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…major spoiler from the following: Suzaku Hi Den ( Hotohori's Gaiden novel…I've only read the summary), Seiran Den (Nagako's Gaiden Novel), end of episode 52, Eikoden
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Parings: main-Miaka /Hotohori there maybe other side parings not sure yet though
Chapter 12
"I'm sorry…." He finally said, breaking the silence between them. "I'm sorry for what happened last night…." The other remained silent. "You were right…I let my emotions take control of me…I couldn't help myself….I'm weak…I should be more like you…impenetrable by anything….."
"Look at me…." Slowly, the golden brown eyes met the dark, cold ones. "Last night was your choice Saihitei….no one forced you, so now you've got to live with it…." "I know…but that's not what I regret…" "Oh?" Ayruu raised an eyebrow. "I've put both of us in so much danger…What if…what if we couldn't get out last night…." There was a pause. "I tend to act so irrationally….I" Ayruu shook his head and cut him off.
"It's over, its done with….from now on just think with a more level head eh….I won't deny the risk….and I couldn't believe yesterday….you didn't, couldn't sense anything, while you were 'busy'. Even I'm always alert when it comes to an exchange of 'energy'." "I did….I just wouldn't admit it…wouldn't let it bother me…I was too naive to think that everything would be alright…. That I could lose myself in ecstasy…"
"Well, perhaps for a few hours or so…but nothing ever last…. its all temporally." The older man leaned against the table, so that their faces were inches apart. "Let it go…its in the past….perhaps now you'll have something to look forward to…if you're lucky…pretty soon you'll become a father….." "Anno, true…." "and perhaps now, you've got another excuses to visit to the Miko. Don't worry ok…? There will be more times for reunions."
Miaka savored the events of the previous night. Even now, she was suffering from its aftermath.
There was a knock on the door. Miaka sat upright, disappointed that her memories had to be disturbed. Slowly, unwilling, she made her way to the door. Opening it slightly, she saw a stern, concern face of the monk.
"Hey, what's up Chichiri…" she greeted, bouncing back to the bed, letting her friend shut the door behind him. The monk sat down onto a nearby chair. "You came so earlier, this morning….woke me up….I'm so tired…." She went on, stifling a yawn. Hearing no reply, she took a glance at the monk, taking in the seriousness, calmness, especially since he was not weaning his mask.
"You don't have to pretend Miaka…It's not amusing anymore no da…Ok…maybe I could put up with it once or twice….but it's a bit too much now no da…." "What do you mean?" she asked, wondering if the monk had seen past her barriers and seen the pain that she tried to hide.
"Something's wrong no da….You're happiness act isn't working anymore…" Miaka's faced dimmed, knowing that her doubts had been confirmed. "It's ok, we're alone now….you can tell me what's happening, and I'll listen quietly." Slowly, she pulled up her knees, letting her chin rest on it.
Should I tell him. No, I can't, I can't let anyone else get involved. Yet, there seems to be like nothing in which I could keep away from him.
Seeing no result, the monk sighed deeply. "Alright then…I'll go now…but just know that I'll be here, if you need anything….It isn't good to keep everything bottled up inside." Standing up, he made his way to the door.
"I'm sorry Chichiri…I can't tell you….even if I wanted to…he'll hurt you…..he'll hurt me….." The monk spun around at that. Taking a few steps, he sat down beside her.
"Who's hurting you?" There was a pause. "Does this have anything to do with Tendo….no da…." The nod came out slowly. The next thing that Miaka saw, frightened her. The monk had somehow changed right before her eyes. His appearance darkened, his eyes became slits, his face contorted. Miaka could feel the aurora growing within the man. Then suddenly, it all died down.
"You should be glad….it was me who found out….if some of the more sensitive Senshi found out….it'll be chaotic now…" The voice had gone cooler in the beginning, but had lightened up near the end. "However, I suppose he knows by now…." Miaka raised an eyebrow. "Dare?" she wondered out loud.
The monk leaned closer, so that he was breathing onto her ear. "I know what happened last night….I know that Heika-sama came and went….." He watched amusedly as her eyes widened. "She pointed her finger at him. "Oh my god! Oh my god!! You knew? Everything…..everything? Eve…." He scooted back a bit, before taking her hand in his, squeezing it gently. "It was your choice….It would have happened sooner or later…..no da…." There was a pause. "I'm not going to blame you guys….No ones going to blame you guys….As long as you are happy….everything's going to be fine….don't worry about it…."
"Please…please don't tell anyone…don't say anything…." Miaka began. "about last night…and about Tendo and stuff…." The monk gave a skeptical look. "True he may have hurt me….but you're the first to know. Even, even Hotohori has no idea….so don't say anything….please…." There was a frown form her friend. "how can that be….how can he not know…." "Well you know…when Taiitsukun gave all the senshi a gift?" "Yes no da…." "Well, I kind of stole, snuck, Mitsukake's medicine, his gift to use it, to hide it…you know how well it works with wounds…it could even have healed scars…" She was looking directly at the monks long, ghastly scar. "and blindness…" There was a pause. "I'm sorry…it should have been for you…but I had used it for selfish needs…I just can't let the world know….there's too much to keep hidden…." Chichiri rasied an eyebrow, but had a better sense of not to ask, for there was a sense of finality in the voice.
Hidden? So, I was right no da. There's so much going on that needs to be brought to light. Miaka seems to be hiding so much, things that are causing her pain.
"Can you show me…." He finally asked. Miaka blushed slightly, as the thought of exposing herself to him came to her. "Don't worry…I'm just trying to help no da. I swear I won't ask anymore questions no da. I won't tell anyone. However, now that I know…I just can't sit back and let it happen no da… If its going to cause more pain, then I'll pretend nothing happened. Yet, when we are alone like now, I want to help you recover….for the wounds…and make sure no new ones appear…" Miaka just stared at him, not knowing what to say. "Miaka please….you can trust me no da…We're all in this together. There maybe good times and bad times. We'll pull through together…." He gave another squeeze onto her hand. "I thought I said it earlier. Don't carry this burden alone…for you aren't alone…."
For a brief moment, she saw all her Senshi standing shoulder-to-shoulder, transparent and spirit like, smiling encouragingly at her. Yui was standing between Tamahome and Keisuke, while Tetsuya stood next to his best friend. Tasuki and Chichiri (another one) was a pair, while Mitsukake had both hands on the youngest Senshi's shoulders. Standing in front, in the center was Hotohori. In between him and a taller figure, hazy, with a blurred face, was a younger, also blurred, faceless figure. Miaka blinked, and they were gone. Yet, just seeing them together gave her all the strength that she needed.
"Anno…did you see them…." She whispered. "Nani…dare… no da?" "Everyone was here….at first. However, they were transparent figures, all smiling…." The monk gave her an odd look, which confused her. "All of them, my brother, his best friend, Yui, and too mysterious blurry figures, and even you was transparent…." The monk only nodded. He had not seem anything, sensed anything either. "I told you no da…we'll always here…even if its not physically."
Taking a deep sigh, she flung her arms around the monk. "Thank you Chichiri….thank you….." she kept saying as invisible tears rolled down her checks. "Thank you…" she kept muttering, both relived, and happy, knowing that she had support from her friends. He took her into her arms, holding her close.
Then ten minutes later, when Miaka started to calm down, and with her consent, Chichiri began checking her wounds, not touching the bra or underwear which was kept on, so that neither felt too embarrassed. "Miaka, this is serious…he hurt you really badly…I really think I should get Mitsukake to check it out…." "No!" Then in a softer voice, she continued. "You can heal me right…" "I can make it not show up, with magic…but it will still be there…it is best for a doctor to be here….." "That's ok. Its enough for me…" Chichiri nodded. Casting a diagnose, with as close as he could get to a doctor's, he performed some spells.
"There, that should be better…." Miaka nodded her thanks…feeling the pain easing slightly. "Just tell me if anything gets worst…or another Senshi that you might feel comfortable with…" "Anno, I will." "I still think its best to alert Mitsukake….he's a doctor…and you really need one now…" "I'll consider it, if it gets worst…." "you should no da….especially since…." "since what…." Chichiri shook his head a bit, as if deciding not to continue. "Just be careful of your diet, and watch your weight….Alert me, if you start having a hunger for sour food….Most importantly, if this gets big…" he tap her slightly on her stomach. "you know what I mean no da….." "Uh huh…." Miaka replied. "We need to take care of these stuff, and be sure that Tendo doesn't know…its good that he is still away….he would cause too much trouble no da…"
two days later
"Milord…I'm glad you returned safely…." Aki muttered, bowing to Shou Tendo. Tendo looked annoyed. "I hope all went well…." Aki whispered, lowering his voice. "No, it didn't….we were on her trail. However at a distance, we saw someone pick her up and take her off. Couldn't see who, for sunset was blinding us…." "I see…so she got away…" Tendo did not reply. "For now at least….I'm sending some men to look for her…I had to get back sooner…for the emperor duties and stuff….." Aki nodded, understandingly.
"How was it here…" Tendo asked, changing the subject. He watched as Aki frowned. "Not much. However, there was one thing that did disturb the quiet palace…." Aki waited a while before continuing. "Two days ago, two people tried to sneak in to Miaka's room, your room, late at night. Don't know what their intentions were, but one of them got in successfully…" Tendo turned to look directly at him. "What happened? Is she alright…." "I think so….cause she didn't scream or anything…didn't alert anyone….like she had been expecting it…." "Nani?!" Tendo frowned deeply. "Did you see who it was….?" The other man shook his head. "However I do have a reasonable guess, but I don't think you'll be please…." "Dare…?"
Aki swallowed lightly. "your other counterpart….." Tendo's eyes grew, enlarged at those words. "Saihitei??…." he hissed out the name. "It's the only person. There is no reason for the other Senshi to do so…. There is no one else here that Miaka knows and can trust…it must be him. Besides….wouldn't the alarm have gone off sooner if it was someone else. Its obvious that people might have mistaken him as you….you do note the resemblance…." Tendo bit his lower lip, before slamming his fist onto the table.
"I'll make sure she regrets it…." Tendo said, heading towards the door. "but what about the other intruder…." "It doesn't matter…" Tendo replied. "It's probably one of his men. You know there still are many who are still loyal to him…." "like who….?" Aki asked. "Oh many….too much to count….Don't think that I don't know what goes on and what's being said about me, within ear or eyeshot." Aki nodded. "Very true…" "Yes…and I'll fix this problem. I'll show them whose boss. I'll squash them all like ants…." "but how…" "simple…by first crushing…destroying Miaka….." "You'll kill her….?" "no…I need her to get what I want, to stay in power." Tendo chuckled harshly.
"Everything in the world belongs to me. The world is mine. I alone shall decide what shall live and what shall survive. There isn't anything that I lack. Miaka is mines. I'll make them regret. I swear Saihitei….you will regret ever retuning, ever deciding to come back and claim back what's yours. I'll make sure you'll never show up again. I'll rid of you myself…."
Done!! How was it? Please review!!!