QoH: *hides under her desk* eh.... gomen about the long wait ppl... -_-() with my work schedule bein as hectic as it has it has been in recent months, ive hardly been home, much less found time 2 write! *cries* ....... neways, im startin a new job now, so my schedule SHOULD be tamer *crosses fingers* ^_^ hope ya like this chappy!
Chapter 3: Preparations
Hotohori yawned discreetly behind his hand and tried to look interested while yet another official droned on endlessly. He knew he ought to pay attention, but he never did like these throne room meetings, and he was tired. They were especially boring now that it was only money issues and such, instead of war strategies. Not that he really had an objection to that, of course. Boredom was a exceedingly small price to pay if it meant his country was safe enough to consider something as frivolous as the next imperial ball a top priority.
Once again the entire population of his council was pressuring him to find a bride, and seemed to think it likely that he would find a suitable wife at this "gala event" of theirs. They all knew full well how he felt about the subject, considering his infamous love for Miaka, but that didn't deter them in the least in the matter of his producing an heir. He found it utterly amazing how one could be the leader of a country, and yet have so little power when it came to something so simple as a party.
"Your Highness, don't you think a ball would lift the spirits of the people after the tragedy of this war?" wheedled Councilor Hirashi, betting on his Emperor's famed concern for his subjects' well-being in order to get him to agree to their thinly-veiled scheme. The other delegates glanced at him gratefully, then nodded vigorously.
Hotohori sighed, knowing he was stuck in a no-win situation, as usual. He couldn't very well deny his people the happiness such a thing would bring them after the terror they'd all experienced of late, and yet it was something he would've given a great deal to escape. However, as the leader of the country, it was mandatory that he attend these functions. Well, I don't imagine I could have had much else planned. I can't keep avoiding this forever, I suppose. He sat up straighter and looked them in the eyes, communicating without words that he wasn't happy with this, but quite trapped all the same, "Very well. Arrange it, then."
~You are the strength
that keeps me walking.~
****
In another time and dimension, another grand party was being planned, if Miaka had her way, that is. Her wedding to Taka had almost everyone involved nearing the end of their respective ropes in reconciling the pair's differences on the issues of money and level of extravagance. Taka, being Tamahome's reincarnation, didn't want anything fancy, while Miaka, of course, wanted the "fairy tale" she'd always dreamed of. Yui, especially, felt close to tearing her hair out over the couple's stubborn refusal to compromise.
She sighed in expasperation at the faintly sullen expression on her friend's face after the most recent round with Taka. She made a face and cocked her head at Miaka, "Why don't you just give in a little? I'm sure he will too, if he sees you're willing to meet him halfway."
"Why shouldn't I have the perfect day, Yui?" the brunette scowled and scuffed her shoe as they strolled along the sidewalk outside the ice cream store. "This is the start of the rest of my life! I just want to stop freaking out about the cost of roses, for pity's sake!"
Her friend gave her a droll look and took a bite out of her sundae before replying, "You can't pretend that's all you want him to stop disagreeing with. What about the fiasco with the wedding photos, or the caterer disaster? Not to mention the dress!"
"Hey, it's not my fault they cost so much!" Miaka answered defensively, even though she privately admitted that Yui had a point. Not that she was going to let that rain on her parade.
She laughed and shook her head, "Miaka, be honest with yourself. How do you think they're able to hike their prices so high in the first place? Because many of us girls all want "the perfect day," that's why. Besides, can you really blame him for wanting to save a little on the expenses? Taka's just trying to look out for you in the long run, you know."
Miaka let out a long breath, then smiled slightly as she toyed with the ring he'd given her, "Yeah, he is that. I can't fault him for wanting protect us against the unforeseen."
"By the way," Yui wondered, sensing that particular hurdle had been cleared for the time being, "have you figured out what that dream of yours from last night was?"
She shook her head, a puzzled frown on her face, "No, not in the least. All I know is that I'm close to whoever it was in the dream, and that they needed my help with some great pain."
"Hm. I wonder why you can't see who it is," she mused thoughtfully as possible candidates ran through her mind. Naturally, there was Hotohori, who'd looked so dejected when he'd seen them off with the rest of the seishi the day she and Miaka had left for the "real world." Yui felt sorry for the lonely emperor, and privately thought he and Miaka would've made a better match, with their sensitive, emotional personalities. Of course, she wasn't going voice that opinion if her life depended on it. Miaka had made her decision, and Yui trusted her judgment. Anyway, it wasn't as though Taka was devoid of sensitivity, either. She'd seen the way he looked at his fiancé when they weren't at each other's throats, and knew he adored her. It was just the matter of toning down those tempers that had everyone around them going bananas.
"I don't know, but I hate the idea of someone that I care for is hurt and I can't do anything about it, simply because I don't know who it is!" Miaka rubbed her eyes irritably and hitched her school bag over her shoulder with her other hand.
"Well, getting yourself all frustrated over it certainly isn't going to help matters, now is it?" she hugged her friend reassuringly, "I'm sure you'll find out who it is soon. At least then, you'll have a chance to figure out a way to help them."
She smiled faintly and leaned her head on her shoulder, glad for the support, "How do you always know what to say?"
"Because I'm brilliant, remember?" Yui laughed and shrugged, "At least, according to our teachers."
"Oh, really now!" Miaka grinned back and poked her playfully in the side, "Then how is it that you don't know who this person in my dreams is any more than I do, huh?"
She laughed again and popped her lightly upside the head in retaliation, "Hey, I didn't say I had no clues whatsoever. I'm still working on it, all right?"
"Ok, so when are you planning on telling me who you think it is?"
A cryptic "we'll see what happens" was all she received for an answer.
****
A knock sounded on his door, giving Hotohori a much-needed excuse to distract himself from the seemingly endless supply of letters of assent for "his" ball. He wasn't unaware of the fact that he happened to be the most eligible bachelor on the entire continent, nor were enterprising mothers with equally available daughters. As it has been all my life. He shook his head, remembering he had a visitor, "Come in." It was, of course, Chichiri. The monk had keen observation skills, that was certain. Present as he usually was at meetings such as the one that morning, he'd obviously seen his fellow warrior's distraction and had come to offer his guidance.
As was his custom when they spoke alone, he'd removed his mask, allowing his worried eye to study him more intently, "You aren't sleeping well, no da? I can tell. There is an exhaustion about you that speaks of many long nights."
Hotohori gave him a faint smile as he lowered himself to the floor and sat back on his heels, "Correct, as always, my friend. Recently, I have found sleep is a bittersweet, uncertain ground for me. I much prefer being awake to driving myself mad with..." The swordsman broke off and looked out the window at the night sky.
"With things you want so badly to be real, you can almost feel it, am I right?" Chichiri continued for him, balancing his ever-present staff on his knees.
He nodded and propped his forehead on his hand, closing his eyes, "Yes, but those are, by far, not the worst. I also dream of things that terrify me with their realness, such experiences I do not know if I would survive if they were true."
The blue-haired monk frowned in concern, his long fingers absently toying with his mask, "I knew you were upset over Miaka, yet I had no idea that it had gone this far. How long has this been going on? Since she left?"
"Yes." Hotohori sighed and dropped his hand, leaning back in his chair with his eyes still closed, "At first, it was nothing more than the things I wish I could have taken back when she was here, but then it began worsening to the point where I dare not say it aloud. I really have no inkling of what to do, Chichiri. I am quite lost."
He smiled very slightly and shook his head, "I think we are all, Seishuku-sama."
The emperor's brows rose as he opened his eyes, surprised as much by the sound of his sparsely used name as the comment, "What do you mean?"
"Merely that Miaka was the main bond between us all. We all met each other because of her. As such, each of us feels her absence in our own way," his somber expression brightened, "I do, however, also feel that we will see her again, someday."
He sat up sharply, immediately alarmed, "How? Is she in danger? Is Konan? Do you sense a threat, Chichiri?"
"It is only a faint idea at this point, but I believe…" he cocked his head as though listening to some voice only he could hear, which Hotohori wouldn't doubt.
"Two will become one." Chichiri murmured, as though to himself.
QoH: ^_^ review please!