CAST:
Miakaede: Kaede Rukawa (Miaka)
Tamakira: Akira Sendoh (Tamahome)
Hotosashi: Hisashi Mitsui (Hotohori)
Nurikenji: Kenji Fujima (Nuriko)
Chirikoshino: Hiroaki Koshino (Chiriko)
Chichitoru: Toru Hanagata (Chichiru)
Mitsugami: Ryoji Ikegami (Mitsukake)
Taskuragi: Hanamichi Sakuragi (Taski)
Yohei Mito (Reader)
Tetsuo (Reader)
Makigo: Shinichi Maki (Nakago)
Kiyuita: Kiyota Nobunaga (Yui)
Soi-ichiro: Soichiro Jin (Soi)
Miyaboshi: Ryota Miyagi (Amiboshi)
Moroboshi: Dai Morohoshi (Suboshi)
Tomoichi: Hikoichi Aida (Tomo)
PART XI
Before anything else took place, Hotosashi stood between them. He held Tamakira's wrist and lowered it,
"Stop this at once, Warriors of Shohozaku, for if you fight each other to death, there'll be no hope for Shohokuto. Not now, not anymore, for the Warriors of Kairyu have already found a hope unlooked for, the Shrine Maiden of Koainan." He said as he turned his glance to Taskuragi, "I believe that it is your proposal to give me your service once you lost, then it is granted for my follower has defeated you with his might and blade. All is fair now. My Lord and you shall be a part of this Kingdom. I will let pass all your abhorrent deeds and attempt though it is against my will, but since it is the will of the Four Gods I shall go against the law and take back your death punishment." Hotosashi explained.
"Your majesty, are the warriors of Shohozaku distinguishable just by the signs on their foreheads? And that me and him are among them?" Tamakira asked in surprise pointing to himself and Taskuragi.
"Yes indeed, as it was foretold by the oracle and you two, you bore two of the seven signs of the red phoenix," Hotosashi answered.
"Your highness, five are still missing, how long shall we wait now that the Koainan's strength is at its peak? If they have already learned how to complete the Blue Dragon then they may attack your realm anytime, and we simply can't stop them without the divine powers of the Red Phoenix." Chichitoru suddenly blurted out He was too worried to lower his voice a little.
"Do not grieve, my Lord, for the Lord Makigo is seeking for a fair battle, he is too noble to do such a coward act." answered Hotosashi, this seemed to calm Chichitoru a little.
"So after all my hardship I find something worthwhile. And so the great ruler of Shohokuto eats his words, nyahahahaha! Now tell me, what do you want me to do? Introduce Makigo his downfall?" Taskuragi said rudely. Tamakira scowled and so did Rukawa.
"That can wait, from now on Taskuragi, you are not but my follower bound with the vow to serve me lest I grant you freedom to be a free resident of this land." The emperor stated casually.
"Yeah, yeah. So I get to live in the palace too. Where's my room anyway?"
He said eyeing the palace. Tamakira scowled heavily. Chichitoru, however, didn't like the idea in the very least.
"Ah yes, but let me introduce my party. Taskuragi, this is Tamakira my faithful steward. This lady here is Lady Nurikenji, empress of Shoyokkaido, and her steward, Lord Chichitoru. And lastly, the Shrine Maiden of Shohozaku, Lady Miyakaede." The emperor said respectfully.
But Taskuragi wasn't listening; his left elbow was on Tamakira's shoulder. Tamakira seemed to feel his weight that he was leaning on a pillar. "So, Tamakira the Steward, at first I thought you were a kitchen boy or something…" Taskuragi told Tamakira, sneering.
"That was before!" Tamakira said, he was insulted.
"Don't be so hard on me, gee I was only joking, I thought you were a gardener, now will you show me my room?" Taskuragi said.
Tamakira shoved him off but the emperor spoke, "Young man, be informed that Tamakira should be treated with respect," The emperor told Taskuragi, who was, again, not listening, he was now beside Rukawa, his arm around him.
"So, do we get to sleep in the same room?" He asked Rukawa, whose eyes were murderous.
"Teme." Was the answer he got.
"What was that, my lady?" Taskuragi asked, but Tamakira grabbed him by the arm and said,
"I'll show you to your room, alright." Tamakira said, grabbing Taskuragi by the arm. Hotosashi asked the maids to clean up the mess. Rukawa went to his room before Hotosashi could speak to him. Nurikenji and Chichitoru joined the emperor to his office.
Tamakira led Taskuragi to a fine room, which he liked.
"Sugoi! Boy ain't I lucky,"
"Make yourself comfortable, if you need something you can consult the Head of the Royal Household." Tamakira said as he turned to go but Taskuragi spoke in a very low voice, rather grimly,
"You like Miakaede, the emperor wouldn't assent to this," Tamakira rolled his eyes in irritation but Taskuragi continued, "I saw them kissing under the sun beside the Great River, oh, it was a wonderful scene." Tamakira didn't want to hear any of this, he didn't want to believe it, Taskuragi went on, this time his voice was so much livelier, "But next time, you will be the one to see, but instead, you will see us. Nyahahahaha!"
"As you ought to know, young man, the emperor will soon be married to the lady Nurikenji. It would be a great dishonor for his and her great lineage to deviate from the custom of every royal family. And as for the Lady Miyakaede, she wouldn't want someone like you." Tamakira said as a matter-of-factly.
"Yeah, yeah, royal this, royal that." His lips curling revealing his tiny fang, as he looked at Tamakira and went on, "Doesn't the Lady Nurikenji like you? I saw it, it was too obvious or maybe I'm just a genius but anyway, fortunate of you to catch such a big fish. I've heard of her over land and over seas. Her beauty is so great that lust or love impels many. But anyway, I do not desire such highness for I am a simple man, I am contented with Miyakaede." Taskuragi said. Tamakira left out of his notice.
Tamakira was walking along the great corridors of the palace very slowly. He was hurt beyond words for he knew he was no match for the emperor when it came to that ridiculous rivalry. He's too high above me; he is the dream of every young lady who dwells in this land. But Miyakaede, even she, is not right for the emperor, how come he has fallen in love with a lady he hasn't known of? Or is it just that she is destined to be the ruler of Shohokuto? No, the emperor is not like that, Tamakira, you know he isn't. He had loved both the emperor and Rukawa. But no doubt the lady Nurikenji has fallen for me, though it is not what I wish for. And she and the emperor are of equal highness, could it be that she and his majesty are in the same situation? That they both desire the love of the lower people? But they seemed to love each other until Miyakaede came, since I became steward to the emperor. Such thought roamed his head.
But wait, said a nasty little voice inside him. The Lady Nurikenji has shown interest in you even before you were appointed in a much higher position. She wanted you to prepare the carriage everytime she left Shohokuto for Shoyokkaido even if you were assigned in the kitchens only. She wanted you to serve the food for her. She wanted you to gather flowers in the garden for her, saying they were for the emperor but saving the most beautiful one for you. He couldn't bear the thought, the Lady wasn't right for him and would never be.
TBC
A/N: If you review, we'll keep posting.