Taka found Miaka outside of her room that evening, gazing sadly at the sky. He had gone to comfort her because of their recent discovery, he was certain she was upset.
"Miaka" he replied as he approached.
"Taka" she looked back at him in surprise, "What are you doing here?"
"I came to see if you're okay."
"I'm all right. Why shouldn't I be?"
"Well, if my best friend started to hate me again, I don't think I would be okay."
"Oh that's no big deal. I'm fine with it" she sniffled.
"Then why are you crying?"
"I'm not crying, I just have a cold" she cleared her throat.
"A cold? C'mon Miaka you can do better than that?"
"I'm fine Taka really? I really am. I mean there's nothing I can do about it right? So why should I worry about it?"
"Because she's your best friend. You guys have been through a lot together. She's"
"I know!" Miaka shouted, "I know. You don't have to keep reminding me. I just. I want to be alone right now Taka, could you go away."
"Okay" he nodded slowly, "If that's really what you want?"
He started to walk away but Miaka turned around suddenly and cried out.
"Taka wait!"
He stopped and looked at her.
"I don't want you to go, not really. I'm sorry I said that. It's just I don't know what I am going to do" the tears were falling now.
"Come here" he held out his arms to her.
Miaka walked over and fell into them sobbing harder then she ever had. Taka held onto her tightly and closed his eyes, as if feeling her pain in his own heart.
(Next Scene)
Once Miaka had gone to bed, Taka returned to the dining room where he found the rest of the warriors eating and drinking wine.
"How's Miaka?" Nuriko asked looking up as he entered.
"She's asleep right now. She probably needs it" Taka sat down with a sigh.
"More than likely, yes" Hotohori nodded, "How are you doing Tamahome?"
"I'm okay" Taka shrugged.
"You don't look like you're okay" Tasuki spoke up, "You look like you're about to cry yourself" he teased.
"Tasuki don't make me hit you!" Taka stood up angrily.
Tasuki cringed as he neared him but Nuriko pulled Taka back.
"Now calm down Tamakins" Nuriko replied, "Besides if anyone is going to be hitting that moron it's going to be me" he gazed at the bandit with an angry look.
"I don't think anyone is going to do that Nuriko" Hotohori replied firmly.
"All right your majesty" Nuriko nodded as he and Taka sat back down and Tasuki moved to the other side of the table, next to Chiriko.
"Thank you. Tamahome, before when you were with Miaka we talked. We've decided that we're not going to let Tenkou's spell affect what we are supposed to be doing."
"What do you mean?"
"Well. Tenkou is trying to prevent us from carrying out our mission you know" Chichiri said, "So our thought is, why not carry out the mission despite what's going on?"
"You mean search for the stone?"
"Precisely" Chichiri smiled, "I know of a temple not far from here that can help us find it's location, and not only that find the Temple of the God's too you know."
"What place is this Chichiri?" Hotohori asked.
"It's another shrine to Suzaku. In fact it's one of the biggest ones in the vicinity."
"I know that place" Chiriko spoke up, "My parents often have their diplomatic meetings there. It's not far from Jozan city."
"Do you think that you could lead us there Chiriko?" Nuriko asked.
"Mhm" Chiriko nodded with a smile, "It'll be no trouble."
"That settles that" Hotohori leaned back in his chair, "Unfortunately I can't go with you this time. I will remain here in the capitol until you return."
"Well who's going to tell Miaka?" Tasuki asked.
"There's no need to" Miaka spoke up from the doorway, "I heard everything."
Everyone stared at her as she walked over to the table with a smile on her face.
"And I think it's a wonderful idea."
"Are you sure Miaka?" Taka said in concern, "I mean you could stay here and rest."
"No" she shook her head, "I'm going with you. I can't just sit here. I am the Priestess of Suzaku after all. It's my responsibility."
"Fair enough" Hotohori replied standing up; "We will have horses prepared for you tomorrow. In the meantime let's all get some rest."
(Next Scene)
Back in Kutou Suboshi gazed into Yui's bedroom. She was sound asleep so he closed the door quietly. He walked to the courtyard and past many buildings till he came to the stables. He selected a grayish color horse and got on it. He stared angrily at the gate of the palace and then seconds later charged through it.
"Just you wait Priestess of Suzaku" he thought to himself, "I'll make you sorry this time. You watch!"
(Next Scene)
The next morning Hotohori saw them off from the palace gates. This time Taka rode in front with Miaka behind him. Since regaining Tamahome's memories meant, he could ride a horse again. Chiriko was on Chichiri's horse leading the way, while Nuriko, Mitsukake, and Tasuki rode close behind.
"How long is it going to take us to get to this shrine Chiriko?" Miaka asked.
"It's only going to take us about two hours. Like I said before it's not far from where I live," he answered.
"I've heard that it has a rather extensive library as well" Chichiri replied.
"You've heard right" Chiriko smiled, "You'll see for yourself once we get there."
(Next Scene)
As Hotohori was entering the gates of the palace, after walking for an hour in his gardens, he noticed a horse stopping before him. His guards rushed forward to block him as the young, blond haired youth fell off the horse before him.
"No wait!" he called out holding out his hands to stop the guards, "Who are you stranger?"
Amiboshi lifted his face wearily and Hotohori kneeled down.
"Amiboshi is that you?" he asked in concern.
"Your majesty. I have been traveling all night" Amiboshi replied.
"Why?" Hotohori said in suspicion.
"I need to speak with Miaka."
"Then you remember who she is?"
"Of course I remember. That's why I'm here. Lady Yui has forgotten her. I had to see for myself if you all had fallen under the same spell as her. Where is Miaka your majesty? Where is the Priestess of Suzaku?"
"I'm sorry Amiboshi but you just missed her."
"What?"
"She and the other warriors set out just an hour ago for a shrine to find out what they could about the stone of Suzaku. Miaka decided to continue looking for the stone and continuing our mission despite all the weird things that are happening."
"Hmm" Amiboshi smiled, "That's just like her. Where is the shrine?" he stood up, Hotohori following.
"It's about two hours from here" Hotohori said, "What are you planning on doing?" he asked when Amiboshi mounted his horse once more.
"I'm going to speak with her and Tamahome. About Lady Yui. I'm sure she'd want to know if she was all right."
"Yes, but going on your own?"
"I'll be all right. Thank you your majesty" he kicked the side of the horse and it reared, "I'll see you later!" he said as the horse galloped back out of the gates.
"Your highness" an advisor asked coming over, "Is everything all right?"
"Yes" Hotohori replied, "He is a friend of the Suzaku seven. The next time you see him, welcome him."
"Yes sir" they all bowed as he walked back into the palace.
(Next Scene)
Two hours had passed and Miaka was getting tired of riding on the back of the horse. Tasuki yawned and annoyingly asked for like the tenth time that day if they were there. Chiriko nodded as a pair of two poles came into view. They rode their horses in and were greeted by the monks who tended the shrine. Chichiri bowed to them and explained their mission and they were shone in to greet the head monk. He greeted them with a cordial hello and then they all knelt down, and he had some tea brought in. His bushy eyebrows were white like his hair. Miaka stared at the old man with a slight grin on her face.
"Another man with no eyes" she thought.
"So you are the Priestess of Suzaku," the old monk said as he put his teacup down.
"Oh yes" she nodded.
"We humbly welcome you to our small shrine. Odokun it's been awhile."
"Mmm" Chiriko nodded, "Father often tells me about you."
"Indeed. Well you are all more than welcome to remain here and do your research as long as you like."
"Thank you" Miaka bowed along with the others, "We appreciate any support that you can give us."
Suddenly a monk ran in and whispered into the old man's ear for a moment. The old man turned to the group in concern.
"It seems you have a visitor" he replied, "Who knows you're here?"
"The Emperor knows that we are here" Taka spoke up.
"Perhaps he has sent someone to speak with you."
"Let's go find out" Miaka stood up and walked out the door before they could stop her.
"Wait Miaka!" Taka called.
(Next Scene)
Miaka walked outside and saw a bunch of monks blocking a young boy from coming inside.
"Please" he insisted, "I have to get inside it's important."
"Amiboshi?" she said in surprise.
He looked up and smiled in relief.
"Miaka."
"You can let him go" she replied to the monks as the rest of the Suzaku seven arrived, "Amiboshi what are you doing here?"
"I came looking for you" Amiboshi replied as he moved past the monks, " To see if you're all right."
"I'm fine. What about Yui? Is she okay?"
"Lady Yui is all right. However she doesn't remember anything that happened. She thinks this is the time when she and you were enemies."
"Yea I know."
"How do you know?"
"Because we returned to the time before we went on our journey to Hokkan, the first time you know" Chichiri replied.
"Only it was messed up," Chiriko added.
"There was no evidence that we had ever met you before" Nuriko said, "It's like you never tricked us."
"That's why all the guards at the palace of Konan were acting so strange" Amiboshi replied, "They've never seen me. But how is that possible? I tricked you before the trip to Hokkan."
"Yea well someone doesn't have the right information" Tasuki said, "Whoever's doing this, has no clue how it went."
"Hmm? Any way I came all this way because I wanted to see if you all were okay Miaka, and because I also made a promise to myself. That I would protect you. So here I am."
"Well we could always use another bodyguard" Tasuki swung his arm around his shoulder, "Ain't that right guys?"
"Sure. Sure. Absolutely" Nuriko grinned as they led him into the temple, followed by Chiriko, Mitsukake, and Chichiri.
"Miaka" Taka looked back at her since she lingered a little, "What's the matter?"
"Oh it's nothing Taka" she smiled taking his arm, "Let's go inside."
(Next Scene)
As Hotohori ate his dinner he thought about his wife Houki and son Boushin. Would he ever see them again? He wasn't sure. As he was pondering this very thought an advisor came rushing in at once.
"Your majesty" he said breathlessly kneeling before him.
"What is it? What's wrong?"
"Some of the guards have been attacked."
"By whom?" Hotohori stood up angrily.
"That strange boy you let into the palace this afternoon sire. He came back asking all sorts of questions about the priestess and then took off."
"But I told Amiboshi where they had go, wait a second" Hotohori stopped, "Not Amiboshi. But Suboshi. Ready my horse!"
"Sire?"
"Immediately!" Hotohori ordered storming out of the room.
(Next Scene)
Miaka gazed sadly at the moon as it appeared. She closed her eyes and suddenly heard the sound of a flute nearby. She pulled herself away from the post and walked towards the gardens. She found Amiboshi there sitting on one of the fountains, playing sweetly. As she approached he lifted his head and smiled.
"Amiboshi do you have a minute?" she asked when he stopped.
"Sure" he nodded, "I actually wanted to talk to you too, Miaka."
He stood up and they walked deeper into the garden. Meanwhile in one of the rooms, a figure lay unconscious on the floor, his short blond hair strewn across his face, and his belt missing a flute.
(Till Next Time)
Authors Note: Hey guys! I know it has been awhile since I updated. So sorry about that. Well I'll try and write a few more chapters each week, but I have started up my next Rice-balls series so I don't know how much time I'll have to do this, so just keep watching for the new chapters.
Next Chapter: Suboshi Gets a Reality Check!
Suboshi sees just what kind of person Miaka really is?
