Yumi had been gone for several hours before Hotohori realized what had happened. He had been too busy dealing with affairs of state and accommodating the new warrior to know what was going on. He had a headache. Nuriko had tried to explain exactly what happened to Hotohori, but it was confusing. The man everyone thought was Tamahome was really Amiboshi, a Seiryu warrior. And now he was dead. The real Tamahome had showed up and killed him. But why did the man need to be killed? Oh, because Amiboshi was killing Yumi, Nuriko, and Tasuki. Even though he was an enemy, Hotohori knew he couldn't have been an evil man. He felt a deep grief in his heart. A while back, the priestess of Seiryu had returned, storming through the palace. Everybody knew she was back. But now she was gone as well. He could imagine how the priestess felt. One of her warriors was dead. Actually, four were dead. First, there was Miboshi. Chichiri reported that yesterday, before the attack. Next, it looked as though Tasuki had killed that blond man, Nakago. Then Nuriko had killed the one called Ashitare during the attack. And now, they had killed Amiboshi.
Hotohori didn't want to admit the fact that he would not see Suzaku in his lifetime. Yumi was gone now. She was not likely to come back. He felt as though his heart had been stabbed. At least she'll be happy. That's all I really need. Hotohori stood up, not sure what he wanted to do, but he knew he needed to get up and about. Maybe I can check on… but he couldn't think of anyone. So he wandered aimlessly through the halls of his home, a thing he couldn't remember ever doing before. He hardly registered when he passed his fellow warriors of Suzaku. Chichiri was talking to Mitsukake, who was shaking his head solemnly. When Hotohori came nearer, they broke off their conversation and greeted him.
"What is it, Hotohori? Have you seen Tasuki lately, no da?" Hotohori nodded without answering. He's gone, and he's taken the priestess with him. Mitsukake didn't say anything, but he seemed to understand what was going on in the emperor's head. A few uneventful minutes later, Hotohori came across Nuriko and Chiriko, both of whom were talking to a young man. A small child stood beside Nuriko, giggling sweetly. Nuriko turned and greeted him.
"Hotohori-sama! Let me introduce you to Tamahome, the last warrior of Suzaku." Tamahome bowed. Sometimes it made Hotohori uncomfortable when people he was supposed to be equal to treated him as though he were superior. Despite what everyone probably thought, Hotohori really disliked all the pomp and ritual surrounding his position. Hotohori bowed his head and looked at Tamahome. He looked just like the other man, Amiboshi. It was hard to believe that they were not the same person.
"Aniki!" The tiny girl said. "Who is this? He's dressed real fancy, isn't he?" Tamahome patted the girl on the head.
"That's the emperor, Yuiren. Say thank you to him for letting us stay." Tamahome smiled apologetically at Hotohori for the little girl.
"Thank you, mister! The nice man said he would make me feel all better and he would even make it so I don't have to wear all these bandages. And you are going to let us stay here, too. Everybody here is so nice!" Hotohori felt his spirits lift a little, just listening to the innocent child.
"Of course." Hotohori said kindly. "If there's anything you want, just ask, and I'll do my best to help you." There was something about children… Hotohori smiled when the little girl didn't even hesitate to ask for the first thing that came to mind. Sweet thing…
"Can you makebig brotherfeel better? He looks so sad, and I don't know why." Hotohori chanced a glance at Tamahome. Yuiren was right. His eyes were clouded with grief, though he concealed it well. Yuiren was a lot smarter than she looked. And she's so young! Hotohori remembered that Tamahome had killed Amiboshi. Maybe that's what it is. Chiriko just looked on, smiling. He hardly ever said anything. The boy wasn't much for socializing, but it looked to Hotohori as though he was… preoccupied. Thinking about something, or someone, else. Hotohori made a few more comments before walking off. Even a few moments later, he couldn't remember exactly what he said.
Well. That's everyone. Let's see. Chichiri and Mitsukake; Chiriko, Tamahome, and Nuriko; and Tasuki has gone… with Yumi. With a sigh, Hotohori made his way back to his room. He looked around abruptly. He must have gotten turned around, because he was in the wrong wing of the palace. Where am I, anyway? I don't think I've ever been here before… That was when Hotohori realized where must be. There was only one wing of the palace he had ever made a habit of avoiding, and it was the Inner Seraglio. This was not good. Any woman here would recognize him as the emperor, and then he would be surrounded.
Hotohori tried to back away quickly, feeling like a hunter's prey, and that was probably an apt comparison. He didn't want to marry for the convenience of his counselors and the production of an heir. If she was the right woman, but... Yumi was the one he loved, and she was lost to him.
Moving quickly, Hotohori strode back the way he had come, trying not to look back. He could have laughed at himself. He was afraid of the women in the Inner Seraglio! He actually did chuckle a bit, feeling a little better than he had before. It was good to laugh at one's self. Soon enough he would have to resume his duties though. He had to reassure his people, since he had found out from Nuriko that the Seiryu warrior Soi had almost lit one of the marketplaces on fire with her power of lightning.
There was always something that could be done in his idle moments. Most of this time was spent in meetings with his councilors, trying to fend off their attempts at having him marry. He didn't know why they were so insistent. Hotohori did not plan on dying anytime soon. But I was ready to give my life for Yumi. That thought sobered him a bit. He had to watch out for his people. If he were to die without an heir then that would throw the country into a battle for succession. He had several siblings, all from different mothers. Each would most likely try and seize the power of the emperors for themselves.
With those thoughts dampening his small moment of high-spirits, Hotohori made his way back to his room. He turned his will to keeping his thoughts away from the subject of Yumi and Tasuki. He still did not see what Yumi loved in that man. But she had made a choice, and he had to respect that. Hotohori stopped outside his door when he thought he heard something. Were it one of his advisors or fellow warriors, they would have announced themselves.
A young woman was standing behind him a respectable distance away, watching him though intelligent blue eyes. He did not recognize her, but knew instantly that she would have to be from the Inner Seraglio judging by the rich clothing she wore. She was a beautiful woman, but that was not what struck him. It was the same face from the image in his mind, the one that superimposed itself when his thoughts sometimes turned to the priestess of Suzaku.
"Your Highness…" The woman said softly, bowing deeply before him. Hotohori recovered himself from shock within an instant, looking cool and composed. She followed me… When the woman straightened back up he couldn't help but stare. Yes, it was the same face. The blonde hair, the blue eyes, and even the facial structure was the exact same.
"Who… are you?" He asked, curious now. There had to be some sort of reason that she appeared before him, and that her face haunted his thoughts even when he had never seen her before. The woman smiled slightly and inclined her head once more.
"My name is Kirin, Your Highness, a woman from your Inner Seraglio." She said confidently. Hotohori was still puzzled. Why had this woman followed him in the first place? What was her purpose?
"Kirin… why did you follow me out of the Inner Seraglio?" The woman seemed to spark with defiance in her eyes for a moment.
"Your Highness, would you die for the priestess of Suzaku?" Kirin, instead of answering his question came back at him with one of her own, catching Hotohori off guard. Maybe I am too used to people obeying me and answering my questions.
"Yes, I would." He answered after a pause. The woman looked at him, a penetrating gaze that made the emperor feel as though she could read his very soul. She walked forward gracefully a few steps and gently laid a hand on his arm, surprising Hotohori, but he did not pull away immediately.
"Then you have my respect, and my love for that, Your Highness. You are truly a valiant man." Kirin said softly, looking at him gently. Then she pulled away from him and began to walk back the way she had come. Hotohori was confused. What did that woman mean? Kirin paused a moment and turned around one more time.
"And, Your Highness?" Hotohori looked at her as she called him. "I believe the priestess of Seiryu wanted to apologize for being sick on your floor." And with that parting remark, with a half-smile on her lips, the woman walked away, leaving the emperor of Konan sorely puzzled.
Megumi stared down at the grass beneath her feet. She felt sick again. Soi was standing impatiently beside her, waiting for her to finish throwing up. Eventually she stood up again, turning around to look at her horse. Soi impatiently swung up on her own horse, leading the other by the reins. Suboshi was still unconscious. Soi had actually tied him to the saddle so that he would not fall off, though he swayed dangerously. The older woman had force fed him an herb that she said would keep him sedated for hours. They didn't want him to try and wreak vengeance on the Suzaku warriors again. They were going back to Kutou.
This had to be someone's fault. Megumi didn't know who it was anymore. They had left in such a hurry. Yumi was back there. It was her warrior's fault that Amiboshi was dead. Suboshi would probably hate his own priestess now, for letting that happen. Everyone hated her. Yumi must hate her too, for what Nakago did to her. Soi thought of her as a burden. Nakago thought she was a weak little girl. Ashitare was dead. She hadn't found any more warriors. Amiboshi had liked her at least, as a friend she thought. That was why it hurt so much. Suboshi and him were the only ones she could fully trust of them all, and now Amiboshi was dead and Suboshi would blame her.
Megumi kicked her horse into a full-scale gallop. She wasn't wasting any time this go around. They would make it within a day or so if they pushed the horses hard enough. It had only took so long before because she dawdled, glad to be free of the confinements of Kutou's gaudy palace. If she hadn't dawdled they might have been able to save Amiboshi. She could probably blame Yumi, maybe she could even get to hate, loathe, abhor Yumi, but she could hate herself easier, so she did. It was better to hate herself than to hate another.
Suboshi was still out but he was managing to stay on his horse, in large part due to Soi having tied him in the saddle. Soi rode well and they made good time. Soi seemed to have taken charge. As much as she was averse to relying on Nakago, especially after what he had done to Yumi, Megumi needed to know what to do to summon Seiryu. Did Yumi deserve it? Megumi wondered. She didn't know anything anymore but pain and sadness.
The day seemed to stretch on forever, an infinite time where she drifted in and out of a waking state. Sometimes she saw Amiboshi smiling, and another time she remembered her awkward sleepwalking episode. It was all her fault. It was her fault. Soi halted abruptly and dismounted, untying Suboshi from his saddle and pulling him off.
Megumi slid off her horse as well, mechanically tying the horse's reins to a tree. She walked over to Suboshi. Will he ever forgive me? She wondered. Soi had laid him down in the shade of a large tree; his back propped against the trunk.
"Aniki…" He murmured, turning restlessly before slipping back into sleep or unconsciousness, bringing fresh tears to Megumi's eyes as she watched.
Yumi couldn't believe it. Tasuki had just proposed to her. He didn't just hint at marriage, like he had before, but he had actually come out and asked her to marry him. She couldn't even begin to express her happiness. And… and I'm still a virgin, too! I can summon Suzaku, just like my duty tells me… and then… and then… She was brought rudely out of her nostalgic thoughts by a scratchy old voice that she would never be able to block out, though she did her best to ignore it. Why? Why is Taiitsukun here?
"Personally, I didn't think I could trust you." The old hag said, and Yumi looked up to see the creature floating up near the ceiling. "I thought you might take advantage of the situation, so I had to keep an eye on you." Yumi could feel Tasuki growl deep in his chest.
Yumi decided to cut in before Tasuki got on the bad side of this very important being. But it did make her wonder. Would he have? Of course not.
"Thank you, Taiitsukun." She said happily. Nothing could make her feel sad now. Everything was finally going right. I can still summon Suzaku, and I'm going to get married. What will my mother say? I'm only seventeen! Some of her thoughts must have showed on her features, for Taiitsukun looked down at her strangely.
"Priestess? Don't you have something you should be doing? You have all of your warriors gathered now." Yumi nodded and pulled herself closer to Tasuki, causing Taiitsukun to grimace.
"I thought I told you not to have contact with men…" Taiitsukun grumbled, but Yumi chose to ignore the comment.
"Hey, I can still summon the god, so give me a break. Thank you and all, but I was in the middle of a great moment. Could you please leave so we can resume?" Yumi couldn't believe she had just said that. A bubble of happiness welled up inside Yumi, flooding her with ineffable joy. When she was certain that they were alone again, Yumi giggled, unable to keep her bliss inside any longer.
"Were you serious when you said we could live here?" Yumi wanted to know, ignoring Taiitsukun's presence for the moment. Tasuki smiled down at her in response.
"Wherever you want to live. The only thing I need is you." Yumi closed her eyes and rested her cheek against Tasuki's coat. Yumi didn't even care when she heard a knock on the door. Someone else was interrupting, but it didn't matter. Tasuki sighed and called out to whomever was outside the door.