Act 2 Disbelief "Can the faltering heart of a girl save the soul of an empire?" By SuzakuNoHikari

Tamiko continued to stare in disbelief. Her eyes watered and voice stammered but she finally managed to get something out.

"Who- Who are you?! I- I-," her sentence trailed off into a slight whisper, "demand to.know."

The man kneeled down and proceeded to bow, his beautiful hair falling around him. He placed his hand upon his chest.

"I was born Saihitei Seishuku, however you may call me by Hotohori. I am the current emperor of Konankoku. Tell me young girl, have you been sent by the beautiful Miaka in order to save our country?"

Tamiko's refusal to accept her surroundings engulfed her mind and she began to shout.

"I don't know who you are- you-you- bastard! But I am not going to take this! Who put you up to this? How dare you play with my feelings- my mind! And besides if you actually read the Gaiden novels, Mayo Sakaki already saved Konankoku. Just let me go and I'll let this drop! Please."

She felt too forceful. Such wasn't her! She was a kind girl, why did she have to yell? But nothing made sense- she was lost.

Hotohori glanced up from his bow honestly confused.

"Gaiden.novels. I am afraid I have no clue as to what you're talking about. However, Mayo Sakaki, the second girl to come to Konan from the other world, did temporarily save Konankoku . However, I believe that as her heart did not truly care for Konankoku rather Taka, Suzaku's power was not fully released. And now we face destruction."

"Are you saying that I am the new Suzaku no Miko?," Tamiko asked, as though she had never doubted anything in the first place.

"You seem to know much about this world young girl. Perhaps we should discuss this over a modest meal.

"Modest.?"

Hotohori turned around and solemnly said, "You can't expect me to eat a full meal when my country is starving."

Tamiko clenched her chest. Could it really be Hotohori? The Suzaku Seishi- Hotohori? He looked so sad. Her heart began to calm and her surroundings seemed less shocking then before. Perhaps she was slowly accepting things for what they were. There still lingered doubt. How could she enter the book- without a book? Maybe it was just a peaceful dream.

She looked at her arm which was bleeding from the elbow and knocked severely out of place. The pain was too much. It definitely wasn't a dream.

Hotohori, finally catching notice of her arm ran over in concern. Picking her up in his arms he smiled for the first time since she had arrived.

"Don't worry. We'll make sure you are fine. Mitsutake."

"MITSUTAKE?!," Tamiko shouted in disbelief.

Hotohori nearly dropped her and sweatdropped.

"What is it?"

Tamiko sighed. How was she to explain that she already knew who they were and that she doubted this was all real? But in the back of her heart she knew it true and fighting back tears of confusion, happiness, and distress all at the same time she merely gulped.

"Nothing."

And with that they left the Suzaku Shrine descending to the main palace.