Okay, here's the deal, Miaka has failed as priestess and now she has one
chance to set things straight, but the world she returns to isn't quite the
world she recalls. I know this resembles my previous work but I hope you'll
like it anyway. Enjoy!
Miaka awoke to the feel of a roughened hand gently stroking her face. Her eyes fluttered open, adjusting to the light. For a moment her mind could not register the face that gazed down at her. The man beside her looked so very familiar, but for some reason she could not recall a name. As she stared intently at the man, it hit her.
"H-Hotohori?"
The young emperor looked momentarily shocked that this girl before him knew his name, but for the life of him, he could not recall a time when they had ever previously met, and yet, he felt an odd closeness to the girl.
Miaka felt tears well in her eyes as she sat up, her gaze never wavering. An ugly jagged scar decorated the right side of Hotohori's face, starting near the corner of his eye and trailing nearly to the corner of is lips, marring that perfect beauty Miaka remembered.
"What-Hotohori what happened to you?" she asked, reaching to delicately trace the scare with her fingertips.
The young emporor sat completely still while Miaka lightly ran her fingers over the scar tissue.
"It was left as a reminder to never again stand against my enemies in Kutou."
"Who was it?"
"The Kutou Army's General. He goes by the name of Nakago. He has taken so much from me. My wife. My son. And now he may take my kingdom, unless you, Priestess, help me to save it."
"Your wife and son? You mean Houki and Boushine are...?"
"Yes, they are dead. I failed to protect them, and now I will never embrace them again."
"Hotohori....I'm sorry....I'm so sorry," Miaka said, throwing her arms around the Hotohori and sobbing.
This was her fault. If she had been strong enough before, none of this would have happened. Houki and Boushine would be alive. This wasn't right. This wasn't the way it was supposed to happen. And while she was greatly pleased to see her dear friend, a growing ache was building in her heart.
"Shhh. Do not weep. It is of the past. I must move on, for them, please do not weep," Hotohori said, brushing a few stray tears from Miaka's face.
"But, it's my fault. This shouldn't have happened," she said.
"What do you mean "your fault" ? You have done nothing wrong. You have only just arrived."
"But I haven't! I've been here before. And it wasn't like this. That's how I know your name! It was different before. Everything was different, but I-failed...I failed and that's why everything has happened like this. I failed. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry," Miaka wailed, as fresh tears rolled down her cheeks.
"I do not understand what you mean."
Miaka looked up, gazing into the hazel depth of Hotohori's eyes and searched for some semblance of the emperor she had known before. This one was different. There was no spark of joy in his eyes. Only a darkness brought on by pain and suffering. Looking into the darkened eyes she knew she owed him the truth.
"I'll explain, even though you may not understand."
For the next two hours Miaka told Hotohori what had happened when she had previously been inside the Universe of the Four Gods. She watched as different emotions played across his face. Surprise, joy, sadness, rage, and an unnerving calm the likes that she had never seen.
"And that's what happened," She finished.
"I see. I admit I find this most troubling. What has happened to cause such a change? I do not know what has brought you back, but there must be a reason."
"Do you remember any of it? Any of the others?" Miaka asked plaintively.
"No, none of those names rings a bell, except one. Tamahome. That name is all too familiar," Hotohori said, rising from the edge of the bed and pacing the room, his back to Miaka.
"Do you know where he is?" she asked hopefully.
Hotohori turned to her with haunted eyes, as if he were looking right through her.
"He is in the palace dungeon. He has been there for over two years now."
Miaka could feel her heart thundering in her chest, like a caged beast. She wasn't quite sure she heard him right. Tamahome was in the dungeon? So that's why he hadn't been there to rescue her. But what had he done to cause Hotohori to throw him in the dungeon?
"What did he do? Why did you throw him in the dungeon?"
"For stealing...and for the attempted murder of the Emperor."
"WHAT?!"
Miaka's eyes went wide with shock. Why would Tamahome do such a thing? He would never have done anything so crazy. Never!
"Please...Hotohori....you can't leave him there any longer, please! You're both Suzaku warriors! You're supposed to be friends. Please don't leave him there!" Miaka begged, painfully making her way out of bed.
"What you say is true, we are both Suzaku Warriors, but he has committed a grave offense. It is not so easily forgiven."
"Let me see him. Please, I have to talk to him. I need to know why he did this."
Hotohori stared at her for what seemed like an eternity, trying to come to a decision. Finally he sighed deeply and said," Alright. I grant you permission to see him. But do not get your hopes up. He may not be the man you so fondly remember."
Some hours later, Miaka found herself walking down a long corridor of the prison. Her clothes were still being washed after the beating she had taken, so all she had to wear was a long pink robe tied with a sash. That alone, made her uncomfortable. Most people that were down in the dungeon were there for a reason, but somehow, she knew Tamahome was not as dangerous as Hotohori believed him to be.
She found his cell at the end of the corridor. There were four empty cells on either side of him. At least they could talk privately.
"T-Tamahome?"
"What do you...want?"
The sight that greeted Miaka's eyes was not what she had expected. Small scares decorated his face and his bare chest was covered in deep wounds, some of them still bleeding, and others greatly infected from what were obviously wounds made by a whip. The sight was so shocking that Miaka nearly dropped the tray of food she had brought with her.
"What's the matter? Got a staring problem?" he asked, trying to stand, but failing. It was obvious that most of the wounds on his body still hurt badly.
"I brought you something to eat."
"Is it time for my last meal already? I knew the emperor hated me, but doesn't a guy get a chance for a trial or something?"
"It's not your last meal, I just thought you might like something other than this prison food, and if you'll let me, I can bandage those wounds."
"Why?"
"Because I want to. I want to help you. I know you probably don't remember me, but trust me Tamahome, I know you. I can help you. I might even be able to get Hotohori-I mean, his highness to let you go."
Tamahome stared at Miaka through the bars that separated them and despite the scathing mark he thought to make he instead replied," Alright. Fine. But how are you going to get in here? The guard has the keys."
"No he doesn't," Miaka replied with a smile as she held up a ring of keys.
"Alright. I like you already."
Unlocking the door and quickly shutting it behind it, Miaka hid the keys and stepped close to Tamahome, setting the tray of food in front of him.
"Now just hold still and I'll clean these wounds."
Miaka reached into the large pocket of the robe and pulled out the bandages she had brought. She thought he might have wounds that would need bandaged. She carefully tore a large piece of cloth from her robe and pouring some water over the wounds she gently began to wipe away the dirt that had gathered on and around them.
Tamahome watched her from the corner of his eyes, unsure of why this strange girl had come to help him, but grateful for the company and the care. It had been over two years since he had had anyone but the shadows for his company. This strange girl, whoever he was, put him at ease.
"What's your name?" he asked.
"I'm Miaka. Miaka Yuki."
"Nice to meet you."
They sat in silence for the longest time, neither one feeling the need to break the comfortable silence. Tamahome closed his eyes, enjoying Miaka's light touch against his skin. He sighed. It had been so long since he had seen another person. So long since he had held or been held by another person. He missed his family deeply, and this girl reminded him desperately of his family.
"Miaka....why are you doing this?" Tamahome asked, once Miaka had finished bandaging his back.
"I don't think you would believe me even if I told you," she replied, brushing a stray piece of hair from her eyes.
"Try me."
The look in Tamahome's eyes was so intense that she had to look away. She took a deep steadying breath. What if she told him and he didn't believe her? What if he did believe? Maybe they still had a chance together. Or maybe she was just fooling herself.
"This may sound a little strange, but here goes."
Miaka repeated her story for the second time that day, and carefully avoided looking into his eyes. She did not want to see the look in his eyes when he turned and laughed in her face or saw that there was no love there.
"That's impossible. How could it be?"
"I told you you wouldn't believe me. But I swear it's the truth."
Miaka looked him full in the eyes then and prayed with all her heart that he would believe. That somehow she could get through to him.
"You must think I'm pretty gullible don't you?" Tamahome said, as he dragged Miaka to her feet and slammed her back against the wall.
"No. Tamahome-"
"Shut up. Shut. Up. Is this how the emperor gets his kicks? By sending beautiful women to trick me into believing a bunch of lies?" he raged, his hand tight around her throat.
"No....Tamahome....I swear....It's true...."
"Go back to the emperor. He rewards his whores well."
With that he flung her to the ground and watched as Miaka quickly scrambled out of the cell. Once she was on the other side of the bars she took one more look at Tamahome.
"I don't care what you say, Tamahome....I still love you...."
As she walked out into the bright sunlight, the only sound she could hear was a long a pain filled wail that echoed throughout the dungeon walls....
So what'd you think? Please R&R!!! Please!! All opinions r welcome.
Miaka awoke to the feel of a roughened hand gently stroking her face. Her eyes fluttered open, adjusting to the light. For a moment her mind could not register the face that gazed down at her. The man beside her looked so very familiar, but for some reason she could not recall a name. As she stared intently at the man, it hit her.
"H-Hotohori?"
The young emperor looked momentarily shocked that this girl before him knew his name, but for the life of him, he could not recall a time when they had ever previously met, and yet, he felt an odd closeness to the girl.
Miaka felt tears well in her eyes as she sat up, her gaze never wavering. An ugly jagged scar decorated the right side of Hotohori's face, starting near the corner of his eye and trailing nearly to the corner of is lips, marring that perfect beauty Miaka remembered.
"What-Hotohori what happened to you?" she asked, reaching to delicately trace the scare with her fingertips.
The young emporor sat completely still while Miaka lightly ran her fingers over the scar tissue.
"It was left as a reminder to never again stand against my enemies in Kutou."
"Who was it?"
"The Kutou Army's General. He goes by the name of Nakago. He has taken so much from me. My wife. My son. And now he may take my kingdom, unless you, Priestess, help me to save it."
"Your wife and son? You mean Houki and Boushine are...?"
"Yes, they are dead. I failed to protect them, and now I will never embrace them again."
"Hotohori....I'm sorry....I'm so sorry," Miaka said, throwing her arms around the Hotohori and sobbing.
This was her fault. If she had been strong enough before, none of this would have happened. Houki and Boushine would be alive. This wasn't right. This wasn't the way it was supposed to happen. And while she was greatly pleased to see her dear friend, a growing ache was building in her heart.
"Shhh. Do not weep. It is of the past. I must move on, for them, please do not weep," Hotohori said, brushing a few stray tears from Miaka's face.
"But, it's my fault. This shouldn't have happened," she said.
"What do you mean "your fault" ? You have done nothing wrong. You have only just arrived."
"But I haven't! I've been here before. And it wasn't like this. That's how I know your name! It was different before. Everything was different, but I-failed...I failed and that's why everything has happened like this. I failed. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry," Miaka wailed, as fresh tears rolled down her cheeks.
"I do not understand what you mean."
Miaka looked up, gazing into the hazel depth of Hotohori's eyes and searched for some semblance of the emperor she had known before. This one was different. There was no spark of joy in his eyes. Only a darkness brought on by pain and suffering. Looking into the darkened eyes she knew she owed him the truth.
"I'll explain, even though you may not understand."
For the next two hours Miaka told Hotohori what had happened when she had previously been inside the Universe of the Four Gods. She watched as different emotions played across his face. Surprise, joy, sadness, rage, and an unnerving calm the likes that she had never seen.
"And that's what happened," She finished.
"I see. I admit I find this most troubling. What has happened to cause such a change? I do not know what has brought you back, but there must be a reason."
"Do you remember any of it? Any of the others?" Miaka asked plaintively.
"No, none of those names rings a bell, except one. Tamahome. That name is all too familiar," Hotohori said, rising from the edge of the bed and pacing the room, his back to Miaka.
"Do you know where he is?" she asked hopefully.
Hotohori turned to her with haunted eyes, as if he were looking right through her.
"He is in the palace dungeon. He has been there for over two years now."
Miaka could feel her heart thundering in her chest, like a caged beast. She wasn't quite sure she heard him right. Tamahome was in the dungeon? So that's why he hadn't been there to rescue her. But what had he done to cause Hotohori to throw him in the dungeon?
"What did he do? Why did you throw him in the dungeon?"
"For stealing...and for the attempted murder of the Emperor."
"WHAT?!"
Miaka's eyes went wide with shock. Why would Tamahome do such a thing? He would never have done anything so crazy. Never!
"Please...Hotohori....you can't leave him there any longer, please! You're both Suzaku warriors! You're supposed to be friends. Please don't leave him there!" Miaka begged, painfully making her way out of bed.
"What you say is true, we are both Suzaku Warriors, but he has committed a grave offense. It is not so easily forgiven."
"Let me see him. Please, I have to talk to him. I need to know why he did this."
Hotohori stared at her for what seemed like an eternity, trying to come to a decision. Finally he sighed deeply and said," Alright. I grant you permission to see him. But do not get your hopes up. He may not be the man you so fondly remember."
Some hours later, Miaka found herself walking down a long corridor of the prison. Her clothes were still being washed after the beating she had taken, so all she had to wear was a long pink robe tied with a sash. That alone, made her uncomfortable. Most people that were down in the dungeon were there for a reason, but somehow, she knew Tamahome was not as dangerous as Hotohori believed him to be.
She found his cell at the end of the corridor. There were four empty cells on either side of him. At least they could talk privately.
"T-Tamahome?"
"What do you...want?"
The sight that greeted Miaka's eyes was not what she had expected. Small scares decorated his face and his bare chest was covered in deep wounds, some of them still bleeding, and others greatly infected from what were obviously wounds made by a whip. The sight was so shocking that Miaka nearly dropped the tray of food she had brought with her.
"What's the matter? Got a staring problem?" he asked, trying to stand, but failing. It was obvious that most of the wounds on his body still hurt badly.
"I brought you something to eat."
"Is it time for my last meal already? I knew the emperor hated me, but doesn't a guy get a chance for a trial or something?"
"It's not your last meal, I just thought you might like something other than this prison food, and if you'll let me, I can bandage those wounds."
"Why?"
"Because I want to. I want to help you. I know you probably don't remember me, but trust me Tamahome, I know you. I can help you. I might even be able to get Hotohori-I mean, his highness to let you go."
Tamahome stared at Miaka through the bars that separated them and despite the scathing mark he thought to make he instead replied," Alright. Fine. But how are you going to get in here? The guard has the keys."
"No he doesn't," Miaka replied with a smile as she held up a ring of keys.
"Alright. I like you already."
Unlocking the door and quickly shutting it behind it, Miaka hid the keys and stepped close to Tamahome, setting the tray of food in front of him.
"Now just hold still and I'll clean these wounds."
Miaka reached into the large pocket of the robe and pulled out the bandages she had brought. She thought he might have wounds that would need bandaged. She carefully tore a large piece of cloth from her robe and pouring some water over the wounds she gently began to wipe away the dirt that had gathered on and around them.
Tamahome watched her from the corner of his eyes, unsure of why this strange girl had come to help him, but grateful for the company and the care. It had been over two years since he had had anyone but the shadows for his company. This strange girl, whoever he was, put him at ease.
"What's your name?" he asked.
"I'm Miaka. Miaka Yuki."
"Nice to meet you."
They sat in silence for the longest time, neither one feeling the need to break the comfortable silence. Tamahome closed his eyes, enjoying Miaka's light touch against his skin. He sighed. It had been so long since he had seen another person. So long since he had held or been held by another person. He missed his family deeply, and this girl reminded him desperately of his family.
"Miaka....why are you doing this?" Tamahome asked, once Miaka had finished bandaging his back.
"I don't think you would believe me even if I told you," she replied, brushing a stray piece of hair from her eyes.
"Try me."
The look in Tamahome's eyes was so intense that she had to look away. She took a deep steadying breath. What if she told him and he didn't believe her? What if he did believe? Maybe they still had a chance together. Or maybe she was just fooling herself.
"This may sound a little strange, but here goes."
Miaka repeated her story for the second time that day, and carefully avoided looking into his eyes. She did not want to see the look in his eyes when he turned and laughed in her face or saw that there was no love there.
"That's impossible. How could it be?"
"I told you you wouldn't believe me. But I swear it's the truth."
Miaka looked him full in the eyes then and prayed with all her heart that he would believe. That somehow she could get through to him.
"You must think I'm pretty gullible don't you?" Tamahome said, as he dragged Miaka to her feet and slammed her back against the wall.
"No. Tamahome-"
"Shut up. Shut. Up. Is this how the emperor gets his kicks? By sending beautiful women to trick me into believing a bunch of lies?" he raged, his hand tight around her throat.
"No....Tamahome....I swear....It's true...."
"Go back to the emperor. He rewards his whores well."
With that he flung her to the ground and watched as Miaka quickly scrambled out of the cell. Once she was on the other side of the bars she took one more look at Tamahome.
"I don't care what you say, Tamahome....I still love you...."
As she walked out into the bright sunlight, the only sound she could hear was a long a pain filled wail that echoed throughout the dungeon walls....
So what'd you think? Please R&R!!! Please!! All opinions r welcome.