Chapter Four: Suboshi Gets a Reality Check!
Miaka and Amiboshi walked further and further into the garden. Well whom she thought was Amiboshi anyway. Suboshi had arrived at the shrine about an hour earlier. He had spotted his brother leaving the main hall after dinner and head to a room that Nuriko had pointed out. As Amiboshi prepared himself for bed, he had snuck in the window, struck him on the back of the head, and snatched his flute from his belt. Now here he was walking with the woman he hated more than most, preparing for the attack.
"Forgive me brother," he thought, "But I do this only for your sake."
Miaka stopped at some of the flowers and gazed at them, while Suboshi watched from behind. He cleared his throat and she turned around.
"So what did you want to talk to me about?" he asked as nicely as he could.
"Oh that" Miaka sighed, "Well Amiboshi, the truth is I really think you should go back to Kutou."
"Why?" he said in surprise.
"I appreciate that you came all this way to protect me and all but Yui also needs protection and you made me a promise remember."
"What promise?"
"You promised on Mt. Taikyoku that you would look after her for me ."
"Oh, that's right I did" he replied uncertain, "But she's changed now. She thinks that you are enemies."
"That's okay with me. It doesn't bother me that Yui hates me again, not really. As long as I know she's safe. That's enough for me. And anyway your brother, what about him?"
"Suboshi? What about him? We're enemies now too."
"Why?"
"Because he chooses to side with Lady Yui. He chooses to be my enemy."
"That doesn't sound right. And you're not the type of person who would just abandon someone he cares about on something like that."
"Yea right" Suboshi scoffed.
"Huh?"
"I mean you're right. I'm not. But my brother doesn't matter to me as much as you do Miaka. Besides why do you care anyway? You hate my brother."
"No I don't."
"Sure you do."
"No honestly, Amiboshi I don't hate him."
"But how is that possible? After what he did to Tamahome's family? You still forgive him?"
"Well, it is a terrible thing that he did, I admit it. But Amiboshi I forgave you for what you did to all of us, didn't I? It's all in the past. And besides, Suboshi was there for Yui. And that is very important to me. To know that she had someone there to protect her. Especially when Nakago was around. Suboshi knew how dangerous he was, and tried to prevent a lot. You're brother isn't a bad person Amiboshi" Miaka smiled, "He's just lost, like you were."
Suboshi stared at the girl in surprise then turned around.
"What's going on here?" he thought, "Why am I not attacking? This is not part of the plan. I'm going all soft. I've got to find a way to get back on track."
"Amiboshi is something wrong?" she asked in concern.
"Uh no" he shook his head, "It's just I wanted to tell you something" he looked her straight in the eye coyly.
"What is it?"
(Next Scene)
In the Yuki's apartment Mrs. Yuki had just arrived home. Keisuke and Tetsuya filled her in on what had been happening so far. After grabbing herself a cup of tea, she sat down in the living room and Keisuke began to read once more where he and Tetsuya had left off.
"The Priestess of Suzaku unknowingly followed the Seiryuu warrior into the garden. There she explained that she wanted him to return to Kutou to the Priestess of Seiryuu, all along he planned to strike."
"Oh Miaka" Mrs. Yuki held a hand to her mouth in fear.
"Meanwhile, the Emperor, Hotohori rode his horse as fast as he could to the shrine, hoping he would not be too late."
(Next Scene)
From his bedroom Amiboshi stirred and sat up. He felt the back of his head and stood up, looking around in the room. He gasped when he felt something, deep in his heart.
"My brother was here," he thought as he felt around in his belt, "And my flute is gone. Oh no" he looked up realizing, "Miaka!"
(Next Scene)
"You said you were going to say something," Miaka said, "But you stopped."
"You're right" Suboshi nodded as he had his back turned once more, "Why did I just chicken out?" he thought.
"Amiboshi?" she looked at him in concern, "What is it? What's wrong?"
"All right Suboshi. You're going to do this and you're going to do this now" he told himself, "Miaka" he looked at her once more, "There's something I think you should know" he walked right up to her and once again looked her straight in the eye.
"All right" she nodded.
"The thing is I'm madly in love with you" he replied.
He didn't give her the chance to respond; instead he placed his lips over hers and kissed her passionately. Miaka pulled away from his embrace and stepped back in complete and utter surprise.
"Amiboshi" she gasped, "What are you doing?" she said slowly, but then happened to take a brief glance at the weapons attached to his side, "Huh?" she thought, "This isn't Amiboshi. This is Suboshi. What's he doing here?"
"Was that uncalled for?" he asked with his back turned once more.
"Um, Amiboshi you know how I feel about Taka right?" she continued playing along.
"Yea?"
"So why would you do something like that?"
"Because I am in love with you. Isn't that what people do when they are in love?"
"Yes that's true but, you can't be in love with someone when you are in love with someone else, can you?" she turned her back from him.
"What do you mean by that?"
"I mean. You're in love with Yui. So you can't be in love with me too Suboshi."
"Suboshi?"
"Stop playing the games! I know who you are! What did you do with your brother?"
"So you figured me out? Too bad" he grinned slightly moving towards her, "I was really hoping not to be too violent about this."
"What are you going to do?" she asked stepping back in fear.
"Something I should have done a long time ago" he answered her, "Get rid of you for good!" he pulled out his weapons.
(Next Scene)
Amiboshi ran throughout the shrine looking for Miaka. As he ran he noticed Hotohori arriving on horseback.
"Your majesty" Amiboshi replied in surprise.
"Amiboshi. You are Amiboshi aren't you?" Hotohori asked.
"Yes. My brother is somewhere here."
"Yes. I know. That's why I'm here. He's after Miaka."
"I know. You should go tell Tamahome and the others. I am going to go after Suboshi myself."
"All right" Hotohori nodded, "Be careful."
Amiboshi nodded briefly then headed towards the gardens.
"It's the only place that I haven't looked yet" he thought, "Hang on Miaka! Hang on!"
(Next Scene)
Miaka was running for her life at that moment away from Suboshi who was chasing after her with his weapons. She had managed to dodge him a few times but he was catching up to her.
"You can run but you can't hide Priestess of Suzaku!" he shouted.
"What am I going to do?" she thought to herself, "He'll catch up to me in no time."
She ran into a clump of bushes and ran right into someone. When she looked up she saw the light blue eyes and panicked.
"No" she struggled in his hold, "Let me go! Let me go!"
"Miaka calm down" Amiboshi replied, "It's me."
Miaka looked up.
"Amiboshi? Is it really you?"
"Yes. Where is my brother?" he nodded.
"Miaka?" Suboshi taunted, "Where are you?"
"Never mind" Amiboshi said a bit angry, "I hear him. Stay here. I'll take care of this" he walked towards the other side of the bushes.
"Be careful," she whispered.
"I'm getting tired of hide-and-seek Priestess of Suzaku!" Suboshi shouted but then noticed the bushes nearby shaking, "Ah hah!" he grinned, "Gotcha!" he threw his weapons, but the person who had been hiding jumped out of the way, doing a front flip, and landed in front of him, with an angry look on his face, "Brother?" Suboshi said in surprise as Amiboshi continued to frown at him angrily.
(Next Scene)
"Hurry Tamahome!" Hotohori shouted as Tasuki, Nuriko, and he ran to the garden along with him, "Amiboshi is all alone right now!"
"Are you sure Miaka is in trouble?" Tasuki asked.
"Let's not worry about that right now Tasuki" Taka growled running, "Let's just get there!"
"Yea don't ask stupid questions you moron!" Nuriko added.
(Next Scene)
"Amiboshi?" Suboshi said slowly his eyes wide.
"Suboshi" Amiboshi replied, "Put your weapons down."
Suboshi hesitated.
"Put them down I said!" Amiboshi shouted.
Suboshi dropped them abruptly as Amiboshi shook his head.
"How could you do this brother? How could you do something like this? How could you betray me like this?"
"Betray you? Who betrayed who first?" Suboshi shouted back.
"I didn't betray you by coming here. I just came to see if Miaka and the others were okay. I had every intention on coming back."
"You did?"
"Of course I did!" Amiboshi yelled again, "I gave Miaka a promise. I promised that I would look after Yui for her. I promised I'd protect her for her. I came here to see what she wanted me to do. How to solve the problem that we face with Lady Yui. She is the only one who doesn't remember that this time is wrong. You know it and I know it. So I came here to see if I could get help, from Miaka. To get advice. You think I abandoned you? What kind of brother do you take me for!"
"But you're in love with the Priestess of Suzaku Amiboshi" Suboshi shot back, "What else was I supposed to think?"
"What?" Miaka thought as she watched from the bushes, "That's true?"
"It's true I have feelings for Miaka" Amiboshi nodded, "But I would never betray you Suboshi. You're my brother. And you come first. You will always come first."
"Really?" Suboshi said head bent a little, "Do you mean that?"
"Of course. Suboshi I only have one brother" he walked over to him and placed a hand on his shoulder, "And you're it. I wouldn't trade you for anyone else in the world."
"Brother" Suboshi said slowly, "Forgive me?"
"I'm not the one you should be asking forgiveness from, Miaka is."
"There's no need" Miaka appeared with a smile on her face.
"Miaka?" Amiboshi looked back in surprise, as well as Suboshi.
"I understand. He was jealous of me. That's all right. I forgive you Suboshi."
"Brother?" Amiboshi nudged Suboshi forward.
Suboshi nodded and bowed his head just as the others arrived. Taka and the other warriors stared in confusion at the sight before them. Suboshi was kneeling at Miaka's feet.
"Forgive me Priestess of Suzaku" he replied, "I made a mistake. I should have known that Amiboshi would never betray me and for that you had to suffer. I am sorry. Please accept my apology."
Miaka knelt before him and placed a hand on his shoulders, making him raise his head and look her directly in the eye.
"On two conditions. One you return with your brother to Kutou and protect Yui the best you can, and two that you call me Miaka, because we are allies now Suboshi."
Suboshi took her hand and gratefully shook it.
"I promise, I will do everything I can to protect Lady Yui" he replied as they stood up.
"Good" she nodded, "That's all I can ask for. Amiboshi!"
"Hmm?"
"Return to Kutou with Suboshi and try to help Yui regain her memory. Your theory that Yui is the only one to not remember could be right."
"But Miaka how am I going to get her memory back?" Amiboshi asked as Taka and the others stepped forward.
"I have something that might help" Miaka replied, "But first I want to speak with the both of you. Taka, Hotohori will you come with us?"
"Of course" Hotohori said while Taka nodded still a bit confused.
"Tasuki, Nuriko we will return to the shrine soon" Miaka replied, "Let Chichiri and the others know that we are okay" they walked back into the garden.
"Don't worry Miaka" Nuriko called, "We'll take care of it. Well fang boy" Nuriko leaned his arm on Tasuki's shoulder, "Looks like we weren't needed for anything this time."
"Yea" Tasuki agreed, "What a bummer!"
(Till Next Time)
Authors Note: Hey! Thanks for the great reviews! I'm glad that you're all enjoying the story. Here's another update for you. I'm going to try to get as much of this book done as I can throughout the weekend!
Next Chapter: Miaka's Shinzaho
Suboshi and Amiboshi return to Kutou to help Yui regain her memory. Will she regain it? And we will the rest of the warriors be able to bring everything back to normal? Find out next time!
