Disclaimer: I do not own Fushigi Yuugi. It's the creation of Yuu Watase sensei.
Chapter 5: Race Against Time
Tatara and Suzuno. That was what popped into his mind as they observed the young couple in the garden from behind the bamboos. Tamahome and Miaka were in love. If they summon Suzaku, Miaka will leave… and his poor student Tamahome…
"Ask Xi-fan if she's interested in marriage." Subaru stared at him in disbelief. Lanuan… how could you? "Let's pray that he's just feeling a passing fancy for the miko… you know it's possible…" Tokaki had fancied himself in love with Suzuno once, but that was before he met the fiery Subaru. Docile, sweet girls are not his type.
He has a point. Such a relationship can only end in heartbreak. Subaru sighed. "About the mirror…"
"We better watch out for Kasaru. The Seiryuu seishi will be after it as well…"
The old couple left as quietly as they had come. The lovebirds were left alone in the oasis of greenery that was so rare in Saizou's desert climate. Tokaki smiled. They had Kasaru's knowledge and Dourin's skill to thank for their little piece of paradise.
"Getting the mirror officially is going to be a problem," Subaru confessed to the monk much later. She had explained the difficulties involved.
The current Sairou royals were puppets of the religious establishment. The Holy One, successor to the one who had offered them guidance in the past, had passed on. There was a contest as to who will take on his mantle. As a result of continuing strife, the monks were divided into several opposing camps.
While marketing with Xi-fan earlier in the day, they had the fortune, or misfortune, to chance on one of these processions. It was led by a strange child monk. It was headed for one of the many palaces. She felt an uneasy sensation then… but she had put it down to too much sun. Now, she felt an inexplicable sense of dread.
"We can still get it, no da?" Chichiri beamed. How optimistic.
Subaru wondered how Xi-fan and Tamahome were getting along. Miaka was a terrible cook, going by Xi-fan's account. After partaking of her meal, everyone needed stomach medicine from Mitsukake.
A way to a man's heart is through his stomach. She wondered if Xi-fan's cooking was to Tamahome's liking.
Their well-meant attempt to match Tamahome with sweet Xi-fan was a failure. Tamahome had gone after Miaka when he heard she had gone to the monster-infested tower. He was already deeply in love with her.
They should have known that from the way he looked at her. Maybe they were getting old and fuddled. The shrine of Byakko loomed before them. Official permission or not, they should have done this. It was the least they can do now…
"Kasaru!"
The shrine door was yanked off its hinges. The shrine of Byakko was in disarray. Several attendants were lying dead in the hall. Desecrated. Shocked, Subaru and Tokaki searched the corridors and rooms, hoping… No sign of Tatara. Too late…
"Tatara!!!" Subaru sobbed, falling to her knees… "He's still alive!" Tokaki insisted, helping her up. They wouldn't kill Tatara until he surrenders the mirror…
Once outside the shrine, how quickly will their friend age? How much longer has he left?
"The Suzaku seishi! We must join forces with them. It's his only chance!" Tokaki sounded a lot more confident than he felt.
Tatara was close to death. Time had started to flow for him, draining away his life and powers. Was this the work of the Seiryuu seishis?
No wonder she had felt uneasy that day in the marketplace. The strange child-monk was one of them. Seiryuu seishi, Moboshi. He was powerful and very dangerous…
It was Tatara who killed him, giving up his life in the process. Both Subaru and Tokaki felt as though a part of them died as Tatara fell. They were in for a nasty shock… Caught off guard, young Chiriko became the unwilling vessel for the evil spirit of Moboshi.
The Suzaku no miko was in danger. The Suzaku seishis were fighting desperately.
"Subaru, can you use your power to turn time back for me?" Tokaki whispered out of earshot of the Suzaku seishi as he looked at his fallen comrade. Tatara's face was peaceful, as if he were merely asleep.
Subaru thought carefully. She hadn't used her powers for a very long time. She felt deep inside her being. Yes, there is still a fragment of her original power left. Enough to last a few short hours. It'll be risky. There's no telling how their old frames will react on reverting back to the natural course of time. Tokaki may die from the spell…
"On the condition I use the same spell on myself." Subaru made her decision. She gathered her ki…
Author's notes:
Hydra-star: You got it about Tasuki. He's a bit of a hothead but we all know he's very close to Chiriko.He gets along alright with most of his fellow seishi, except maybe Tamahome. Something to do with Tamahome nearly killing him on their 1st meeting?
This chapter is a bit disjointed. It doesn't flow as well as the earlier chapters. Action is picking up, anyhow, we all know the events touched in more detail from the anime.
This is still from the Byakko seishis' POV. I sneaked ina chance encounter with the Seiryuu seishi Moboshi in the marketplace. Subaru's like your average housewife here.