(P.S. This chapter is not for the faint-hearted. I will not be held responsible if you puke on your computer screen. Same goes for the previous chapter.)

Chapter 11: Mystery

Hikari:

"Miboshi..."

"Who's Miboshi again?" Tasuki asked stupidly.

"He's the seishi who can control monsters, am I not right?" Chichiri asked.

Amiboshi nodded. Amiboshi turned to look at me. "Hikari?" He asked softly.

"Daijoubu..." I answered, forcing the smile on my face to become even wider. I left the room quickly.

"Baka, baka, baka!!!" I said angrily as I slammed the door of my bedroom shut.

'Why did this happen? How? Weren't they suppose to be alive and save? I did my job didn't I? Suboshi didn't kill the family so why did they still die? Masaka!!!'

'Is this a joke, Suzaku?' I thought to myself angrily despite the smile on my face.

'Why didn't I see that happening? Why? Was history going to repeat itself? I could see what happened to Ling's family demo...'

They still got killed.

Why didn't Suzaku showed me?

WHY?!

I held my breath when I heard a knock on the door.

"Hikari?"

"Dare?"

"It's me, Amiboshi?"

"Come in."

I put on the false smile on my face. "Can I help you?"

Amiboshi looked at me strangely. "Gomen. I mean, we did tried to help. This still happened."

"It's not your fault," I replied.

"Anyway, how did you know about my brother coming?" Amiboshi asked curiously.

"Anou... Every single oracle is blessed with a certain special power, like the seishis. The oracle can even train like Chichiri to 'upgrade' and further protect themselves. The Genbu oracle was blessed with the power to see the past. The Byakko oracle was blessed with the power to freeze time. Seiryuu oracle, from what I heard, has the ability to go back in time. The Suzaku oracle..." I looked up at him, "Has the ability of foresight..."

"Foresight?"

I nodded silently. "That was why I could predict the deaths of Tamahome's family. Demo, the monster... For some reason, I couldn't predict it..."

"Anyway, how are your hands?"

"Oh, just fine. They still hurt but they're healing fine," I answered with a smile.

Amiboshi looked doubtful. "Let me see." He gently grabbed my hands. I winced in pain when he began unwrapping the bandages slowly.

"Amiboshi, what are you doing?!" I asked. Damn! I could see a little bit of blood trickling out of the wound.

"You should have seen Mitsukake!!!"

"Itai!!! Iie!!! I don't want to!!!" I protested.

Unfortunately, we were both unaware of someone eavesdropping on us outside.

Tasuki:

I watched as Hikari left the room in a hurry, with Amiboshi following suit a moment later.

That traitor must be up to something...

Placing the child in my arms onto Chichiri's lap, I too left the room.

I watched from afar as Amiboshi knocked on Hikari's bedroom door and entered. Curiousity killed the cat as I softly crept towards the door and placed my ear against it.

'Chikuso!!! They're talking too soft to hear a thing!!! I knew I should have clean my ear this morning!!!!' I cursed silently to myself.

Then the voices slowly gained volume. But still, it was a little bit difficult to catch some of the words.

"Anyway... Healing fine... Let me see.. Amiboshi, what are you doing?!.................... Mitsukake..... Itai!!! Iie!!! I don't want to!!!"

I gasped as I eavesdropped on their private conversation. What the fucking hell was Amiboshi doing to Hikari?! If he ever laid a finger on her, I'll kill him!!!!!!

He must have done something to harm her and got her injured!!! That was why Mitsukake's name was mentioned!!! That bastard!!! To think that he could harm her after she saved his sorry ass!!! And now... He must be forcing himself on her!!!! That was why Hikari was protesting!!! And what the fuck am I doing still standing here? I should be helping her!!!!

I burst the door open. "Bastard!!! Unhand her now!!!" I shouted when I saw Amiboshi on top of Hikari, both lying on the floor.

Amiboshi:

"Itai!!! Iie!!! I don't want to!!!" Hikari protested.

I shook my head. Hikari was stubborn. Without warning, Hikari tugged her hand back hard and I stupidly gripped her hand so tightly... And I was tugged along as well... And tumbled over Hikari and we both fell onto the floor... With me on top of her....

Without warning, the bedroom doors swung open. Tasuki stood in the doorway, his face filled with anger and his tessen in his hand.

"Bastard!!! Unhand her now!!!" he shouted when he saw me on top of Hikari, both lying on the floor.

I immediately jumped off Hikari and pulled her up. Tasuki grabbed Hikari's wrist and pulled her towards him.

He slowly approached me, threatening holding his iron tessen. "What the hell do you think you're doing?!" he demanded.

"Boku wa..." I stammered.

Just then a pair of delicate arms wrapped themselves around Tasuki's body.

"Tasuki, onegai!!! Don't harm him!!! We both fell, that's all!!!" Hikari cried.

Tasuki froze for a few seconds. He then calmly removed Hikari's hands from his body. It was at that moment that he realised that Hikari's hands were bleeding a little.

"Hikari..." he muttered, "What happened?" He asked with his face full of concern.

"Nothing!!! Just a little cut!!!" Hikari insisted.

"Uso!" Tasuki said. With that, he went out, dragging Hikari behind him.

Hikari:

"Matte!!! Tasuki!!! Let me go!!! You're hurting me!!!" I cried out. It was true. His grip was so tight. I tugged hard, wanting him to release me at once.

All of a sudden, he stopped walking. He released his grip and turned around. "Chikuso!!! Listen, I'm bringing you to Mitsukake whether you like it or not. Get it?"

Softly, he added, "I don't want to see you hurt, dammit."

I was totally taken aback by what he said. Tasuki? Doesn't want to see me getting hurt? He must be joking...

"Anou, Tasuki... The injury is just fine. It's just a tiny cut, okay? I'll just go clean it in my room..." I left hurriedly, not giving Tasuki another chance to drag me away.

Miaka:

I rubbed my eyes. Mou... I've been sleeping ever since I got back...

'Rumble..'

I looked down at my stomach. 'Boy, Am I hungry!!! I haven't eaten my dinner yet!' I remembered as I climbed out of bed. Making a quick check that my hair wasn't that out of place, I went to the kitchen. Grabbing some minced meat buns, I walked down the hall, heading towards Tamahome's room. Poor Tamahome... His family was killed just like that.. I bet it was that jerk Nakago who sent that ugly monster!!! That cold hearted bastard!!!

I was just about to knock on Tamahome's door when I heard Hotohori and Tamahome talking inside the room. Curiousity killed the cat as I placed my ear against the wooden door, straining to hear what they were talking about.

"How's Miaka doing? I didn't managed to check on her... I had to check on my younger siblings first. After all, ever since... My father died... I'm in charge of looking after them..." Tamahome said sadly.

"Don't worry, Tamahome. Everything's going to be fine. Your siblings will be safe in the palace. I'll ask Chichiri to cast a barrier around the palace, Hikari might want to help as well. Miaka, is just resting. Nuriko told me that she cried non-stop.." I heard Hotohori sighed. "I just wished that she would just hurry up and the last seishi soon.. Nakago would have the upper hand if she doesn't."

I heard the shuffling of feet on the marble floor. "Daijoubu Tamahome? You look pale," Hotohori asked, his voiced filled with concern.

I heard Tamahome grunt. "Daijoubu. I just... I don't know how to tell this to my other siblings..."

"You don't need to tell them immediately. Just concentrate on getting enough rest. Let the servants take care of them. I don't know how to say this to Miaka, Tamahome..." Hotohori begun nervously.

"Say what?"

"That the monster... Was actually after her... Demo... Your father and sibling were the ones who got killed instead... If we tell her this, Miaka will be heart broken. You know what she's like. What I'm afraid is that she'll do stupid things just to 'repay' for the lives that were lost..."

"Sometimes she's too naïve!" Tamahome replied sharply.

I gasped. The monster was after me? And Tamahome's family got killed instead? I'll do stupid things? I'm too naïve?! All these things... Pouring out from the mouth of Tamahome... And Hotohori... And to think that I loved both of them dearly when they're talking behind my back!!!

I admit, I'm not bright. But don't they trust me enough? Me, doing stupid things? Perhaps, in the spur of the moment... But I still trusted them not to talk behind my back... Does that mean the others do that too?

Just then, the bedroom door swung open. Hotohori stood there, looking surprised. "Mi... Miaka! You were here?! Did you hear what we said?!"

Glaring fiercely at Hotohori, I spat in his face. "I DON'T BELIEVE YOU!!! YOU BOTH TALKED BEHIND MY BACK!!!"

"Well, it's all your fault in the first place!!!!!! You only bring trouble upon everyone! You murderer!!!" Tamahome hissed from inside the room.

Tears spilled from my eyes. My lower lip trembled. And for some strange reasons, my body was feeling weak all of a sudden. "Tama...Tamahome... YOU DAMN BASTARD!!!"

How could he? After all I've done?! Going to Kutou... Finding the seishis... All that for the man I loved and now... Were all the words he whispered just sweet nothings?! How could he?! I risked my life for him, would go around the world searching for him...

Hot tears spilled from my eyes and rolled down my cheeks.

I felt like a piece of used paper being ripped to shreds. Nothing. I meant nothing to him?! My sacrifices... Were nothing?!

'Uso!!! Uso, uso, uso, uso!!!!!!!' a tiny voice at the back of mind screamed.

All of a sudden, Hotohori burst out laughing like a maniac. Tamahome followed suit.

"Nani?! What is wrong with you two?" I asked, confused.

Tamahome approached Hotohori from behind and slapped him on the back, laughing. "She really is too naïve!"

I watched in horror as both their skins turn scaly and black.

'This...'

Two large purple horns protruded from the sides of their heads.

'This is...'

Tamahome stuck out his tongue, with was swollen and blue.

'This is the...'

"Well, Suzaku no miko... We meet again..." both of them growled as they flashed their canine teeth.

'This is the monster!!!!'

I opened my mouth to scream.

Meanwhile, back in the Kutou palace, a strange hooded stranger had arrived.

Narrator:

The two drunken guards clumsily walked along the corridors of the palace, talking loudly about girls in skimpy dresses. They stopped when they saw a black hooded figure standing at the end of the corridor.

"Who are you?!" asked one of the guards rudely as he placed his hand on the handle of his sword, ready to pull it out should anything happen.

Unseen under the hood, the figure smirked.

With a swift movement, the figure shot out a crystal like ki ball. As the ki ball came into contact with the guards, it grew larger and swallowed the two unsuspecting guards.

The guards screamed as the ball grew smaller with them inside. Well, the crystal ball could contract but not the guards. With a final scream, the air was sucked out of their lungs. The bodies squashed and pressed against each other as the crystal ball grew even smaller.

'CRACK! SQUISH!'

The figure smiled as the skulls of the guards cracked open and their brains spilled out. Their bones broke and cracked loudly. Their faces were twisted with their mouth opened, screaming in terror.

The crystal ball stopped decreasing in size when it was the size of a baby's palm.

"Well, I've always like to torture my victims. It's sooooo much fun!" the hooded figure exclaimed, laughing as IT picked up the crystal ball filled with spilled human guts.

Nakago was walking along the corridors, heading towards his room. He was just returning from his usual 'playtime' with the emperor. He froze in his tracks when he heard the sound of screams filling the hallway. 'Those stupid useless guards screaming again in the middle of the night,' Nakago thought to himself. The horrible screaming was followed by the sound of loud cracking. Angry at the guards for making such dins at night, Nakago begun walking towards the source of the sound.

Nakago was half-way there when he saw a black hooded figure standing several meters in front of him, blocking his way. Nakago raised and eyebrow. Was this some sort of prank Suboshi was pulling?

'No,' Nakago realized. 'Suboshi... Doesn't have this kind of evil presence...'

"Well?" Nakago said calmly, although he was as scared as a little kitten on the inside. He had never met with someone or something which had such an evil and terrifying presence surrounding it. "Aren't you going to introduce yourself?"

Under the hood, the evil figure smirked again.

"I presume that you are Nakago?" the figure asked. It had a sweet and rich voice. Seductive as well. It sounded like a woman.

"If I am?" Nakago asked. He didn't like this figure. She or IT was beginning to scare him.

Two slim and slender hands shot out from underneath the cloak to remove the hood.

Who or what is this creature?! Nakago had never seen such pale skin before. The skin was so pale that the veins were beginning to show. It was even paler than that Suzaku's oracle skin, Nakago realized.

"Watashi wa...." The figure begun.

Authour's note: (Pls do read this author's note!!! Important!!!)

Don't you just love cliffhangers?! Aren't they fun!!!

Oh, I almost forgot.

Hail me, Metajoker for owning this character, Yukiko, Hikari and the piggy moster!!!!

Sigh... But I still can't seem to get people to recognize me as the owner of Fushigi Yuugi. Damn!!!

P.S. I kinda edited the other chapters as well. No, nothing major added. Just corrected some spelling mistakes and stuff. Read them if you want to.

Anyway, a little help here, please!!! I don't know what to name this hooded figure!!! So, I really hope that you reviewers out there will tell me in your review what to name this character. It should be a female name and try to make it as dark and as mysterious as you can. Preferably Japanese if you can.

Arigatou!!!

List of Japanese words :

Dare – Who

Tessen – Tasuki's diamond fan

Uso – Liar

Mou – My goodness (Can be mild curse)