Chapter 6: Discoveries

Miaka:

"Amiboshi?" The girl asked with confusion in her voice.

"No, he's Chiriko," I tried to explain.

She shook her head.

"Iie. That's Amiboshi. He's a Seiryuu seishi."

Everyone in the room except Chichiri, Hikari and Mitsukake, had their eyes fixed on Chiriko. I bit my lip, hoping that it wasn't true.

"Firstly, who are you and what are you talking about?" Hotohori asked, trying not to look at the short mini dress the girl wore.

"Atashi wa Yukiko. Like I said, you've got your facts wrong. He's Amiboshi. He's one of the Seiryuu seishis," Yukiko pointed at Chiriko.

Wishing very hard that it wasn't true, I slowly took a step closer to Chiriko and asked softly, "Tell me, Chiriko, that this isn't true. You really are Chiriko. Show your sign, your symbol. Onegai..."

Deathly silence.

"What's that suppose to mean? That the little twerp is a traitor?!" growled Tasuki, who was leaning against his wooden crutches.

"Chiriko?" I asked. I saw him tremble slightly and he clutched his flute tighter.

"Miaka, don't!" Tamahome grabbed my wrist to prevent me from going any closer.

"Well?" Hotohori drew out his sword and pointed it at Chiriko's throat. Out of fear, Chiriko stepped back.

Without warning, Chiriko brought his flute to his lips. Everyone in the room now froze in fear. If Chiriko played his flute, who knew what might happen!!!

"Amiboshi!!!" Yukiko cried out. "Don't!!!"

Chiriko brought the flute to his lips.

Hikari:

Pain, pain, pain...

That was the only word that ran through my mind as I floated in darkness. My head hurt terribly, like a hammer pounding on a nail.

I opened my eyes to find that I was no longer in darkness instead, on a soft white bed with a fluffy pillow supporting my head.

"Hikari?" I sat up and looked at the caller.

"Chichiri? What happened?"

Chichiri sadly shook his head.

"Tell me!!!"

Reluctantly, he began updating me of the current situation.

"NANI?!" Amiboshi was discovered? How was that possible? I didn't even had a chance to talk to him!!! How did the seishis found out? Masaka!!!

"And, Hotohori is having a trial today on whether to kill him or.." Chichiri didn't even managed to finish the sentence. I immediately jumped out of bed and ran out. Unfortunately, just as I stepped outside the room, I began to feel faint.

"You're too weak!!!" protested Chichiri as he caught me when I collapsed.

"Demo! I have to go and help Amiboshi. He's innocent..." I tried to pushed Chichiri away.

"Innocent? He's a traitor!!!" exclaimed Chichiri in disbelief.

"Iie! Let me proof he's innocent." I released myself from Chichiri's grasp. Must get to the throne room...

"Here. Let me help," Chichiri allowed me to lean on him while guiding me to the throne room.

It seemed like hours for us to get there. Upon reaching the destination, I immediately swung the doors opened. I almost wanted to strangle Hotohori for doing such a thing to poor Amiboshi.

Amiboshi had his hands tied, with two fierce looking guards standing beside him with their spears pointing at his throat. It was as if they were threatening him, if he dared to do anything, they wouldn't hesitate to kill him. The seishis stood in a row at the west of the room while another row of officials stood on the east side of the room. All, except Hotohori were standing. Hotohori sat on his beautiful golden throne. I could see Amiboshi trembling, his eyes red, indicating that he was trying to hold back his tears.

"Hikari? Shouldn't you be in bed?" Mitsukake asked, with a concerned look on his face.

I shook my head. "I came here to prove Amiboshi's innocence." I could see everyone staring at me, their faces filled with curiousity.

"And how are you going to do that?" Hotohori questioned, his voice booming.

I took a deep breath. "Amiboshi is innocent! He. . . I knew that he was a Seiryuu seishi from the very beginning." I looked around, hoping for some support. But all I received were surprised gasps and whispering among the officials.

"NANI?! You knew about this entire thing but you didn't tell us???!!!!" Tasuki said in disbelief. I could see something in his eyes. Desperation? For the truth? Did he too believed that Amiboshi was innocent?

"Hai." Now, my voice was barely a whisper. "Even if I knew and told you, wouldn't the result still be the same? Wouldn't you still treat him like this? Think that he is a traitor? Well? Amiboshi didn't harm you, did he? Tell me, when did he ever harm any of you? You treated him as a friend but now you're turning your backs against him? Just because he's a Seiryuu seishi? You mean to tell me that the seishis and miko that I am suppose to serve are heartless people who look down on others just because they're not like you? Did you know, if Amiboshi wasn't around, Chichiri would have been dead by now?" My voice was rising. I tried my best to keep my temper under control.

"What do you mean?" Chichiri asked from behind me.

"When we tried to rescue Tamahome from Nakago, Tasuki was engaged in a battle with the drugged Tamahome. In order to escape, I summoned the portal. That was when Amiboshi was playing his flute. Chichiri was the last one to escape. He tried to help me Nakago blasted him instead. Well, almost anyway. Did you know that I used Amiboshi's powers to build a shield for everyone there? When Amiboshi played, his music acted as an invisible form of shield, protecting us against any kind of ki attacks from the enemy. You think Chichiri would be able to survive the blast if Amiboshi wasn't there to help?" Now, everyone had a shocked expression written all over their faces.

"You mean to tell me... That you actually used a sort of mirror spell with Amiboshi's music as its source of power? That was why... The ki blast disappeared when it was about to hit me..." Chichiri stammered as he realized the real truth.

I nodded weakly. "True, he's a spy for the enemy demo..."

Silence.

"I agree with Hikari! Can someone with an evil heart play such beautiful music? I don't believe that he's evil!!! He was probably forced by Nakago," Miaka said as she stepped forward, giving me her support.

Amiboshi's face lit up. Was there hope for him after all? The final decision would be made by Hotohori. I could see Hotohori's face, darkened, perhaps due to the fact that he had to make such an important decision that would cost someone's life.

Hotohori cleared his throat before he spoke. "As the Emperor of Konan, I would make the final decision. I believe in Hikari and Miaka, therefore, the life of Amiboshi would be spared. Only under one condition," Hotohori paused.

I bit my lip. 'Oh, Suzaku, if you are truly the God of Love, love Amiboshi and his beautiful music. Don't kill him.' I thought silently.

"And that is, that Amiboshi does not return to Kutou, neither will he communicate with the other Seiryuu seishis again."

I saw Amiboshi's face fell.

"One last thing. He will continue to play his music in the palace, only allowed to return to his homeland after the 'problems' between the two countries are settled," Hotohori stared hard at the younger seishi who was on his knees.

The guards proceeded to untie his hands. As soon as his hands were untied, Amiboshi broke down.

I heaved a sigh of relieve. "Hikari?" I spun around.

"Daijoubu ka? You're getting unstable," Chichiri noted. I nodded weakly.

"Just a little tired."

"Then, you should rest," Mitsukake said as he approached me.

"Hai." I mumbled. I collapsed in Chichiri's arms.

'At least Amiboshi is safe.' That was my last thought as I closed my heavy eyelids.

Author's Note: I own Fushigi Yuugi!!! All hail me!!! I'm Yuu Wasate!!! tears off mask Okay.. So I'm not the great Yuu Wasate. Sheesh. Happy now?

All right!!! Amiboshi didn't die!!! Amiboshi didn't die!!! Amiboshi didn't die!!! I loved the sweet kid too much to kill him!!! Don't you? Well, that's one good news.

List of Japanese words :

Onegai – Please

Masaka – Impossible

Demo – But

Daijoubu ka? – Are you alright?