Disclaimer (by Sango): Kon'nichiwa minna! Rhapsody-chan had done a pretty good job up until the computer messed with her things! Anyways, she does not own FY in the very least! She owns Deirdre, Tamara, Alicia, Faye and Elena, ja ne!
Chapter 5: Short Love
"Lady Yui, I am sorry..." Faye heard Nakago telling the young Priestess. She snorted softly, thinking back on what Nakago had told her. After she had become his 'page' or whatever. She didn't know the exact word for it.
FLASHBACK
"I am doing nothing really for anyone but myself. Not the Priestess, the other seishi, or even you." His eyes had flashed to her, reminding her of the defiance she would be punished for.
"I am going to become-" Somebody had knocked on the door, startling Faye, though Nakago seemed fine. "Come in." He had said, as if he was having a very serious thought at that moment. She had stepped in then, bowing.
"Nakago..." Faye had left; she knew what those two were going to do when she left anyways. It didn't matter.
PRESENT
Faye sighed, feeling slightly sorry for the hurt Priestess. The girl hadn't wanted to come to this place after all. She stood straight and left the hall, looking for someone, anyone to talk to. Elena probably... 'Though that doesn't seem very likely.' Faye thought, thinking back on the way Elena had been acting.
She ignored Faye, since the day she had found out Deirdre lived.
Alicia walked sluggishly through the palace, even though it was after breakfast she still hadn't completely woken up. The fight had made her alert, Tamahome and Tasuki had begun their first squabble.
She stood straighter when she saw Amiboshi and Mitsukake. Alicia's dark hair fell forward a little bit as she walked up to Amiboshi.
"Hey A-Chiriko. Could I speak with you for a moment?" Alicia saw his eyes grow frantic for a moment but he did as she asked and walked around the corner with her.
He waited for her to speak, nervous himself.
"Yeah, I wanted to talk to you about... You know. I didn't mean to... Do you remember when my friends and I first arrived here?" She asked suddenly. He nodded though a bit slowly.
"Deirdre told you guys about us being... Well seers in a way. That's how I knew. I just wanted you to know that I'm, not going to tell everyone about it." Amiboshi nodded, though he furrowed his brow after a moment.
"What about Deirdre and Tamara? Don't they know because of their own powers?" He questioned. Alicia shook her head and thought of a reason to cover up the lie.
"You see, they don't because you don't worship the same God as they do. Deirdre's I suppose would be Byakko or Artemis from the Greek culture. Tamara's would be Genbu or Demeter, the harvest Goddess. Mine would be Seriyu or Poseidon, controller of the sea."
Amiboshi's eyes widened. "Then why do you act like you are followers of Suzaku?" Alicia had to think about that for a moment. "Faye... An old friend of ours. She's supposed to be dead but anyways, she followed Suzaku or Ares, god of war." Amiboshi smiled.
"Anyways, I just wanted to tell you I'm not going to tell." He cut her off, his conscience in obvious pain. "You know that I'm going to kill your friends? That I'm supposed to kill... you?" He asked her, looking to the ground.
"I do, and I know that you have to. I don't mind if it's someone who is actually as good hearted as you. Though, before I die..." Alicia leaned forward and softly kissed him on his lips. It wasn't very long, because there was no time for him to respond. The feeling made him warm and he blushed when she pulled away. Alicia smiled and tugged on his hair softly before walking away from him.
He watched in confused awe, his eyes wide and his brow furrowed. 'That was my first kiss...'
By the time Alicia got to the temple, almost everyone was there. She stood next to Deirdre and Tamara, thinking. Everyone was bustling around them; they didn't know which way to look! No one seemed to be talking to them or including them, so Deirdre decided to do something about it.
"Hotohori, your Majesty?" She asked, bowing before the Emperor. He raised his eyebrows in question, waiting for her to speak.
"Chichiri told me a while ago, you all have to drain your chi in unison. That'll leave you defenseless won't it?" The Emperor murmured a yes.
"Would it help at all, since we have powers, if we were to stand guard over you all?" She asked. Hotohori thought for a moment.
"Yes, I suppose actually. Though, can any of you handle weapons?" He asked. Tamara shook her head quickly, blushing in embarrassment. Alicia turned her wrist in a so-so expression. Deirdre smiled and gave him a thumbs up. He motioned towards a passing Guard.
"Ask him to lead you to the armory and he can get you weapons. Tell him I have sent you." Tamara ran to do what Hotohori asked. The other girls followed her. Eventually the man led them to the armory.
"Doubt you can handle them though, you're little boys!" He scoffed. Tamara and Deirdre seemed un-offended but Alicia shot him a glare. After a few minutes searching they emerged with their weapons. Tamara holding nothing though, and went back to the temple.
Hotohori asked them if they had any problems and they told him no, sitting by the door to examine the new 'toys' they acquired. Deirdre giggled quietly. "It's like an RPG we finally got our weapons!" Tamara nodded though Alicia gave them a blank look.
"What's an RPG?" She asked. Tamara burst into a fit of laughter. Deirdre sighed, explaining. "A role-playing game. Like Dark Cloud 1 &2." She told her friend, giving her a smile. Deirdre held up her choice, a glaive. It was simple looking, but beautiful in Deirdre's eyes. The curved blade, almost like a scythe, sparkled even in the dim light of the temple.
Tasuki suddenly crouched in front of her, snatching the glaive away and looking over it. He raised his eyebrows. "What in th' name of Suzaku are ya doin' with this?" He asked, running his fingers lightly over the blunt end of the blade. Deirdre snatched it back, standing and twirling the staff end with a single hand. She stopped it suddenly and then hit the end upon the ground.
"You better be nice to me Mister, otherwise I won't protect you at the summoning ceremony." Deirdre laughed, winking in a childish manner. Tasuki frowned.
"You? Protect me? Say my good-byes to Kouji, will ya?" He pleaded, kneeling on the ground. Deirdre gaped.
"Excuse me! I protected you in Kutou and I raised the barrier around you when you were hurt! I raised the same barrier when Faye and Tama-" He cut her off there, ruffling her hair and messing it up.
"Ok, ok! You aren't that bad. Guess I can trust ya another time." He muttered, patting her cheek and walking away. Deirdre stuck out her tongue and snorted.
"You better trust me!" She called after him. Deirdre turned back to Tamara and Alicia. The two girls were laughing at her. Deirdre frowned and then walked outside, breathing in the fresh air. Guards and other people walked in and out of the temple in preparation. Deirdre's eyes fell as she thought about what was going to happen today. All of Miaka's hard work would be ruined.
Deirdre wasn't about to tell the usually happy girl that her dreams were about to shatter. Chichiri tapped her on the back, startling her out of the melancholy thoughts. "Oh! Chichiri, sorry! I was off in my own world there." She laughed softly and began fixing her own hair. Tasuki had angled it pretty well.
"It's alright, no da. His Majesty says you are to protect us when we summon Suzaku-seikun, no da." The mage told her, leaning against the door frame. She nodded, smiling. "I guess I am." She murmured softly, looking up at the sky. Chichiri followed her gaze.
"It's so beautiful here, ya know? In my world, the Priestess' world, everything is going to die. There are so many buildings, that makes fewer trees and less places for animals to live. They cut down our forests and they pollute our air. We're all going to die over there too. There are no cures for certain diseases and we die of those each year. I miss what little family I have, but if I could, I would bring them here. Where we can be healthy and help you guys." Deirdre smiled at the monk and then stood straighter.
"Alright, I've had my melancholy mood. I'm over it, let's go back inside."
Faye stood next to Suboshi, leaning against a pole and scuffling her feet on the ground. The younger seishi snorted. "Could you stop? You're getting dust in my nose! Why don't you go talk to that friend of yours, Elena?" He asked as well, cracking his knuckles. Faye sighed and walked away from him, ignoring what he had said.
'Why do I feel like what I'm doing is wrong?' Faye thought as she passed the pond. She stopped to look at the water. Rippling in a soft pattern, outwards and in as some fish swam under the small currents. Faye growled suddenly, angry.
'I hate the water; fire is my favorite element...' She thought. Faye's eyes glanced around everywhere. Almost everything was blue in honor of Seriyu, the dragon god, of water, of war... Her heart clenched.
'I don't like it here. I don't like the blue paint or the blue garments.' She picked at her own clothes of the color. 'I don't like the ponds they have everywhere or the attitude the other seishi have towards me. I have no tolerance for the Priestess, she's a snob!' Faye grew angrier with each step. She started to walk a little clumsily in her anger and tripped over her own feet. She fell to the ground hitting her head.
"Damn it!" She yelled aloud, wanting to scream. Faye's thoughts went to Nakago. 'I know exactly what to do to get away from this cursed place of water...'
"I summon all the Great Forces of Justice, Faith and Good will from the four corners of Heaven and the Four quarters of the Earth, to summon you, the Divine Suzaku.
We ask that you descend from the seven constellations to the Earth, to protect us and destroy all evil with your divine powers for the sake of the people who worship you...
We summon you thus! Descend upon us from the Heavens!!"
Miaka threw the scroll into the fire and all the seishi waited. Deirdre tensed, ready to use the glaive Hotohori had let her use. Alicia stood off to one of the sides, her brow furrowed in worry and her eyes flickering between Deirdre, Tamara and Amiboshi.
As expected, Amiboshi began to play, though Deirdre hadn't expected it to hurt. Miaka yelled a name, though no one there answered to it. Deidre felt her own head begin to split as if someone had wedged a hammer in between her skull. Tamara felt it too, though strangely Alicia was immune. She stared at everyone and then at herself. Her eyes flickered up to Amiboshi.
"You all failed you know. Now you'll never be able to summon Suzaku... Do you know why I was always playing my flute, Miaka?" He asked the Priestess who looked utterly confused. He continued, not waiting for her answer. "The sound is painful isn't it? It's all the more painful because I've been poisoning you all with my chi every time I played." Miaka jumped up in realization.
"Then you were the one controlling the bats!" She screamed. Amiboshi hid his own emotions. "Yes, that was me. The man I killed was just a pawn I brought with me from Kutou. Too bad for him but I needed to kill him to gain your trust. You were fooled by my tattoo of the 'Chiriko' character. You're too trusting, that's your weakness. And now it's your downfall."
He began to play again, even as Tasuki's flame hit the side of his sleeve revealing his true seishi character. "I am the Seriyu seishi Amiboshi, and this is the song of shredded souls!" He played again, the pain echoing in everyone's head. Deirdre was trying hard to block it out. 'Have to protect them! I promised, I promised, I promised...' It brought a flashback from her past.
"Mommy! You can't go, you can't! I promised I would protect you, you have to stay around for me to do that!" The young teenager called to the woman lying on the floor. She shook the woman, her mother and jumped as her little sister, a two year old walked in, a stuffed rabbit in her arms.
"Sissy... Mama?" The little girl asked, tilting her blonde head. The teenager jumped up, grabbing the girls hand and pulling her into an embrace. "My little sister, my only real family... I'll protect you, in Mommy's place. I'll do what she can't do anymore, alright, alright?"
The last word echoed in Deirdre's head as the pain ceased. "ALRIGHT!!!!" She screamed, tears falling down the side of her face. She jumped forward just as Tamahome did, though she hit nothing but air, water falling from her hands. Deirdre's eyes turned to Alicia; she had her hand out, her eyes narrowed and her face a vision of pain. Amiboshi was beside her now, pulling on her hand.
They both ran and Deirdre, Tasuki and Tamahome went after them. Deirdre had shot off first and was gaining on the two. Tasuki stalled himself and Tamahome unwittingly and it gave Deirdre a chance to talk with her friend and Amiboshi.
"Wait!!" She screamed out as they reached the river. "Amiboshi listen to me! Miaka will be on your side, and so will I! Tamara will and I know that Alicia will as well! Just come back with us, help us defeat the Seriyu!" Amiboshi turned, ready to attack her, and hit Tasuki instead who had appeared suddenly.
"Yer wastin' yer time interrogatin' him Deirdre! He betrayed us, now it's time for payback!" Deirdre jumped out of the way as Miaka and Chichiri suddenly appeared, landing on the bandit's back.
Miaka looked frantic when Amiboshi jumped forward, ready to attack her, Tamahome was in front of her in an instant. "Stop it Chiriko! Why do you want to hurt anybody...?" Miaka began. "...When you play such beautiful music on your flute?! You cheered us up! You soothed our hearts!!! Your flute shouldn't be used to hurt people!!" Amiboshi slipped on the loose rock and he began to fall backwards.
Miaka rushed forward, ready to grab him as did Deirdre. Miaka had a hold on the musician's flute, where Deirdre had amazingly been able to grab his other hand. Alicia stood shocked, frozen to the spot. "Chiriko..." Miaka whispered, happy she had saved him. Deirdre pulled herself up, slowly bringing him with her. He gave a sympathetic look to Miaka and then whispered something to Deirdre.
"Please, take care of Alicia... She' such a wonderful person, she shouldn't be allowed to be sad..." Deirdre's eyes widened as he said something to himself and he let go of the flute Miaka had. He grabbed on to the wall and wrenched his arm out of Deirdre's grasp, falling into the raging river below.
Tamara stood next to Nuriko, as worried as he was. "This can't be happening..." Tamara murmured, clenching her hands. She had seen Alicia protecting Amiboshi, and though she knew that Alicia thought him cute... 'I didn't think she'd go to that extent to be with him...' Tamara looked up to see everyone, except Amiboshi, walking towards the temple in solemn steps. Alicia lingered behind them all, tears streaming down the side of her face.
"What happened to the boy, Miaka?" Nuriko asked the Priestess. Miaka hung her head and Tamahome answered for her.
"He fell into the river, it was swollen from the rain, and there was nothing we could do..." He said softly, Alicia's head snapped up.
"There was too!!! You could have tried to help Miaka and Deirdre pull him up! You and Tasuki and Chichiri! I could have too... We could have saved him, he should be alive!!!" Alicia screamed and ran down the stairs, heading back towards her room in the palace.
"It is regrettable that he has died... Though we are too trusting, how could we have let the enemy-" Hotohori began in a soft voice, Tasuki cut him off. "I'm glad he's dead! He betrayed us!" Miaka jumped in then.
"Don't say that! He might have been an enemy but he wasn't evil!" Miaka felt tears start to well up in her own eyes. Deirdre and Tamara were silent.
"An evil person could never play such beautiful music that helped our spirits..." Another voice came in, startling some of the seishi. "I concur... I observed a certain kindness in the music he played today."
A guard jumped. "Hey! How'd that kid get in here?!" Hotohori immediately made the man shut up. The child began playing on a small leaf whistle. Miaka's eyes widened.
"It was you that was making that sound!" Miaka exclaimed, crouching down to the boy's eye level. "Exactly, I used this grass whistle to interfere with the sound waves of his song. But also, his chi was faltering slightly." The boy revealed his kanji character to the seishi. Deirdre pulled Tamara aside.
"I think that Amiboshi wanted us to say goodbye to Alicia for him. He seemed really sad about having to leave her." Deirdre whispered softly. Tamara nodded. "We should go now, you know. She needs somebody to comfort her." Before the two girls could leave though, Miaka was calling them into the temple.
"Everyone pray! We may still have a chance, you too, Deirdre, Tamara!" Miaka told them. The two girls did what she asked, praying for Suzaku. A voice suddenly yelled at them.
"What are you doing, you FOOLS?!!!" Taiitsukun's voice rang through the temple. Everyone fell to their knees. "T-Taiitsukun? Why'd you appear instead of Suzaku?"
"What do you expect?! You BOTCHED the summoning ceremony. Priestess of Suzaku, you failed to gather all of your warriors in time and now it's too late. Now you'll NEVER be able to summon Suzaku. And after all I did for you, providing you with the crystal ball. Now that you've burned the Universe of the Four Gods the situation is irrevocable! You little FOOL!"
The oracle sat fuming in the fire. Her aged eyes glared at them. "Hey geezer! You could be a little nicer!! Miaka did the best she could to--" The oracle's face was suddenly right in front of Tamahome. "Who are you calling an OLD GEEZER?"
Miaka stopped her lover. "No Tamahome! It just makes me frustrated! It isn't just because my wishes won't be granted! It was all for the sake of THIS CEREMONY! All those people were hurt or killed, just so I could summon Suzaku! There's Yui, Shoka, Deirdre, Amiboshi, Alicia and Tamahome too! And all the others... I wasn't able to fulfill my obligation, that's why I'm so upset!"
"Miaka... Perhaps you've matured a little. Come to think of it, there may be another way to summon Suzaku." That caught the attention of everyone.
"Really?! You could have said so sooner!" Tamahome yelled at her. Deirdre and Tamara backed towards the doors, only half listening to Taiitsukun's determination speech and Miaka's new hope.
A/n: I have a new bishie you guys! His name is Jeremy Sumpter from the live-action Peter Pan! He's such a sweetie and he's even the same age as me! Well he's seven months older than me, but he's still basically the same age! Okie day, time for review responses and if you have seen the Peter Pan movie and like Mr.Jeremy too, e-mail me!! Okay?
Phearel: The snowflakes reminded me of Genbu, and because Tamara just seems like Genbu person, there they are! Ah, you're sick too?! I have a sickness, though 'tis worse than the flu! Maybe I can send Tamara over to ya to heal you! That would be cool, lol!
DOREMIdan: I only put Frey/Frei because I like the name, I've never seen Gundam Seed…. Anyways, if I ever have twins when I get older and they're a boy and girl, the boys name will be Frei! Though the girl's name I will not say… Maybe she'll be a character in one of my future stories… Don't worry, I know you didn't bail on me! :)
Chiri26: Hey Angela! Nice to see you reviewin' another of my fics! Glad ya like, hope you read the rest!
Chapter 5: Short Love
"Lady Yui, I am sorry..." Faye heard Nakago telling the young Priestess. She snorted softly, thinking back on what Nakago had told her. After she had become his 'page' or whatever. She didn't know the exact word for it.
FLASHBACK
"I am doing nothing really for anyone but myself. Not the Priestess, the other seishi, or even you." His eyes had flashed to her, reminding her of the defiance she would be punished for.
"I am going to become-" Somebody had knocked on the door, startling Faye, though Nakago seemed fine. "Come in." He had said, as if he was having a very serious thought at that moment. She had stepped in then, bowing.
"Nakago..." Faye had left; she knew what those two were going to do when she left anyways. It didn't matter.
PRESENT
Faye sighed, feeling slightly sorry for the hurt Priestess. The girl hadn't wanted to come to this place after all. She stood straight and left the hall, looking for someone, anyone to talk to. Elena probably... 'Though that doesn't seem very likely.' Faye thought, thinking back on the way Elena had been acting.
She ignored Faye, since the day she had found out Deirdre lived.
Alicia walked sluggishly through the palace, even though it was after breakfast she still hadn't completely woken up. The fight had made her alert, Tamahome and Tasuki had begun their first squabble.
She stood straighter when she saw Amiboshi and Mitsukake. Alicia's dark hair fell forward a little bit as she walked up to Amiboshi.
"Hey A-Chiriko. Could I speak with you for a moment?" Alicia saw his eyes grow frantic for a moment but he did as she asked and walked around the corner with her.
He waited for her to speak, nervous himself.
"Yeah, I wanted to talk to you about... You know. I didn't mean to... Do you remember when my friends and I first arrived here?" She asked suddenly. He nodded though a bit slowly.
"Deirdre told you guys about us being... Well seers in a way. That's how I knew. I just wanted you to know that I'm, not going to tell everyone about it." Amiboshi nodded, though he furrowed his brow after a moment.
"What about Deirdre and Tamara? Don't they know because of their own powers?" He questioned. Alicia shook her head and thought of a reason to cover up the lie.
"You see, they don't because you don't worship the same God as they do. Deirdre's I suppose would be Byakko or Artemis from the Greek culture. Tamara's would be Genbu or Demeter, the harvest Goddess. Mine would be Seriyu or Poseidon, controller of the sea."
Amiboshi's eyes widened. "Then why do you act like you are followers of Suzaku?" Alicia had to think about that for a moment. "Faye... An old friend of ours. She's supposed to be dead but anyways, she followed Suzaku or Ares, god of war." Amiboshi smiled.
"Anyways, I just wanted to tell you I'm not going to tell." He cut her off, his conscience in obvious pain. "You know that I'm going to kill your friends? That I'm supposed to kill... you?" He asked her, looking to the ground.
"I do, and I know that you have to. I don't mind if it's someone who is actually as good hearted as you. Though, before I die..." Alicia leaned forward and softly kissed him on his lips. It wasn't very long, because there was no time for him to respond. The feeling made him warm and he blushed when she pulled away. Alicia smiled and tugged on his hair softly before walking away from him.
He watched in confused awe, his eyes wide and his brow furrowed. 'That was my first kiss...'
By the time Alicia got to the temple, almost everyone was there. She stood next to Deirdre and Tamara, thinking. Everyone was bustling around them; they didn't know which way to look! No one seemed to be talking to them or including them, so Deirdre decided to do something about it.
"Hotohori, your Majesty?" She asked, bowing before the Emperor. He raised his eyebrows in question, waiting for her to speak.
"Chichiri told me a while ago, you all have to drain your chi in unison. That'll leave you defenseless won't it?" The Emperor murmured a yes.
"Would it help at all, since we have powers, if we were to stand guard over you all?" She asked. Hotohori thought for a moment.
"Yes, I suppose actually. Though, can any of you handle weapons?" He asked. Tamara shook her head quickly, blushing in embarrassment. Alicia turned her wrist in a so-so expression. Deirdre smiled and gave him a thumbs up. He motioned towards a passing Guard.
"Ask him to lead you to the armory and he can get you weapons. Tell him I have sent you." Tamara ran to do what Hotohori asked. The other girls followed her. Eventually the man led them to the armory.
"Doubt you can handle them though, you're little boys!" He scoffed. Tamara and Deirdre seemed un-offended but Alicia shot him a glare. After a few minutes searching they emerged with their weapons. Tamara holding nothing though, and went back to the temple.
Hotohori asked them if they had any problems and they told him no, sitting by the door to examine the new 'toys' they acquired. Deirdre giggled quietly. "It's like an RPG we finally got our weapons!" Tamara nodded though Alicia gave them a blank look.
"What's an RPG?" She asked. Tamara burst into a fit of laughter. Deirdre sighed, explaining. "A role-playing game. Like Dark Cloud 1 &2." She told her friend, giving her a smile. Deirdre held up her choice, a glaive. It was simple looking, but beautiful in Deirdre's eyes. The curved blade, almost like a scythe, sparkled even in the dim light of the temple.
Tasuki suddenly crouched in front of her, snatching the glaive away and looking over it. He raised his eyebrows. "What in th' name of Suzaku are ya doin' with this?" He asked, running his fingers lightly over the blunt end of the blade. Deirdre snatched it back, standing and twirling the staff end with a single hand. She stopped it suddenly and then hit the end upon the ground.
"You better be nice to me Mister, otherwise I won't protect you at the summoning ceremony." Deirdre laughed, winking in a childish manner. Tasuki frowned.
"You? Protect me? Say my good-byes to Kouji, will ya?" He pleaded, kneeling on the ground. Deirdre gaped.
"Excuse me! I protected you in Kutou and I raised the barrier around you when you were hurt! I raised the same barrier when Faye and Tama-" He cut her off there, ruffling her hair and messing it up.
"Ok, ok! You aren't that bad. Guess I can trust ya another time." He muttered, patting her cheek and walking away. Deirdre stuck out her tongue and snorted.
"You better trust me!" She called after him. Deirdre turned back to Tamara and Alicia. The two girls were laughing at her. Deirdre frowned and then walked outside, breathing in the fresh air. Guards and other people walked in and out of the temple in preparation. Deirdre's eyes fell as she thought about what was going to happen today. All of Miaka's hard work would be ruined.
Deirdre wasn't about to tell the usually happy girl that her dreams were about to shatter. Chichiri tapped her on the back, startling her out of the melancholy thoughts. "Oh! Chichiri, sorry! I was off in my own world there." She laughed softly and began fixing her own hair. Tasuki had angled it pretty well.
"It's alright, no da. His Majesty says you are to protect us when we summon Suzaku-seikun, no da." The mage told her, leaning against the door frame. She nodded, smiling. "I guess I am." She murmured softly, looking up at the sky. Chichiri followed her gaze.
"It's so beautiful here, ya know? In my world, the Priestess' world, everything is going to die. There are so many buildings, that makes fewer trees and less places for animals to live. They cut down our forests and they pollute our air. We're all going to die over there too. There are no cures for certain diseases and we die of those each year. I miss what little family I have, but if I could, I would bring them here. Where we can be healthy and help you guys." Deirdre smiled at the monk and then stood straighter.
"Alright, I've had my melancholy mood. I'm over it, let's go back inside."
Faye stood next to Suboshi, leaning against a pole and scuffling her feet on the ground. The younger seishi snorted. "Could you stop? You're getting dust in my nose! Why don't you go talk to that friend of yours, Elena?" He asked as well, cracking his knuckles. Faye sighed and walked away from him, ignoring what he had said.
'Why do I feel like what I'm doing is wrong?' Faye thought as she passed the pond. She stopped to look at the water. Rippling in a soft pattern, outwards and in as some fish swam under the small currents. Faye growled suddenly, angry.
'I hate the water; fire is my favorite element...' She thought. Faye's eyes glanced around everywhere. Almost everything was blue in honor of Seriyu, the dragon god, of water, of war... Her heart clenched.
'I don't like it here. I don't like the blue paint or the blue garments.' She picked at her own clothes of the color. 'I don't like the ponds they have everywhere or the attitude the other seishi have towards me. I have no tolerance for the Priestess, she's a snob!' Faye grew angrier with each step. She started to walk a little clumsily in her anger and tripped over her own feet. She fell to the ground hitting her head.
"Damn it!" She yelled aloud, wanting to scream. Faye's thoughts went to Nakago. 'I know exactly what to do to get away from this cursed place of water...'
"I summon all the Great Forces of Justice, Faith and Good will from the four corners of Heaven and the Four quarters of the Earth, to summon you, the Divine Suzaku.
We ask that you descend from the seven constellations to the Earth, to protect us and destroy all evil with your divine powers for the sake of the people who worship you...
We summon you thus! Descend upon us from the Heavens!!"
Miaka threw the scroll into the fire and all the seishi waited. Deirdre tensed, ready to use the glaive Hotohori had let her use. Alicia stood off to one of the sides, her brow furrowed in worry and her eyes flickering between Deirdre, Tamara and Amiboshi.
As expected, Amiboshi began to play, though Deirdre hadn't expected it to hurt. Miaka yelled a name, though no one there answered to it. Deidre felt her own head begin to split as if someone had wedged a hammer in between her skull. Tamara felt it too, though strangely Alicia was immune. She stared at everyone and then at herself. Her eyes flickered up to Amiboshi.
"You all failed you know. Now you'll never be able to summon Suzaku... Do you know why I was always playing my flute, Miaka?" He asked the Priestess who looked utterly confused. He continued, not waiting for her answer. "The sound is painful isn't it? It's all the more painful because I've been poisoning you all with my chi every time I played." Miaka jumped up in realization.
"Then you were the one controlling the bats!" She screamed. Amiboshi hid his own emotions. "Yes, that was me. The man I killed was just a pawn I brought with me from Kutou. Too bad for him but I needed to kill him to gain your trust. You were fooled by my tattoo of the 'Chiriko' character. You're too trusting, that's your weakness. And now it's your downfall."
He began to play again, even as Tasuki's flame hit the side of his sleeve revealing his true seishi character. "I am the Seriyu seishi Amiboshi, and this is the song of shredded souls!" He played again, the pain echoing in everyone's head. Deirdre was trying hard to block it out. 'Have to protect them! I promised, I promised, I promised...' It brought a flashback from her past.
"Mommy! You can't go, you can't! I promised I would protect you, you have to stay around for me to do that!" The young teenager called to the woman lying on the floor. She shook the woman, her mother and jumped as her little sister, a two year old walked in, a stuffed rabbit in her arms.
"Sissy... Mama?" The little girl asked, tilting her blonde head. The teenager jumped up, grabbing the girls hand and pulling her into an embrace. "My little sister, my only real family... I'll protect you, in Mommy's place. I'll do what she can't do anymore, alright, alright?"
The last word echoed in Deirdre's head as the pain ceased. "ALRIGHT!!!!" She screamed, tears falling down the side of her face. She jumped forward just as Tamahome did, though she hit nothing but air, water falling from her hands. Deirdre's eyes turned to Alicia; she had her hand out, her eyes narrowed and her face a vision of pain. Amiboshi was beside her now, pulling on her hand.
They both ran and Deirdre, Tasuki and Tamahome went after them. Deirdre had shot off first and was gaining on the two. Tasuki stalled himself and Tamahome unwittingly and it gave Deirdre a chance to talk with her friend and Amiboshi.
"Wait!!" She screamed out as they reached the river. "Amiboshi listen to me! Miaka will be on your side, and so will I! Tamara will and I know that Alicia will as well! Just come back with us, help us defeat the Seriyu!" Amiboshi turned, ready to attack her, and hit Tasuki instead who had appeared suddenly.
"Yer wastin' yer time interrogatin' him Deirdre! He betrayed us, now it's time for payback!" Deirdre jumped out of the way as Miaka and Chichiri suddenly appeared, landing on the bandit's back.
Miaka looked frantic when Amiboshi jumped forward, ready to attack her, Tamahome was in front of her in an instant. "Stop it Chiriko! Why do you want to hurt anybody...?" Miaka began. "...When you play such beautiful music on your flute?! You cheered us up! You soothed our hearts!!! Your flute shouldn't be used to hurt people!!" Amiboshi slipped on the loose rock and he began to fall backwards.
Miaka rushed forward, ready to grab him as did Deirdre. Miaka had a hold on the musician's flute, where Deirdre had amazingly been able to grab his other hand. Alicia stood shocked, frozen to the spot. "Chiriko..." Miaka whispered, happy she had saved him. Deirdre pulled herself up, slowly bringing him with her. He gave a sympathetic look to Miaka and then whispered something to Deirdre.
"Please, take care of Alicia... She' such a wonderful person, she shouldn't be allowed to be sad..." Deirdre's eyes widened as he said something to himself and he let go of the flute Miaka had. He grabbed on to the wall and wrenched his arm out of Deirdre's grasp, falling into the raging river below.
Tamara stood next to Nuriko, as worried as he was. "This can't be happening..." Tamara murmured, clenching her hands. She had seen Alicia protecting Amiboshi, and though she knew that Alicia thought him cute... 'I didn't think she'd go to that extent to be with him...' Tamara looked up to see everyone, except Amiboshi, walking towards the temple in solemn steps. Alicia lingered behind them all, tears streaming down the side of her face.
"What happened to the boy, Miaka?" Nuriko asked the Priestess. Miaka hung her head and Tamahome answered for her.
"He fell into the river, it was swollen from the rain, and there was nothing we could do..." He said softly, Alicia's head snapped up.
"There was too!!! You could have tried to help Miaka and Deirdre pull him up! You and Tasuki and Chichiri! I could have too... We could have saved him, he should be alive!!!" Alicia screamed and ran down the stairs, heading back towards her room in the palace.
"It is regrettable that he has died... Though we are too trusting, how could we have let the enemy-" Hotohori began in a soft voice, Tasuki cut him off. "I'm glad he's dead! He betrayed us!" Miaka jumped in then.
"Don't say that! He might have been an enemy but he wasn't evil!" Miaka felt tears start to well up in her own eyes. Deirdre and Tamara were silent.
"An evil person could never play such beautiful music that helped our spirits..." Another voice came in, startling some of the seishi. "I concur... I observed a certain kindness in the music he played today."
A guard jumped. "Hey! How'd that kid get in here?!" Hotohori immediately made the man shut up. The child began playing on a small leaf whistle. Miaka's eyes widened.
"It was you that was making that sound!" Miaka exclaimed, crouching down to the boy's eye level. "Exactly, I used this grass whistle to interfere with the sound waves of his song. But also, his chi was faltering slightly." The boy revealed his kanji character to the seishi. Deirdre pulled Tamara aside.
"I think that Amiboshi wanted us to say goodbye to Alicia for him. He seemed really sad about having to leave her." Deirdre whispered softly. Tamara nodded. "We should go now, you know. She needs somebody to comfort her." Before the two girls could leave though, Miaka was calling them into the temple.
"Everyone pray! We may still have a chance, you too, Deirdre, Tamara!" Miaka told them. The two girls did what she asked, praying for Suzaku. A voice suddenly yelled at them.
"What are you doing, you FOOLS?!!!" Taiitsukun's voice rang through the temple. Everyone fell to their knees. "T-Taiitsukun? Why'd you appear instead of Suzaku?"
"What do you expect?! You BOTCHED the summoning ceremony. Priestess of Suzaku, you failed to gather all of your warriors in time and now it's too late. Now you'll NEVER be able to summon Suzaku. And after all I did for you, providing you with the crystal ball. Now that you've burned the Universe of the Four Gods the situation is irrevocable! You little FOOL!"
The oracle sat fuming in the fire. Her aged eyes glared at them. "Hey geezer! You could be a little nicer!! Miaka did the best she could to--" The oracle's face was suddenly right in front of Tamahome. "Who are you calling an OLD GEEZER?"
Miaka stopped her lover. "No Tamahome! It just makes me frustrated! It isn't just because my wishes won't be granted! It was all for the sake of THIS CEREMONY! All those people were hurt or killed, just so I could summon Suzaku! There's Yui, Shoka, Deirdre, Amiboshi, Alicia and Tamahome too! And all the others... I wasn't able to fulfill my obligation, that's why I'm so upset!"
"Miaka... Perhaps you've matured a little. Come to think of it, there may be another way to summon Suzaku." That caught the attention of everyone.
"Really?! You could have said so sooner!" Tamahome yelled at her. Deirdre and Tamara backed towards the doors, only half listening to Taiitsukun's determination speech and Miaka's new hope.
A/n: I have a new bishie you guys! His name is Jeremy Sumpter from the live-action Peter Pan! He's such a sweetie and he's even the same age as me! Well he's seven months older than me, but he's still basically the same age! Okie day, time for review responses and if you have seen the Peter Pan movie and like Mr.Jeremy too, e-mail me!! Okay?
Phearel: The snowflakes reminded me of Genbu, and because Tamara just seems like Genbu person, there they are! Ah, you're sick too?! I have a sickness, though 'tis worse than the flu! Maybe I can send Tamara over to ya to heal you! That would be cool, lol!
DOREMIdan: I only put Frey/Frei because I like the name, I've never seen Gundam Seed…. Anyways, if I ever have twins when I get older and they're a boy and girl, the boys name will be Frei! Though the girl's name I will not say… Maybe she'll be a character in one of my future stories… Don't worry, I know you didn't bail on me! :)
Chiri26: Hey Angela! Nice to see you reviewin' another of my fics! Glad ya like, hope you read the rest!