Disclaimer: See Chap. 1.

A/N:

Well, it's turning out like I expected, and I really liked the beginning! I wish I can just write all the time like this...

Previously on "Reflections Through the Mirror: Reversed Universes": Miaka Yuuki was sent back to her own world, as Yui Hongou stayed in Konan. The Emperor of the Land, Saihitei Seishuki, otherwise known as "Hotohori," just asked Yui to become the Suzaku no Miko! Her answer...find out!

Chapter Two:

Suzaku no Miko -- The First Three Sei To Be Found!

He held her hand in his, and pulled out a ring shaped like a phoenix. "Yui-sama, may you become the Suzaku no Miko in the honour of Konan?"

"Ah," she stammered, "I--I don't know what a 'Suzaku no Miko' does, but if you'll guide me, I'd be happy to be the Suzaku no Miko."

Saihitei stood up, hugged Yui tight, put the elegant ring on her finger (which seemed to fit it perfectly well) and said, "Thank you, Lady Yui. Wo ai ni.1"

''Wo...ai...ni'!?' shouted Yui in her mind. 'No way! So soon!?'

(NEXT SCENE)

"Darn, Yui!!" wailed Miaka. "You are so lucky!!"

She munched on the chips Yui bought for her, and then read once more. "'The newly found Suzaku no Miko took her first lessons the very next day.'"

(NEXT SCENE)

It turned out, Yui's first lesson was fencing with Saihitei. "Really, Hotohori!" she said. "I'm not much of a fencer, much less a sword-wielder!"

"And that is why, Lady Yui," explained Hotohori, "we are having this lesson. Now, grip your rapier like so," and he showed her how to grip it. In a moment's time, Yui had the grip right, and then started to spar with the Emperor.

In a matter of seconds, Yui tripped on her own two feet, and collapsed, landing on Hotohori's chest. She blushed furiously as she saw how close his face was to her's. It smelled like cherry sakura blossoms, and she loved that smell so much.

"Eh..." mumbled Yui. "Sorry!"

"D-don't worry," muttered Hotohori, sitting himself and Yui on his bed. "It's fine."

"Tell me, Hotohori-san," said Yui. "Tell me more about Suzaku Sei you told me about yesterday."

"Well," began the Emperor. "The Suzaku Sei--there are seven of them, as there are to each God, Seiryuu, Genbu, Byakko, and of course Suzaku. The Sei are also seen in the stars on a clear night, if you haven't noticed, I'll show you later tonight. Suzaku has seven. From Taiitskun, I've learned their names. Tamahome, Nuriko, Chichiri, Tasuki, Mitsukake, and Chiriko. Taiitskun also mentioned my name."

"You are a Suzaku Sei!?" shouted Yui.

"Yes," he said, and then craned his neck so Yui could see the left side of it, where the red Suzaku character glowed.

"'Star!'" said Yui.

"Yes," said Hotohori again. "But I'm afraid since I'm also the Emperor of Konan, this has placed me in a disposition of going to fight along with the other Sei if we have to."

"Oh, what a displeasure," said Yui. "But then again, while you're here, you wouldn't be putting yourself in danger, right?"

"That's a point."

"Hotohori-san," questioned Yui. "Yesterday, when you told me, 'Wo ai ni,' did you mean it?"

"..." Hotohori was silent. "Lady Yui--"

"Stop!" she cried. "Stop treating me like some piece of royalty when I'm not!"

"Yui--but you are royalty!" answered Hotohori; "you're a Suzaku no Miko! You're the most important person in Konan, Yui! Don't forget that!"

But Yui almost did forget the ring on her finger, and the promise she made that she would be the Suzaku no Miko.

"Why--why did you ask me to become the Suzaku no Miko?"

"Your friend, Miaka," said Hotohori, "as soon as I saw her, I felt Seiryuu's energy surging through her veins. I could NOT have a creature of Seiryuu within my palace, much less my Empire!"

"What is with you!?" asked Yui. "What is this conflict between Kutou!?"

"Kutou has been Konan's enemy ever since Kutou defeated Hokkan, Land of Byakko, and Sairou, Land of Genbu," said Hotohori. "Kutou's people are war people; they never rest! Kutou's army is already at Konan's border!"

"Your Majesty!" a guard shouted, entering his room. "I found this--" and he thrust a young man--around eighteen to twenty--to the floor "--commoner snooping around the castle walls!"

"Thank you," Hotohori said to the guard, and the guard bowed. "You are dismissed." The guard left, and Hotohori looked at the teal-haired young man on the floor. And he felt a red glow in his eyes. The teal-haired young man looked up with his eyes, and Hotohori saw a Suzaku character on his forehead. "'Ogre...'" muttered Hotohori.

The young man turned away. "Answer me; are you a Sei of Suzaku?" asked Yui, stepping up from behind the Emperor.

The young man just answered lowly, "Yes; and before you make your judgement, I was doing nothing but admiring the palace when the guard caught me."

"Yes, yes, I believe you," said Hotohori; "but, as you can see, the guards here are fairly over-protective of the Konan Empire's palace; Kutou's troops are on our border, are they not?"

"Seiryuu!?" shouted the young man. "...Nakago!"

"Yes, what of the Shogun?" said Hotohori.

"He's my friend...well, before he became a Seiryuu Sei, we were."

"Tell me," said Yui softly, stooping down to her knees, "is your name, perhaps, 'Tamahome' of the Suzaku Sei?"

"Yes, Suzaku no Miko," answered the young man, bowing lowly towards Yui. "I am Tamahome of the Suzaku Sei, known as Sou Kishuku."

(NEXT SCENE)

"'And the teal-haired young man stood up, shaking hands with the emperor,'" read Miaka. "Yui...!" and she drew her friend's name into a long whine. "Why do you get the good-looking guys?"

And she looked around, and saw the clock. 'FOUR A.M.!?' shouted Miaka in her mind. 'GODS, Keisuke will KILL me!!' But she didn't leave, and just kept on reading.

"'The Sei, Tamahome, spoke up, saying that he knew of another Suzaku Sei.'"

(NEXT SCENE)

"Who is this other Suzaku Sei that you know of, Tamahome-san?" asked Yui softly.

"He is your healer, Your Majesty," said Tamahome. "The one you call Myojuan is the Suzaku Sei, 'Mitsukake.'"

(NEXT SCENE)

"'The one called Myojuan was called to the Emperor's rooms, and there he, too, was found out to be a Sei of Suzaku.'"

(NEXT SCENE)

"Your Highness, I-- I wasn't sure whether to reveal myself or not," said Mitsukake. "I, myself, never knew that you yourself was a Suzaku Sei."

"Ah, common mistakes, common mistakes," said Hotohori, waving it off slightly.

"Mitsukake," said Yui, taking out a scroll Hotohori gave her, and a quill she found close by. "What is your Suzaku power?"

"Healing, Suzaku no Miko," replied Mitsukake revealing the Suzaku character on his left palm.

And Yui scribbled on her scroll:

Mitsukake

1) Healing powers.

2) Character is "Shin" for Sadness.

3) Loaction: left palm.

"And Hotohori? What is yours?"

"Swordsmanship, My Lady," replied Hotohori, showing her the character on the left side of his neck once more.

And Yui wrote:

Hotohori

1) Swordsmanship

2) Character is "Sei" for Star.

3) Location: left side of neck.

"Tamahome? Yours?"

"Martial arts, Yui-sama," said he, showing the character on his forehead.

And on the scroll was written:

Tamahome

1) Martial arts

2) Character is "Oni" for Ogre.

3) Location: center of forehead.

"Suzaku no Miko," said Mitsukake. "Would it be easier for you to keep track of the Sei that you find?"

"Yes, Mitsukake," said Yui, tucking the scroll safely in Hotohori's drawer. "Hotohori, I placed it in there for I know that you will take care of it, will you?"

"Of course, My Lady," said Hotohori, bowing.

(NEXT SCENE)

"'And the Suzaku no Miko found her first three Sei of Suzaku.'"

Ending A/N:

(sweat-drops) Another short chapter. Gomen!

A note on the word "Sei:" 'Sei' is short for either "Seishi" or "Shichiseishi" meaning the same thing. The Seven Constellations (or The Seven Star Warriors.) Or even Seishuki.

1'Wo ai ni' means "I love you."

Preview:

Now Yui has found her first three Sei! But...she terribly wants to go back to her own world, and the Sei comply. But a weird thing happens. Where's Miaka?!

Next:

I Need To Return -- Miaka, Where Are You?!