Chapter Three: Journey to the Cold Country
Yui looked at the man who sat before her as he smirked, waiting for her response. She took a deep breath and then spoke again.
"What do you mean Nakago? Seiryuu is in serious trouble. We have to find the stone and in order to do that we have to join with the others."
"I understand what you are saying Lady Yui, however I don't entirely agree with the matter. The Suzaku seven are my enemies."
"But you helped them just a year ago."
"Yes I did. Of course I only did it so I could get some rest and peace. I have no intention of ever joining the likes of Tamahome and the Priestess of Suzaku. As far as I am concerned, they stole my dreams and I will not forgive them for that."
"I see. And that is your decision?"
"Yes."
"As the Priestess of Seiryuu then I order you to join us in finding the stone of Seiryuu."
Nakago began to chuckle. Then he looked at Yui amusedly.
"Lady Yui. What gives you the right to order me around?"
"But."
"You may be the Priestess of Seiryuu, but that was years ago. Now is a different time. I don't take orders from anyone. Not anymore."
"I guess you leave me no choice then."
"Hmm?"
"Goodnight Nakago" Yui said shortly as she walked to the door.
"You're angry with me" he replied.
Yui said nothing, just pulled open the door and stalked out. Nakago continued to smile. Yui walked down the hall to where Suboshi and Amiboshi's door was and knocked on the door.
"Amiboshi" she called, "It's Yui. Please open the door.
The door was not opened by Amiboshi, but by Suboshi.
"Lady Yui? What's wrong?" he asked with a concerned frown.
"Suboshi. I need to talk to you."
Back in Tetsuya's apartment it was morning and Keisuke was reading the book. Tetsuya walked out of his bedroom with a towel around his neck and a glass of water in his hand. He saw how tired Keisuke looked but he knew his best friend would never give up when it came to Miaka.
"Here let me read for awhile" Tetsuya replied, "You look exhausted. What's been going on?"
"Yui has been trying to convince Nakago to join her in her quest but he's still refusing."
"Stubborn bastard."
"It's kind of weird Tetsuya" Keisuke continued, "The story is broken up into parts now, because Yui and Miaka both went in there as Priestesses at the same time."
"Huh? I wonder what Yui is going to do now?"
"Good question. Just continue reading. I am going to get a drink of orange juice."
"Okay. Here we are. "The Priestess of Suzaku said farewell to Hotohori at the docks the next morning. The ship was now prepared and the warriors were all aboard. All except Tamahome who remained by her side."
"Take care of yourself Miaka" Hotohori said as they departed.
"Thank you Hotohori. And you take care of Houki and Boushin."
"I will" he smiled, "Taka I hope you find your memories."
"Thank you your maj, oh I mean Hotohori."
Hotohori chuckled.
"You'll get the hang of it."
"I know."
Miaka and Taka climbed aboard the ship and waved one last time to Hotohori. The ship took off at once and Hotohori stood on the docks with his advisors till it disappeared from sight.
"May you be safe Miaka. And Taka. All of you" he thought.
"Well if we have no interruptions" Chiriko replied as they watched the water, "We should be in Hokkan in at least a day or so."
"That's good Chiriko" Miaka said with a smile.
"Why is Tasuki in the middle of the boat?" Taka asked but no one heard him.
"And more than likely we won't run into trouble this time" Nuriko added.
"Trouble? What trouble?" Taka asked.
"Oh this isn't the first time we have traveled to Hokkan Tamakins" Nuriko replied, "We've done this before."
"We have done this before" Taka said realizing, "And Hotohori wasn't with us that time neither."
Miaka, Nuriko, and Chiriko looked at him as he continued.
"But something happened. We were attacked by a storm of some kind."
"That's right Taka" Miaka replied getting excited, "What else can you remember?"
"Um someone fell overboard."
Tasuki suddenly became rigid as he listened in.
"Yea someone fell overboard all right" Nuriko said, "Someone who can't swim very well."
"Hey shut up!" Tasuki yelled, "It wasn't my fault. It was an accident."
"You fell over Tasuki? You can't swim?" Taka replied in surprise.
"Big mouth you had to remind him of that!" he shouted at Nuriko.
"What else Taka?" Miaka urged.
"You jumped in to save him but you couldn't swim very well either, so I jumped in to save you."
"Right" Miaka nodded, "And then a rope was lowered and Tasuki was told to climb it first. But the waves they grew harder and rocked the boat."
"And somehow I ended up in the water with you two" Nuriko finished.
"Really?" Taka said.
"Mhm."
"I also remember us getting back on the boat and then a woman appeared. She was the one who was causing the storm."
"Soi. She was one of the Seiryuu seven" Miaka replied.
"The Seiryuu seven?" Taka looked at her in surprise, "Why was she against us?"
"Uh Tamakins why don't you just continue with what you remember" Nuriko said nervously, "And then we will tell you what we know."
"Okay. Miaka fought against her because the rest of us were pinned down or something. Miaka had a sword of some kind."
"Hotohori's holy sword yes" Miaka clapped her hands, "He gave it to me to protect me on our trip."
"I see. Then you swung the sword at her and I can see a strange light surrounding you, you swung and then it hit her directly."
"That's right" Tasuki replied, "That's exactly right Tama. Miaka was able to stop Soi with that sword and save us all."
"Not only that" Chiriko spoke up, "Once she had defeated her, the rocks cleared and we found our way to Hokkan much faster."
"I see" Taka smiled, "Miaka you were so brave."
She smiled back at him and giggled.
"Oh Taka, you'll remember so much more as time goes by."
"I sure hope so" he grinned.
"Don't worry Tama we'll get your memories back. Or my name isn't Genrou" Tasuki said placing a hand on his shoulder.
"But I thought your name is Tasuki, not Genrou" Taka said confused.
"Uh right."
"Dummy" Nuriko stuck him, "Tama doesn't remember that stuff."
"I forgot!" Tasuki complained, "Don't hit me so hard!"
Miaka watched Taka as he gazed at the water. For the first time in weeks he looked at peace, like nothing was disturbing him. She sighed happily and laid her head on his arm as she held onto it. But many thoughts entered her head.
"Oh Taka. It's wonderful that you're remembering things. But I wonder what will happen? How will you feel when you start to remember the bad things? The painful things? I almost can't bear it. But I know you have to remember them. Yui chan. I wonder. If she's all right?"
Yui strolled to the dining hall where Nakago, Soi, and Tomo were eating their lunch. Behind her were Amiboshi and Suboshi both with determined faces. Nakago looked up as they entered the room.
"Lady Yui. Good afternoon. Come sit down and eat" he replied.
"Nakago" she said seriously, "Since you refuse to join the quest, I have come to decision."
"What decision is that?"
"I will go on this mission, with as many of the Seiryuu seven as I can. Even if that doesn't include you."
Authors Note:
Next Chapter: Takako and the Genbu Seven
Miaka and the warriors arrive in Hokkan and start looking for the Genbu seven. Yui splits the Seiryuu seven apart in order to find the stone. Meanwhile someone is watching the Suzaku seven with deep mistrust. See what happens next time!
Yui looked at the man who sat before her as he smirked, waiting for her response. She took a deep breath and then spoke again.
"What do you mean Nakago? Seiryuu is in serious trouble. We have to find the stone and in order to do that we have to join with the others."
"I understand what you are saying Lady Yui, however I don't entirely agree with the matter. The Suzaku seven are my enemies."
"But you helped them just a year ago."
"Yes I did. Of course I only did it so I could get some rest and peace. I have no intention of ever joining the likes of Tamahome and the Priestess of Suzaku. As far as I am concerned, they stole my dreams and I will not forgive them for that."
"I see. And that is your decision?"
"Yes."
"As the Priestess of Seiryuu then I order you to join us in finding the stone of Seiryuu."
Nakago began to chuckle. Then he looked at Yui amusedly.
"Lady Yui. What gives you the right to order me around?"
"But."
"You may be the Priestess of Seiryuu, but that was years ago. Now is a different time. I don't take orders from anyone. Not anymore."
"I guess you leave me no choice then."
"Hmm?"
"Goodnight Nakago" Yui said shortly as she walked to the door.
"You're angry with me" he replied.
Yui said nothing, just pulled open the door and stalked out. Nakago continued to smile. Yui walked down the hall to where Suboshi and Amiboshi's door was and knocked on the door.
"Amiboshi" she called, "It's Yui. Please open the door.
The door was not opened by Amiboshi, but by Suboshi.
"Lady Yui? What's wrong?" he asked with a concerned frown.
"Suboshi. I need to talk to you."
Back in Tetsuya's apartment it was morning and Keisuke was reading the book. Tetsuya walked out of his bedroom with a towel around his neck and a glass of water in his hand. He saw how tired Keisuke looked but he knew his best friend would never give up when it came to Miaka.
"Here let me read for awhile" Tetsuya replied, "You look exhausted. What's been going on?"
"Yui has been trying to convince Nakago to join her in her quest but he's still refusing."
"Stubborn bastard."
"It's kind of weird Tetsuya" Keisuke continued, "The story is broken up into parts now, because Yui and Miaka both went in there as Priestesses at the same time."
"Huh? I wonder what Yui is going to do now?"
"Good question. Just continue reading. I am going to get a drink of orange juice."
"Okay. Here we are. "The Priestess of Suzaku said farewell to Hotohori at the docks the next morning. The ship was now prepared and the warriors were all aboard. All except Tamahome who remained by her side."
"Take care of yourself Miaka" Hotohori said as they departed.
"Thank you Hotohori. And you take care of Houki and Boushin."
"I will" he smiled, "Taka I hope you find your memories."
"Thank you your maj, oh I mean Hotohori."
Hotohori chuckled.
"You'll get the hang of it."
"I know."
Miaka and Taka climbed aboard the ship and waved one last time to Hotohori. The ship took off at once and Hotohori stood on the docks with his advisors till it disappeared from sight.
"May you be safe Miaka. And Taka. All of you" he thought.
"Well if we have no interruptions" Chiriko replied as they watched the water, "We should be in Hokkan in at least a day or so."
"That's good Chiriko" Miaka said with a smile.
"Why is Tasuki in the middle of the boat?" Taka asked but no one heard him.
"And more than likely we won't run into trouble this time" Nuriko added.
"Trouble? What trouble?" Taka asked.
"Oh this isn't the first time we have traveled to Hokkan Tamakins" Nuriko replied, "We've done this before."
"We have done this before" Taka said realizing, "And Hotohori wasn't with us that time neither."
Miaka, Nuriko, and Chiriko looked at him as he continued.
"But something happened. We were attacked by a storm of some kind."
"That's right Taka" Miaka replied getting excited, "What else can you remember?"
"Um someone fell overboard."
Tasuki suddenly became rigid as he listened in.
"Yea someone fell overboard all right" Nuriko said, "Someone who can't swim very well."
"Hey shut up!" Tasuki yelled, "It wasn't my fault. It was an accident."
"You fell over Tasuki? You can't swim?" Taka replied in surprise.
"Big mouth you had to remind him of that!" he shouted at Nuriko.
"What else Taka?" Miaka urged.
"You jumped in to save him but you couldn't swim very well either, so I jumped in to save you."
"Right" Miaka nodded, "And then a rope was lowered and Tasuki was told to climb it first. But the waves they grew harder and rocked the boat."
"And somehow I ended up in the water with you two" Nuriko finished.
"Really?" Taka said.
"Mhm."
"I also remember us getting back on the boat and then a woman appeared. She was the one who was causing the storm."
"Soi. She was one of the Seiryuu seven" Miaka replied.
"The Seiryuu seven?" Taka looked at her in surprise, "Why was she against us?"
"Uh Tamakins why don't you just continue with what you remember" Nuriko said nervously, "And then we will tell you what we know."
"Okay. Miaka fought against her because the rest of us were pinned down or something. Miaka had a sword of some kind."
"Hotohori's holy sword yes" Miaka clapped her hands, "He gave it to me to protect me on our trip."
"I see. Then you swung the sword at her and I can see a strange light surrounding you, you swung and then it hit her directly."
"That's right" Tasuki replied, "That's exactly right Tama. Miaka was able to stop Soi with that sword and save us all."
"Not only that" Chiriko spoke up, "Once she had defeated her, the rocks cleared and we found our way to Hokkan much faster."
"I see" Taka smiled, "Miaka you were so brave."
She smiled back at him and giggled.
"Oh Taka, you'll remember so much more as time goes by."
"I sure hope so" he grinned.
"Don't worry Tama we'll get your memories back. Or my name isn't Genrou" Tasuki said placing a hand on his shoulder.
"But I thought your name is Tasuki, not Genrou" Taka said confused.
"Uh right."
"Dummy" Nuriko stuck him, "Tama doesn't remember that stuff."
"I forgot!" Tasuki complained, "Don't hit me so hard!"
Miaka watched Taka as he gazed at the water. For the first time in weeks he looked at peace, like nothing was disturbing him. She sighed happily and laid her head on his arm as she held onto it. But many thoughts entered her head.
"Oh Taka. It's wonderful that you're remembering things. But I wonder what will happen? How will you feel when you start to remember the bad things? The painful things? I almost can't bear it. But I know you have to remember them. Yui chan. I wonder. If she's all right?"
Yui strolled to the dining hall where Nakago, Soi, and Tomo were eating their lunch. Behind her were Amiboshi and Suboshi both with determined faces. Nakago looked up as they entered the room.
"Lady Yui. Good afternoon. Come sit down and eat" he replied.
"Nakago" she said seriously, "Since you refuse to join the quest, I have come to decision."
"What decision is that?"
"I will go on this mission, with as many of the Seiryuu seven as I can. Even if that doesn't include you."
Authors Note:
Next Chapter: Takako and the Genbu Seven
Miaka and the warriors arrive in Hokkan and start looking for the Genbu seven. Yui splits the Seiryuu seven apart in order to find the stone. Meanwhile someone is watching the Suzaku seven with deep mistrust. See what happens next time!
