shou Tendo asked with mild interest, although he perfectly knew all the rumors that went around. "Not that it matters, Aniki don't be concern you with it…" The man nodded, and did not force it, pretending, acting though it did not matter.
"Well anyways, Miaka, can you tell me why you're out of the palace, along, without protection of your Seishi in the middle of a forest, so far from safety…." "Long story, well you see, my dead Seishi were reincarnated. I've already gathered everyone except for Hotohori…" He nodded understanding. "I could help you look" "Thanks, we can do that after we return to the palace, I promised my other Seishi to meet them at the palace with or without Hotohori…." "You split up?" "Yes that was the plan…." "and you didn't go with anyone else, no wonder I found you along, that isn't going to happen again, you're an easy prey…." "Well I wasn't exactly alone, Chichiri was with me…" She gasped. "Oh shit, we need to find him. I was attacked, and well he took the blows for me, he was hurt when I left him…I ran for it…." "He's a worthy Seishi…." "Yes he is, and we need to get going, we need to find him, it's always me who gets my Seishi into danger…. My fault."
Shou Tendo went and put out the fire. "Very well, we can go now….if he's injured, he won't be able to go far, and if he's not injured too badly I'm sure he teleported himself away…." "I hope it's the second one, I'm sure animals won't be able to do that, harm him that much." "Yes, lets hope for the best." He picked up his coat, placed it around Miaka, took her left hand with his right and headed off to find the monk.
* * *
"Well we've been through the whole village and no Hotohori-sama…." Nuriko said. "Yeah, Do you think its possible that he isn't here, of if he's here, probably he's avoiding us." "Why would he do that?" "Ya know, maybe its cuz he wants Mi-Chan to find him ya know what I mean?" "Or maybe Miaka or the others found him already…." "Possibly…guess we should head back to the palace, after all we did say we'll meet back there…." "Alright, we can go now"
* * *
"Mitsukake, it's been a couple of days and we still haven't found Hotohori-sama…." The healer nodded. "Where do you think he could be Chiriko?" he bent down so that he was the same height as the genius. What do you propose we do…" "I think we should return to the palace. According to the stars last night, I fear something has happened." "What…." "Well if you noticed the stars, the ones of the Suzaku constellation, well something isn't right….Hotohori's star, which use to always linger next to Miaka's, appeared dimly. Not only that, there is a new star, a new one who seems to be taking his place. It is as with Miaka and Hotohori-sama are drifting apart, their stars seem to be separated by another…." "Interesting…." "Who do you think that star might belong to, is it a Seishi…?" "No, I think there is another important person out there, one that has unbalanced the cycle…." The healer only nodded, not completely understanding but showing that he cared. The boy talked on, but Mitsukake did not seem to take in a word he said. In reality he wasn't interested in the Stars, but more interested in medicine. Tama purred, and yawed. Finally after a long time the boy genius stopped. "Well the point is, I think something wrong, I don't think we should be looking for Hotohori, instead, I suggest we find out who that star represents and see if it's a threat towards Miaka and everyone else." "Your point is that we should head back to the palace, if that is so, then just say it, don't got to pull in the stars and the sun and the moon and everything else…" The young boy seemed annoyed. "Yeah, lets go back to the palace…"
* * *
Miaka ran up to the man who laid on the floor. Blood was gushing out of him. "He's wounded, Miaka, your Seishi's wounded pretty badly, what happened, what was he trying to fend off anyways…" "I think tigers, irregular ones." Shou Tendo nodded and knelt beside the monk. He held the injured man up while Miaka bandaged it, quite unsuccessfully. Shou Tendo chuckled. "Here Miaka, let me do it, I might not be as good as a healer as your Seishi Mitsukake, but I think I can do a better job then you…" Miaka flushed, but did not object to him bandaging the monk up. "What are you putting on him, what's that bottle of…" "This helps cure wounds and fatal injuries, stops blood from gushing out. It also cures most poisons if he is poisoned that is….Just a precaution, don't what you to lose another Seishi now do we…" "Thanks Aniki…." She said as she watched her brother in law fix up the monk. "There now all done, he'll be fine after he wakes up, he's just unconscious." Miaka nodded and stood up. "Why don't we rest here, you can build a fire and keep us warn, I don't think we can travel with an injured, unconscious monk…." Shou Tendo nodded. "Hai, right away…"
~3 days later ~
"Wow, Miaka, he's healing fast. It's only three days, but I think he's all healed already…." "That's thanks to your skills Aniki, I need to give credit to you for that." The man placed a hand over his back of his head and laughed. He walked up to the monk and knelt down next to him. Closely he examined the monk. Taking out his right hand, he placed it on his forehead. "His fever lowered, his pulse is back to normal, and to my extent of knowledge in medicine, he should be up and about…" Miaka came over and knelt down on the opposite side of him. "Chichiri, Chichiri, can you hear me, if you can give a sign, do something." "Miaka, I don't think that would work, you tried calling him everyday, if he's up and about, I'm sure he would've shown some sort of sign already. Miaka shook her head sadly. "I really hope he'll wake up soon…" Shou Tendo nodded, and looked up to the sky, staring at the moon. Finally he spoke. "Miaka, get some sleep, its late and I think by tomorrow, Chichiri should be up and about, or even if he isn't well, I think we should journey back to the palace, especially since we're late, I think your other Seishi should be back, and they'll be worried about you, or if any later, Miaka, they might come out looking for you again…" "Miaka nodded, "Very well, we shall set off tomorrow morning" Shou Tendo nodded. "Good night Heikia, good night Miaka…." "Good night, Aniki…."
~Chichiri's Pov~
I was awake before I open my eye. I slowly breathed in the cool air. Listening carefully, I could hear voices in the distance though I could not pick out the words. .
Where am I? What happened no da?
I slowly opened my eyes, and looked up to see he a celing
Odd, where am I? The last place I remembered I was in was the forest. Why am I inside a building? What happened to me no da?
Slowly, thoughts of what happened before I was knocked unconscious came back to me.
I remember that I was in the forest. I took the attacks of the tigers for Miaka and I told her to run for it. Miaka! Dam it, we split up, I wonder if she's alright, I better get up and go look for her now. She was along, and probably if she's her normal self, I'm sure she's in danger no da…
I sat upright, and opened my eyes. "Miaka, are you ready, we should set off now, I can get a horse and a carriage. We can carry him in the carriage, you can ride with me…." I looked over and saw Miaka sitting at a table with a man, a man turned towards me. I met Miaka's eyes, and she smiled and walked up to me. "No need Aniki, he's up…."
Aniki? I didn't know Miaka had a brother? Who could it be? Why does his back look awfully familiar?
"Chichiri, I'm glad you're awake…." "Hai, Miaka, where are we? What happened? Are you hurt? No da?" Miaka shook his head. "Are you hurt Chichiri?" "No, no da…." I saw the man rise and came walking up to me.
Hotohori? She's found him? I'm glad no da. Guess I should leave them alone now no da…
"Miaka, how's your Seishi? Is he well?" Miaka nodded. The man came and faced me. He held out his hand. He helped me stand up. Somehow he didn't seem to be Hotohori, a sense of coldness could be felt in his presence. "You're not Hotohori no da…." I blurted out. A shadow crossed over the man's face but disappeared quickly. "No, I'm not. The name's Shou Tendo. I think we met before. I stiffened and let go of his hand.
Shou Tendo no da? Hotohori's older brother? That guy that we met last time? This isn't right, Miaka shouldn't be spending time with him. From what I've heard, he's rebelled against Miaka, and here she is talking to him, acting as though they were…were siblings was it. Was that what Miaka called him, Aniki, meaning older brother? This is weird no da.
"Chichiri, what's wrong?" "Anno, Miaka, come on we should get back to the palace now. Don't want you staying with him no da…." "Nani? What's wrong with me? For your information I was the one who looked out for her while you were unconscious…" Shou Tendo asked coldly. I found me keza (is that what his hat is called) and lifted it up. "I don't need you to but in no da….I don't have time…." I paused. "and if you did look after Miaka, then I thank you for that, we her Seishi can do that from now on, so stay out no da…" Miaka called out my name sharply and I fell silent. "Chichiri, Aniki, that's enough, lets get back to the palace now…" I was about to protest. "all of us…." She added. I reluctantly obeyed, confused as to why Miaka would be so friendly to such a danger, a disaster, one who once threaten her lover's throne.
* * *
"I'm starting to get worried about Miaka and Chichiri…" "Duh! We all are, you probably just worried about Miaka and not Chichiri, seeing that you love her and all…." "What you say fang boy!" Tamahome picked up the bandit and threw him on the floor. Tasuki got up and whammed the ogre. Now the two were huddled on the floor, puching and kicking each other.
"Ha, those two never seem to stop do they?" Mitsukake shook his head at the youngest Senshi's statement. "but then its true though, I mean aren't you worried about Miaka…maybe we should go look for her, she and Chichiri should have been back a couple of days ago…"
* * *
"Back at the palace at last….." "Yes, it's been a while since I've actually been here, you know, besides the first time we met. that is…been years, more then a decade ago." "Anno, why did you leave…." "I didn't want to, I was well I was…." "was what?" Miaka inquired, curiosity swept through her. Her brother did not reply as so she did not press on it.
"Ah, Heika, you've returned….and Lord Chichiri too…." An old man bowed before her. "Hai, yes just returned." "Well Heika, now that you're back, we need to discuss what has been going on these past few days, there's a meeting now, I think you should attend…" Miaka frowned. "Great a meeting on the first
day back……Do I have to go…." The man nodded. "It will be quick, I'm sure…" "Man, Oh well back to the daily routines of palace life….Well now I know how boring Hotohori must have been….." The man did not comment. Miaka turned to her Seishi, "would you excuses me, you could see if the others are back…" "Hai, no da…." She turned to Shou Tendo. "Shou Tendo…." The man snapped at the mention of the name. He turned to look at the man standing next to Miaka, one which he did not realize at first. Miaka waived her hand and two maids came up and bowed. "Would you mind taking Shou Tendo to his room…." "Hai…" "Aniki, you can unpack there….I don't know how long this meeting is going to last….but I'll catch up with you later ok?" The man nodded and left with the maids.
* * *
"I know, Chichiri, should have done that, otherwise, he should have sent a message of something, at least tell us that he was ok…" "Hmm…if he could have done that then well he would have just teleported back with Miaka…." "I don't know…this is disturbing…." Nuriko sighed, watching the two bickering Seishi. Chiriko remained silent as if deep in thought. "Well I'm sure they're alright, the stars did say they'll return safely, why don't we wait a few more days before setting off to find them again…."
"No need no da…." A keza appeared next to them. The monk's form came striding out. "There you are Chichiri, where's Miaka…." "She's in the middle of a meeting right now, how to go to one right away…." "So she's aright…" "Yes, perfectly safe…we did encounter some trouble here and there, but otherwise, the journey went pretty smoothly." "Go on tell us about it, we were hella worried about both of ya…." The bandit said, as he stood up and brushed off the dirt, while Tamahome was flamed on the floor. The monk nodded and began to tell his encounter of what had happened.
* * *
Shou Tendo followed the maids to a huge room, one which was next the empress's chambers. "Lord Shou Tendo, please enjoy your stay here at the palace…." The man nodded, and the maids left him alone.
He stalked the room, from corner to corner observing the room.
Perfect. Everything's going according to plan. Everything's starting to fall in place. I'll give it a few more months. I'm sure by then I will become emperor. I swear I will. I swear I'll have back everything that was ever denied to me, I'll finally be able to live the life that I was denied. This is to easy. Miaka's too weak. Soon, very soon, I shall be the one who will be sitting on that throne, and soon very soon, everything, and everyone will belong to me.
With that he left his room, wondering through the palace, observing everything that went around, taking in all the people and all the surroundings.
* * *
"Well I don't think those were normal tigers either…" Tasuki cut in. "Well you did a good deed, you took the blows for Miaka…." "Hai, I told her to run for it…..which she did. That's how we got separated no da…." "Then how did you end up with Miaka again." "I don't know no da…I was badly injured and I probably lost consciousness….When I woke up, I was with Miaka…." Tamahome shrugged. "She must have saved you…." "No, no da…." "No?" "Hai, there was someone else with her…." "Hotohori…." Nuriko piped up. "Iie, that was who I thought at first but…its…" "No, not that…Hotohori, over there…." They all turned, and indeed, saw a man who looked exactly like Hotohori, who was standing a couple of feet from them, listening to their talk.
"Shou Tendo!!" a voice cried out from the distance. They watched as the man turned to face Miaka, was heading towards him. "There you are, I was looking all over for you Anki…." The man smiled. "Miaka…." He held out his arms, and gave Miaka a hug. "How was the meeting?" "It's boring as usual."
"Well would you like to take a stroll with your brother, that is, if you have time…." "Sure Aniki…."
"Miaka!!" Tamahome called out. Miaka turned to see all her Seishi, staring her with confused eyes. "Hi you guys, didn't know you were here…." Miaka went up to them, dragging her brother with her. "Miaka…this is…?" Chiriko asked questioningly, though like the others he had heard Miaka call out his name already. "Oh yeah, I forgot. We didn't have a good introduction did we?" They shook their heads. "Well, this is Shou Tendo, Hotohori's brother…." The man smiled, "Haijimemashite…" "and this man over here is my first Seishi, Tamahome…." Tamahome scowled slightly but nodded. "My third Seishi Nuriko…" Nuriko only smiled his eyes seemed to be baring into the other men, looking suspicious. "and that over there is Chichiri….you've met him before…." The monk did not seem to have a reaction, or if he did, his mask was covering it. "Next is Tasuki….and then the youngest Seishi Chiriko, and finally Mitsukake…." There was not much talk. "How did you meet Miaka…? Just curious…" "It was just a coincidence, I saved her from some trouble with some men, then healed up Chichiri and came here…." "Oh…." Tasuki, Tamahome, and Nuriko sighed, giving her a I-could-have-been-the-one-to-do-that look. "and well, not only that, I helped comfort her from her lost of Hotohori, by being her older brother, which we technically are already, after he was my brother, and being so I have a right to look out for her…." The Seishi opened their mouths to protest. Miaka shook her head. "That's enough…." She pulled her brother away. "Let's go…where's that walk you promised…." He took Miaka's hand, placed another around her waist, and walked away.
"Do you think what I'm thinking no da…." "Yeah, that looks much more then a sibling relationship. It looks more to me like he wants to get close to her…. As a couple" "You're just jealous Tamahome." The ogre did not reply. All he did was let his gaze follow the two as they disappeared around the corner.
* * *
~5 months later ~
Life around Konan's palace soon became a daily routine after the arrival of Shou Tendo. The life of the figurative, rebelling brother of the emperor soon died down. Now he was respected and accepted through daily life. Wherever he went, a flashing smile could be seen, that is he received good looks from everyone but the Seishi who still treated him as an outsider. For the past months, the palace tension had been relived. During breakfast Miaka would eat with her Seishi. She then would spend the rest of her free day with Shou Tendo. Whenever someone saw them together, they could do nothing but smile, especially since he reminded them so much of their beloved emperor. Perhaps Miaka saw the same thing, for each day, their sibling relationship turned into something a little more. Their friendship bond grew strong. The best part however was seeing Miaka wear a smile across her face, something that she hardly did after Hotohori died, something which was brought back by this young man in which she brought back to the palace. To the people's eyes, Shou Tendo was the ideal man, the ideal man who they all believed would be appropriate to ask Miaka's hand in marriage. How wrong they were, how wrong they were, how they had not noticed that this was all the plan of a cold-hearted man who wanted desperately to become emperor. A man who could not truly understand love, who was manipulative, who was much or less like the previous Kuto shogun Nagako.
* * *
"Hmm…Aki….I think its time…." "Hai milord….after all the preparations I think it's time to take the last step." "I should propose now" "Hai….I think that's what everyone expects you to do….They've fallen for the plan so easily…" "Yes, this was too easy. No one had the slightest idea of what is really going on….well all but the Seishi, who's treated me for what I would deserve….. but what could you expect….they are abnormal people…." "yet not to fear, once you are emperor, they you can crush them." "Yes, but remember I am not emperor yet, and the only way is for Miaka to agree…." "Not exactly, you could always threaten her, with his secret…." "yes, and that is exactly what I shall do, she will not refuse me, she cannot refuse me…." Aki nodded. "Very well I shall propose to her tonight…if all goes smoothly then I will not mention a single thing ever again that has to do with Hotohori….if not, then I will make it so that she cannot refuse me…."
* * *
Miaka sat on her bed, reading, studding, still trying to learn English and the duties of Konan and the same time.
What's the point of learning English, it's not like I'll ever return to my world. Instead I should learn Chinese or at least how to write it and read it….Baka, I should be doing that instead.
She placed her books away.
Ah well it's getting late, I'll do that tomorrow…
There was a knock on her door. Slowly she got out of bed and opened the door. "Hi Aniki…you're up late…." "Miaka may I come in, there's something important which I need to talk to you about…." "Now?" "Yes…" "Very well…" She stepped aside and let him enter. He closed the door behind him.
"Miaka….would you marry me?" Miaka was taken a back at the question. "Marry you, but you're my Aniki….I can't. I do like you a lot…." "What if I wasn't your brother, would you marry me then?" Slowly she shook his head. "I'm sorry, Shou Tendo. I like you a lot, you mean more to me then a brother does, but, I can't…" "Why?" "because…there's only one man who my heart, my body and soul is reserved for, and that person is not you…Gomen nasai…." Shou Tendo placed on a hurt expression. Miaka walked up and held his hands. He suddenly twisted his hands, and held hers instead. With a fling of his wrist, he threw her to the floor. Miaka was shocked and surprised. Slowly the man approached her. "You see Miaka….." his face contorted, and she saw the same cold hearted man which she met the first time. "You see Miaka…." He began again. "I don't think you have a choice…you will marry me, and you will bear my son….I will become emperor…."
*****************************************************
Done! Sorry to those who thought it was going to be Hotohori! Very very sorry, but he won't be showing up until later on, when something * covers mouth * whoops can't spoil it! Hope you guys would bear with me on this….. Shou Tendo and Miaka, is that unexpected? What more could happen between those two? What kind of threat is he going to use? Will he ever become emperor, perhaps, perhaps not…..after all that is his only goal….and so will he ever achieve it? Please tell me what you think!! Read/Review!!!