AN: YA! waga shokun! three cookies for whoever can tell me who says that line! buahahaa! ok sorry for the late update...workschool helping my bro move out = one very busy Usako. Anywho...this chapter is boring. eww...
Le Disclaimer: I am me, you are you...no wait ...you are poo..... oh wait, that's not a disclaimer....ermm ...no ownies my hommies ....hahahahaa ...where do I come up with these?
My Hands ch 4
Hotohori walked around one of his lushious gardens with his advisors, vaguely listening to the suggestions they hissed in his ear. One matter however did catch his attention, and just in time for him to defend himself as well.
"Your majesty, we believe it high time that you consider a bride." the first began. "Indeed, how about the Lady kourin? She is of your harerm." another second.
"Nuriko is a Suzaku Seishi, we would never dream of such a thing. But perhaps there is one that we might consider-"
"ABSOLUTELY NOT!"
Hotohori and his advisors turned to see Aeris stalking down the hall closely followed by what could only be described as a grovelling Tamahome.
"Please! I'll give you back your potions!"
"Tempting, but no."
"Aeris, Tamahome what are you two doing out here?" Hotohori leaned on the railing to call out to his miko and fellow seishi.
"Oh, Hotohori." Aeris completely ignored Tamahome and walked over to better hear Hotohori. "I was going back to my room, and Tamahome here-"
"I was escorting her." he added quickly for her. aha...so he didn't want Hotohori to know about this eh?
Fat Chance.
"Tamahome is using me as a shield from Nuriko." Aeris said with a knowing nod to Hotohori. "But I'd rather not brave her wrath if you know what I mean."
"Is Nuriko not behaving herself?"Hotohori asked concerned. "I could order her to-"
"Pfffft!" Aeris waved a hand to dismiss the matter. "Hotohori," she began quite sternly, "You can't order people's feelings. If she doesn't like me, then she doesn't like me. Life goes on, it's no big deal. Besides, I don't think it's about her not liking me, I just think she's looking for something."
"Looking for something?" Hotohori quirked an eyebrow.
She considered him a moment, "No, perhaps you wouldn't know. Anyway, I plan to handle things on my own. Though your concern is much appreciated, it is unnecessary. But perhaps you could 'protect' Tamahome. I daresay Nuriko would be less prone to do outrageous things in your presesence." she smiled broadly at him, so that Hotohori found himself agreeing without realizing.
"Right, I'm going to go ask Nuriko to join us again." she waved and skipped off.
Tamahome looked to Hotohori, "You didn't realize you agreed, did you?"
The Emperor shook his head.
"She's good."
Hotohori nodded. But then a thought struck him, "What is it that Aeris plans to do?"
This thought appeared to peak an interest in Tamahome for before they knew it, Hotohori had dismissed his advisors and they found themselves following Aeris into the chambers of Hotohori's harem.
Aeris walked around, glad to have a new corridor to walk in. She thought it nice to thank Nuriko for giving her an excuse to walk around here, no matter the reason she was here in the first place. Aeris figured out what must be the reason for Nuriko's infriendly attitude, she wanted attention. Not just any attention, but Hotohori's attention; it was very obvious.
It made sense, that Nuriko wouldn't like her, I mean, courtisans like Nuriko probably spend their entire time here in the palace trying to win the affection of Hotohori, hoping to bear him a son and become an Empress, and here comes Aeris to steal not only the full attention of Hotohori, but of the very attractive Tamahome.
Aeris rolled her eyes at this thought, 'can't they see they only pay attention to me because I'm the miko?' she personally thought this entire situation to be very silly.
She knocked on one of the doors, thinking it better to talk outside than go where at least 15 women can gang up on her. Again, poor Hotohori, he didn't seem the type to enjoy such a harem.
A small woman with much too much make-up on her face answered the door.
"Oh! Why Miko-sama, what a surprise to see you here!" she spoke much too loud, probably alerting whoever was talking crap about her inside. Aeris gave her a weak smile.
"I wish to speak to Lady Kourin, may you tell me where I could find her?"
"Oh but of course miko-sama. Lady Kourin's room is further down the hall towards the gardens, shall I guide you there?"
Aeris would normally have rejected such formality, but in this instance she liked having to be respected by this woman.
"Yes, please do." Aeris put up a brave effort not to laugh, and did amazingly well. She thought she should get a medal of some sort.
They walked down the hall, completely oblivious to her two Seishi who followed close enough to hear everything. The woman, who on the way introduced herself as Jin-Lang knocked softly on Nuriko's door.
"Lady Kourin, the Lady Preistess of Suzaku is here to see you." her voice dripped with honey, and Aeris supressed the urge to smack her upside the head and tell her to cut it out. Again, she thought that deemed another medal.
"Please enter."
Aeris was happy to say that Nuriko's voice didn't drip of honey, but was simple and commanding. She was most likely a higher up within the harem, though how that even worked she didn't know. Maybe she'd ask Nuriko sometime if she didn't feel up to harassing her that day.
"Hello Aeris, what brings you around today?"
"Good evening Nuriko, I just thought I'd ask again if you would be willing to accept the role of Suzaku Seishi."
Nuriko frowned, "I'm afraid I haven't decided." her tone was flat and clearly said that she didn't want to. But rather than turn away like she did earlier, Aeris persisted.
"May I have a seat?"
"please do."
Aeris sweeped under her robe like garment to better sit herself. "I've noticed that you don't seem to like me much Nuriko." she began softly.
Nuriko feigned a look of innosence, "why, Preistess, why ever would you think such a thing?"
Aeris waved a hand wearily, "Aeris please. I'm sorry but I've had to respond to Lady this, and Emminence that all day long and to be honest I'm sick of it. Besides, it's alright to admit you don't like someone. It's not a sin." Aeris smiled at Nuriko. "I'd be an idiot if I expected everyone I ever met to like me. I'd rather be hated for who I am than loved for who I'm not you see. . Not to mention that if I hear another 'Why, Miko-sama' " Aeris batted her eyelashes and immitated Jin-Lang impecably. "I might be inclined to kill them."
Nuriko's lip twtiched. "What did you come here to ask me Aeris?" Her tone was normal, no high inclinations, no flatness, just straightforward and true. Aeris beamed at her.
"I know that you it must be frustrating that I randomly appear as if from nowhere and am suddenly getting all this 'attention'. I understand that it can be especially frustrating to the women of the harem, but really, I think this whole attempt to make me jealous was a bit silly."
Nuriko frowned, "I believe that you are acusing me falsely!" she huffed and stood to turn away from Aeris.
"am I?"
In truth, she had hit right on the money, but Nuriko was prideful and wouldn't give in so easilly.
"What is it that you're looking for? Is it something that's hard to find? You seem to be looking everywhere, but you still don't find it."
Nuriko turned around, what was she babbling about?.
"Do you still feel like looking? Or wouldn't you rather dance with me? Into a dream, wouldn't you want to go see?"
Aeris held out her hand to Nuriko, as if really inviting her to dance. Nuriko huffed again and turned around to ignore. Whatever world she came from...Nuriko didn't want to go there. It was clearly filled with wierdos. What was Suzaku thinking? What in the world was she doing?
"You don't even stop to rest, you stop yourself from laughing. Crawling, you're crawling what in the wolrld are you looking for? It's often said that when you give up, you'll find what you were looking for. So why not dance with me into a dream?"
Without waiting for a response, Aeris grabbed hold of Nuriko's hands and began to pull her around the room, dancing to a song that apparently only Aeris could hear.
Nuriko had to laugh. Was this Aeris's very stragne way of saying 'let's be friends?' Typical, leave it to her to find the strangest way to communicate her feelings. Aeris stopped and held both hands in front of her, facing Nuriko.
"I'm not asking for the world you know, I'm just asking for you to be my friend."
And for a moment, Nuriko flashed her a brilliant smile. "I accept."
Aeris didn't think she's be that thrilled over her latest victory (victory by wierdness) but there she was, doing a ridiculous victory dance, in which everyone present got kicked in the shin. (;;;) Nuriko was trying desperately to squirm away, but with all of Aeris's flailing, what came next was inevitable.
"Umm ...nuriko...????"
Aeris stared down at the woman...
Nuriko followed her gaze and pulled back blushing furiously.
"OH MY GOD!" Aeris cried out shocked.
"No ...wait...um.."
"OOOH MY GOD!!!" she pointed frantically at Nuriko.
"shhhh! You can't tell anyone!!"
"well duh! Not that they'd believe me anyway." Aeris shrugged. "I can't believe it!"
"OH hush!" Nuriko tried to ignore her, but the bright tinge on her ...his cheek was still there.
Aeris sat herself down, her legs had gone weak. "But you....you" she furrowed her eyesbrows at Nuriko.
It was about this time, that there was a squeal in the corridor.
Hotohori had been DISCOVERED!! (oh yeah... and Tama too)
Aeris signaled for Nuriko to stay in the room, and peaked her head outside, just in time to see the quickly reatreating forms of Tamahome and Hotohori!
Nuriko gasped, she too had stuck her head out reguardless of what Aeris had told her to do. She was the Suzaku seishi here!
"Do you think they heard?" Aeris heard the concern in his voice.
"Heard what? We didn't mention anything about ....uh you."
This calmed him a bit, but he bit his lower lip nonetheless. "If they find out about me-"
"They won't." Aeris said promptly and ushered him back into the room. She closed the door behind her and took a seat. "The only one who knows is me right?"
Nuriko nodded.
"Well I'm definetely not going to tell them, and should they find out on their own, they can't do anything to you?"
"Why not?" Nuriko looked puzzled.
Aeris sighed and smacked her seishi, "Because I'm here! That's why. You're my seishi, and I can't let them do anything to you."
"You'd? But I thought I was supposed to protect the miko?"
"You'd be surprised how often those two will trade places now that I'm miko."Aeris gave him a lopsided grin. "So does that mean you'll accept the role of seishi?" she asked excitedly.
"Yes, it does."
"GREAT! Now I just have to find the other 4..."
"You'll find them soon enough." Nuriko said bracingly.
"I hope so, right, I think we should call it a night." Aeris turned to leave and was about to close the door to Nuriko's room when she stopped. She was laughing.
"What is it?"
"It's just....You're the second person in this world to have completely fooled me with their gender." she smiled brightly, "Maybe Tamahome's a girl."
Nuriko laughed, "No, afraid he's not."
"But I can have fun just the same pretending he is."
AN: I HAD to throw a song in there...really I did. Though it's kinda incognito...hrmm well incase you couldn't tell, that was "yume no naka he" from Kare kano. You should also note that I tweaked with the translation MIGHTILY just because it seemed so awkward to have Aeris sing...I mean do YOU burst out in random song?
No ...no you don't
Actually I do sometimes, but it's all in fun and games, and usually making fun of fanfics hahaa. But you must admit, sometimes a song can say much much more than any dialouge can. ne?
Again: reviewers! Pick a number 1-5 and submit it in your review!!! Much appreciated!