Chapter Six: Genbu Grotto
Miaka and Mrs. Yuki came out of the bedroom holding each other in their arms. At the same time Yui and her mother came back in as well.
"So everything's okay now?" Keisuke asked as the other men in the room looked up.
"Everything's fine son" Mrs. Yuki said with a smile, "Miaka has told me everything."
"And so has Yui" Mrs. Hongo added as she sat down on the couch.
Mrs. Yuki sat down in the armchair that Tetsuya occupied usually as Keisuke who was now at peace himself, grabbed a beer from the fridge.
"Now that that's settled" Miaka replied with a smile as she walked over to her warriors, "It's time for introductions. Mom" she turned to Mrs. Yuki. "I would like to introduce you to the Suzaku seven. This is Hotohori."
"Nice to meet you Mrs. Yuki" he bowed graciously.
"Chichiri."
"It's a pleasure you know" he grinned behind his mask.
"Nuriko."
"Hi" Nuriko replied with a smile.
"Tasuki."
"Hey there" Tasuki waved.
"Mitsukake."
"Hello."
"And Chiriko."
"A pleasure to meet you" Chiriko bowed his eyes.
"My" Mrs. Yuki put a hand to her mouth, "You're a warrior? But you're so young."
"I get that a lot" Chiriko chuckled.
"But Miaka" her mother said, "I thought that they're were seven of them?"
"Oh yea" Miaka replied as she walked over to Taka, "This is the seventh one" she placed a hand on his shoulder as she stood behind him.
"But dear. That's your brother's friend from college."
"I know that. But Taka is one of the Suzaku seven."
"That's right Mrs. Yuki" Taka said with a smile.
"You're Tamahome then?"
"Well I."
"Technically he's a reincarnation of Tamahome" Miaka explained for him.
"I see" Mrs. Yuki smiled, "Then I suppose I owe you most of my thanks, Taka. All of you. You have protected my daughter through all the terrible things she's been through. And I can't thank you enough."
"The pleasure is ours Mrs. Yuki" Nuriko replied with a wink.
"After all she is our Priestess" Hotohori added, "It is our job to protect her."
"Hotohori" Miaka blushed happily.
"Well thank you just the same."
They all bowed to her out of respect.
"Yui" Miaka turned to her best friend, "Your turn."
"Okay. Mom" she turned to Mrs. Hongo, "I would like you to meet, some of my warriors. Guys my mother, Mrs. Hongo."
The four warriors bowed in front of her. Compared to the Suzaku seven they looked a bit odd to Mrs. Hongo but she smiled just the same.
"This is Suboshi and Amiboshi. Twin brothers of the Seiryuu seven."
"Nice to meet you" they said in unison.
"Hello" Mrs. Hongo nodded.
"Miboshi."
"Good afternoon" he bowed his eyes.
"Hello" she said a bit uneasy.
"And Ashitare."
"Hello" he growled as he bowed.
"Nice to meet you."
Ashitare stood back up and Mrs. Hongo paused for a moment, then she smiled.
"I want to thank the four of you for protecting my daughter in the ways you did in the past and even now. She is very important to me."
"She's very important to us too" Suboshi replied as he looked at her.
"Thank you."
"Ah" Keisuke sighed happily, "Doesn't it feel like a big relief has been taken off your shoulders Tetsuya?"
"Well maybe" Tetsyua said.
"Are you kidding? Waiting almost a whole week for mom to come home so we could tell her this. It was pure torture."
"A whole week?" Mrs. Yuki replied interrupting, "Is that how long they have been here?"
"Uh yea" Keisuke nodded.
"Well where on earth did they stay?"
"I can answer that" Miaka said sitting down next to her mother, "Hotohori, Chichiri, Chiriko, and Mitsukake stayed with us. While Tasuki and Nuriko stayed with Taka at his apartment."
"And I took the rest with me" Tetsuya added, "Minus one."
"Yea" Yui grinned, "Suboshi came with me."
"Well how is that possible dear I mean I didn't even" Mrs. Hongo said but stopped when she realized, "Oh, you were the strange girl that was over."
Suboshi froze.
"Wait a second" Nuriko broke in, "Pardon?"
"I had to dress up Suboshi like a" Yui started to say.
"Don't say it Lady Yui!" he interrupted angrily and embarrassed.
"Oh I see" Nuriko grinned, "You were dressed up a like a girl" he began to laugh.
"Look who's talking!" Suboshi shouted, "I seem to remember you being the same way."
"Where did you hear about that?"
"That's none of your business" he crossed his arms definantly.
"Suboshi, it's not that big of a deal" Miaka intervened.
"That's right" Yui smiled, "We did what we had to do so that we could hide you."
"Well" Suboshi gritted his teeth on every line, "I still don't like it."
Everyone laughed including his brother which made him go red in the face with complete frustration. Afterwards Toki arrived with some food so everyone sat down to eat. Yui wandered out onto the back porch some time after, so Miaka followed her.
Her best friend was leaning on the railing and gazing at the backyard. She sighed heavily and laid her head on the railing.
"Yui?" Miaka said as she approached.
"Miaka" she looked up.
"What's the matter?"
"Oh nothing. I guess I just feel relieved."
"Me too. That wasn't so bad, was it?"
"No it wasn't. I thought it was going to be. Especially when I had to tell her everything that I did, to you."
"Oh Yui. That's all in the past after all. And it wasn't your fault. It was Nakago's."
"Yea. I know. Miaka, when we go to Genbu Grotto, we're not taking everyone are we?"
"I thought that we would take just a few of our warriors. Taka will go with me of course. And I'll take Nuriko, Tasuki and Hotohori since he's never met the Genbu seven."
"Then I guess I'll take Amiboshi and Suboshi with me. And Tetsuya. He can take us to Genbu Grotto."
"Mhm" Miaka nodded, "Keisuke can stay here with our moms."
"Good idea. When should we go?"
"The sooner, the better. Some time this afternoon."
"What about right now?"
"Right now?"
"Sure. We've got to get out of the way after all. We still have a mission to accomplish."
"You're right Yui. All right. Why don't we go talk with them right now, and head out."
"Okay" Yui agreed, "Let's do it Miaka."
A couple of minutes later they were riding in Toki's Land Rover towards Genbu Grotto. Tetsuya had decided to stay behind with Keisuke, so Toki was taking them. It only took about twenty minutes to arrive. Miaka was the first to climb out of the truck. She looked around her for a minute confused. It was so unlike what she imagined it to be.
"This is it?" she asked Toki as he and the others climbed out.
"Yep" he nodded, "This is it. See the sign" he pointed.
"Hmm" she looked up as Yui walked over, "Genbu Grotto. Yep, this is the place."
"But where do we find them?" Yui asked.
"Maybe we should look around?" Taka suggested.
"We should have brought Chichiri" Tasuki replied, "He could sense their life force."
"Oh stop your complaining" Nuriko said exasperated, "We'll find them."
"Maybe we should split up Lady Yui?" Suboshi replied as his brother nodded in agreement.
"Good idea. Miaka, me and these two will go to the left. You take the others and go to the right" Yui said.
"Right" Miaka nodded.
"How hard is it going to be to find these guys anyway?" Tasuki replied with a yawn.
"You're complaining again" Nuriko frowned, "And you had better cut it out before I knock you into those rocks."
"Ahh!" Tasuki yelled in fright.
"Nuriko. Tasuki" Hotohori said as he walked, "Knock it off. There is no need for all of that."
"Of course your majesty, but I can't help it" Nuriko clenched his fist, "He's getting on my nerves."
"I'm getting on your nerves!" Tasuki said back angrily.
"Miaka look out! Taka suddenly lunged forward and grabbed her around the waist.
"Huh?" she replied in surprise as he wrapped his arms around her.
They landed a few feet from where she originally was standing. The other three ran over in concern.
"Tamakins" Nuriko stuttered as they opened their eyes.
"Tama. What happened?" Tasuki asked.
"Look" Taka pointed.
An arrow was lodged in the very spot where Miaka had been standing only moments ago.
"An arrow?" Nuriko said pulling it out.
"Where did that come from?" Miaka asked.
"Who could have done such a thing?" Hotohori added.
"I recognize that arrow" Taka replied slowly as he looked around, "Who's out there? Show yourself!"
"We don't take kindly to trespassers in this place!" the answer came, "Tell me who you are stranger?"
Taka recognized the voice, but decided to be careful not to use his real name, in case it was a trap.
"I am called Tamahome. I am one of the Suzaku seven."
"Suzaku seven? Well why didn't you say so?"
Seconds later, scraping of boots could be heard on the rocks in front of them. A figure appeared holding a bow, carrying a quiver on his back filled with arrows. His long brown hair was tied back, and he now sported a headband across his forehead, green in color. There was no doubt about it. They had seen this man before.
"I was wondering when you were going to show up" Namame grinned.
Authors Note: Sorry. I know I was supposed to do this last night, but I ran out of time. Any way here's the last chapter of the week. See you next week for the last four chapters of Book Three!
Next Chapter: Ren Confronts Nakago
Nakago makes his appearance in the real world? What is his connection with Tenkou and why is Ren suddenly interested in him? Find out next time!
Miaka and Mrs. Yuki came out of the bedroom holding each other in their arms. At the same time Yui and her mother came back in as well.
"So everything's okay now?" Keisuke asked as the other men in the room looked up.
"Everything's fine son" Mrs. Yuki said with a smile, "Miaka has told me everything."
"And so has Yui" Mrs. Hongo added as she sat down on the couch.
Mrs. Yuki sat down in the armchair that Tetsuya occupied usually as Keisuke who was now at peace himself, grabbed a beer from the fridge.
"Now that that's settled" Miaka replied with a smile as she walked over to her warriors, "It's time for introductions. Mom" she turned to Mrs. Yuki. "I would like to introduce you to the Suzaku seven. This is Hotohori."
"Nice to meet you Mrs. Yuki" he bowed graciously.
"Chichiri."
"It's a pleasure you know" he grinned behind his mask.
"Nuriko."
"Hi" Nuriko replied with a smile.
"Tasuki."
"Hey there" Tasuki waved.
"Mitsukake."
"Hello."
"And Chiriko."
"A pleasure to meet you" Chiriko bowed his eyes.
"My" Mrs. Yuki put a hand to her mouth, "You're a warrior? But you're so young."
"I get that a lot" Chiriko chuckled.
"But Miaka" her mother said, "I thought that they're were seven of them?"
"Oh yea" Miaka replied as she walked over to Taka, "This is the seventh one" she placed a hand on his shoulder as she stood behind him.
"But dear. That's your brother's friend from college."
"I know that. But Taka is one of the Suzaku seven."
"That's right Mrs. Yuki" Taka said with a smile.
"You're Tamahome then?"
"Well I."
"Technically he's a reincarnation of Tamahome" Miaka explained for him.
"I see" Mrs. Yuki smiled, "Then I suppose I owe you most of my thanks, Taka. All of you. You have protected my daughter through all the terrible things she's been through. And I can't thank you enough."
"The pleasure is ours Mrs. Yuki" Nuriko replied with a wink.
"After all she is our Priestess" Hotohori added, "It is our job to protect her."
"Hotohori" Miaka blushed happily.
"Well thank you just the same."
They all bowed to her out of respect.
"Yui" Miaka turned to her best friend, "Your turn."
"Okay. Mom" she turned to Mrs. Hongo, "I would like you to meet, some of my warriors. Guys my mother, Mrs. Hongo."
The four warriors bowed in front of her. Compared to the Suzaku seven they looked a bit odd to Mrs. Hongo but she smiled just the same.
"This is Suboshi and Amiboshi. Twin brothers of the Seiryuu seven."
"Nice to meet you" they said in unison.
"Hello" Mrs. Hongo nodded.
"Miboshi."
"Good afternoon" he bowed his eyes.
"Hello" she said a bit uneasy.
"And Ashitare."
"Hello" he growled as he bowed.
"Nice to meet you."
Ashitare stood back up and Mrs. Hongo paused for a moment, then she smiled.
"I want to thank the four of you for protecting my daughter in the ways you did in the past and even now. She is very important to me."
"She's very important to us too" Suboshi replied as he looked at her.
"Thank you."
"Ah" Keisuke sighed happily, "Doesn't it feel like a big relief has been taken off your shoulders Tetsuya?"
"Well maybe" Tetsyua said.
"Are you kidding? Waiting almost a whole week for mom to come home so we could tell her this. It was pure torture."
"A whole week?" Mrs. Yuki replied interrupting, "Is that how long they have been here?"
"Uh yea" Keisuke nodded.
"Well where on earth did they stay?"
"I can answer that" Miaka said sitting down next to her mother, "Hotohori, Chichiri, Chiriko, and Mitsukake stayed with us. While Tasuki and Nuriko stayed with Taka at his apartment."
"And I took the rest with me" Tetsuya added, "Minus one."
"Yea" Yui grinned, "Suboshi came with me."
"Well how is that possible dear I mean I didn't even" Mrs. Hongo said but stopped when she realized, "Oh, you were the strange girl that was over."
Suboshi froze.
"Wait a second" Nuriko broke in, "Pardon?"
"I had to dress up Suboshi like a" Yui started to say.
"Don't say it Lady Yui!" he interrupted angrily and embarrassed.
"Oh I see" Nuriko grinned, "You were dressed up a like a girl" he began to laugh.
"Look who's talking!" Suboshi shouted, "I seem to remember you being the same way."
"Where did you hear about that?"
"That's none of your business" he crossed his arms definantly.
"Suboshi, it's not that big of a deal" Miaka intervened.
"That's right" Yui smiled, "We did what we had to do so that we could hide you."
"Well" Suboshi gritted his teeth on every line, "I still don't like it."
Everyone laughed including his brother which made him go red in the face with complete frustration. Afterwards Toki arrived with some food so everyone sat down to eat. Yui wandered out onto the back porch some time after, so Miaka followed her.
Her best friend was leaning on the railing and gazing at the backyard. She sighed heavily and laid her head on the railing.
"Yui?" Miaka said as she approached.
"Miaka" she looked up.
"What's the matter?"
"Oh nothing. I guess I just feel relieved."
"Me too. That wasn't so bad, was it?"
"No it wasn't. I thought it was going to be. Especially when I had to tell her everything that I did, to you."
"Oh Yui. That's all in the past after all. And it wasn't your fault. It was Nakago's."
"Yea. I know. Miaka, when we go to Genbu Grotto, we're not taking everyone are we?"
"I thought that we would take just a few of our warriors. Taka will go with me of course. And I'll take Nuriko, Tasuki and Hotohori since he's never met the Genbu seven."
"Then I guess I'll take Amiboshi and Suboshi with me. And Tetsuya. He can take us to Genbu Grotto."
"Mhm" Miaka nodded, "Keisuke can stay here with our moms."
"Good idea. When should we go?"
"The sooner, the better. Some time this afternoon."
"What about right now?"
"Right now?"
"Sure. We've got to get out of the way after all. We still have a mission to accomplish."
"You're right Yui. All right. Why don't we go talk with them right now, and head out."
"Okay" Yui agreed, "Let's do it Miaka."
A couple of minutes later they were riding in Toki's Land Rover towards Genbu Grotto. Tetsuya had decided to stay behind with Keisuke, so Toki was taking them. It only took about twenty minutes to arrive. Miaka was the first to climb out of the truck. She looked around her for a minute confused. It was so unlike what she imagined it to be.
"This is it?" she asked Toki as he and the others climbed out.
"Yep" he nodded, "This is it. See the sign" he pointed.
"Hmm" she looked up as Yui walked over, "Genbu Grotto. Yep, this is the place."
"But where do we find them?" Yui asked.
"Maybe we should look around?" Taka suggested.
"We should have brought Chichiri" Tasuki replied, "He could sense their life force."
"Oh stop your complaining" Nuriko said exasperated, "We'll find them."
"Maybe we should split up Lady Yui?" Suboshi replied as his brother nodded in agreement.
"Good idea. Miaka, me and these two will go to the left. You take the others and go to the right" Yui said.
"Right" Miaka nodded.
"How hard is it going to be to find these guys anyway?" Tasuki replied with a yawn.
"You're complaining again" Nuriko frowned, "And you had better cut it out before I knock you into those rocks."
"Ahh!" Tasuki yelled in fright.
"Nuriko. Tasuki" Hotohori said as he walked, "Knock it off. There is no need for all of that."
"Of course your majesty, but I can't help it" Nuriko clenched his fist, "He's getting on my nerves."
"I'm getting on your nerves!" Tasuki said back angrily.
"Miaka look out! Taka suddenly lunged forward and grabbed her around the waist.
"Huh?" she replied in surprise as he wrapped his arms around her.
They landed a few feet from where she originally was standing. The other three ran over in concern.
"Tamakins" Nuriko stuttered as they opened their eyes.
"Tama. What happened?" Tasuki asked.
"Look" Taka pointed.
An arrow was lodged in the very spot where Miaka had been standing only moments ago.
"An arrow?" Nuriko said pulling it out.
"Where did that come from?" Miaka asked.
"Who could have done such a thing?" Hotohori added.
"I recognize that arrow" Taka replied slowly as he looked around, "Who's out there? Show yourself!"
"We don't take kindly to trespassers in this place!" the answer came, "Tell me who you are stranger?"
Taka recognized the voice, but decided to be careful not to use his real name, in case it was a trap.
"I am called Tamahome. I am one of the Suzaku seven."
"Suzaku seven? Well why didn't you say so?"
Seconds later, scraping of boots could be heard on the rocks in front of them. A figure appeared holding a bow, carrying a quiver on his back filled with arrows. His long brown hair was tied back, and he now sported a headband across his forehead, green in color. There was no doubt about it. They had seen this man before.
"I was wondering when you were going to show up" Namame grinned.
Authors Note: Sorry. I know I was supposed to do this last night, but I ran out of time. Any way here's the last chapter of the week. See you next week for the last four chapters of Book Three!
Next Chapter: Ren Confronts Nakago
Nakago makes his appearance in the real world? What is his connection with Tenkou and why is Ren suddenly interested in him? Find out next time!
