When he arrived, he was shocked to see not only the high council, but Chichiri and Tasuki as well! He was so shocked that he tripped over Houki's Empress gown,
and landed on his face.
Immediately, he stood up and covered his mole. Once again using his his feminine voice, he addressed the high council.
"Uhh...what's up? So, what's new in the world of Konan?" He tried to make a cute face, but could feel the feeling of awkwardness in the room.
Sitting on the biggest chair, he faced everyone else,
while his hand still on his mole. The oldest guy spoke directly to her.
"Empress Houki, as we have repeatedly told you,
Konan's bad times have gotten worst. We know we told you over again, but ever since the Priestess of Suzaku left." "Miaka! It was that feeling.!" When Miaka was being raped by Nakago, he felt the same terrible and uncomfortable feeling. Even though she wasn't actually raped, Nuriko still felt Miaka's intense sadness.
Immediately standing up, he walked to the door. One of the high council stood up and tried to stop him.
"Uh...my empress, where are you going?" Nuriko looked annoyed and spoke as he walked out.
"One of my...uh, servants got lost in the city! I have to leave and find her...so just leave me alone!" He tried to run out, but the man grabbed her.
"You must not! Let the servant grovel up and die for all we care. It's important that you just talk wi..." Nuriko was furious. As anger built up in his veins,
his braclletts turned into armlets, and he plunged his fist in the man's stomach, sending him back many feet until he hit the wall.
"How dare you...you devil!" As Nuriko turned to leave, Chichiri used his magic to slam the door shut.
Nuriko anxiously turned around...they figured him out.
Tasuki shuddered, and almost sounded like he was about to cry. "N-N-N-Nuriko? But how...?" Nuriko looked down at his feet.
Chichiri then spoke. "Nuriko...why did you come back?" Nuriko looked at them and spoke the whole story...
The smell of alcohol was now outside, and a few men
were smoking some cigarettes. A few thumps could be
heard from inside the pub, and then the door opened.
Two men, obviously drunk, carried Houki's unconscious
body, then threw her out on the street. The men
snickered and went back inside, then came out with
some of their beer bottles and threw them at Houki.
The bottles cracked at contact with Houki, and Houki
started to bleed on every inch of her body. Trying to
get up, more men came out again and started to slap
her and kick her.
Houki's body couldn't take much more of this. One man
slapped her so hard, that she happened to cough out
blood. Wanting to just get away, Houki tried to slap
one of the men, but he grabbed her arm and slammed his
fist into her neck, once again having her couch blood.
She should just die...why couldn't she? Another man
started to undress her, and Houki waited for the pain
to once again come...it was it for her.
All of a sudden, Houki heard the gallop of a horse. A
horse in the slums of Konan? It came closer and
closer, and then Houki heard a collision with some of
the men.
Even with her blurred vision, she could catch sight
of a tall man with...RED hair! It was so rare to catch
sight of a red haired man...could it be?
The man trying to rape Houki grabbed her tight and
rushed into the bar. Houki tried to scream, but it
seemed she lost her voice and couldn't scream. The man
rushed into a room, and threw Houki on the floor.
"You ain't no longer a virgin...so it ain't worth it
to sell you! So I'm just gonna have tah...do away with
'ya." No! He was going to kill her. He took out a
blade and put it at her neck. He raised it, then the
door slammed opened and the red haired man glared at
the drunk.
"GET AWAY FROM HER, 'YA PERVERT!" He raised what
looked like a fan and screamed. "REKKA..." Flames
appeared on the fan. "SHINEN!" Flamed engulfed the
drunk man, and he burned to a crisp.
The red haired man came and picked up Houki, in a
tender way, and spoke softly to her.
"Yer majesty...are you alright?" Houki couldn't
speak, and before she lost consciousness, she felt
warm lips kiss her tenderly...
Nuriko stood at the balcony, staring out at the
palace entrance. It had been a few hours since Tasuki
had gone out to look for Houki, and Nuriko was so
worried.
He had explained to everyone the situation, but this
mission was much more than the existence of Konan...it
was for the existence for Houki. This was terrible. He
should have never let Houki go by herself.
Chichiri had explained to all the servants the
situation, then gone out himself to look for Houki and
Tasuki.
Nuriko looked out at the entrance, and saw Tasuki's
bright red hair, then floated down to greet them.
He came to see a terrible sight. Houki was covered
in blood, and a lot of her clothes...and skin...had
ripped open. She was just barely breathing, and it
seemed she was just barely holding to her life.
Tasuki was in tears, as well as Nuriko and Chichiri.
It was terrible...and they couldn't do anything.
Nuriko tried to sprinkle Mitsukake's holy water on
her, but the very little only cured some of her
wounds.
Chichiri, Nuriko, and Tasuki gasped. The intense
feeling went through all their bodies. Houki's life
force was gone.
There was a moment of silence. Nuriko couldn't stand
it. He had failed in his mission, and lost his best
friend.
Tasuki sobbed the hardest. Nuriko noticed that he had
developed a feeling of...desire for Houki. He had
saved her life, creating a bond between them.
Chichiri looked at the sky, a face of confusion. He
looked back, and frowned. "It's...strange. Lady
Houki's life force isn't completely gone. And I also
feel another life force!" Nuriko gaped at him.
"But..." All of a sudden, a huge light appeared,
having a hint of green in it. The light was blinding,
and Nuriko, Tasuki, and Chichiri shielded their eyes.
Nuriko slowly opened his and a wonderful sight met his
eyes.
A tall man with pure black hair held onto Houki's
body. Nuriko cried tears of joy as Mitsukake smiled at
her.
Tasuki and Chichiri realized that Mitsukake was there
as well, and also got watery eyes. Mitsukake smiled
and spoke.
"I couldn't let her go on. It wasn't fair, and she
deserves a chance at ruling with a true later." Nuriko
noticed that the Houki that Tasuki held was now in
Mitsukake's arms. He also noticed that she was
breathing, and now fully alive. Tasuki immediately
grabbed her body and carried her inside, soon followed
by Chichiri.
Nuriko spoke to Mitsukake. "Mitsukake...I'm amazed. I
didn't know your powers extended to that level!"
Mitsukake blushed.
"Well...for friends, anyone can have that power. But,
Nuriko..." Mitsukake paused, and bit his lip. "It's
time you and I went back."
Nuriko silently looked at the ground. Knowing that it
would be less painful to say good-bye, he grabbed
Mitsukake's hand and their spirits rose to the
heavens...
It was the worst news that had occurred. A doctor had
checked Houki and told the terrible news that Houki
was pregnant. She admitted that one of the men had
impregnant her, and had locked herself in her room.
A few days later, the doctor had told her that she
had miscarried the baby from all the abuse, and it had
taken a while for the baby to die. Houki was relieved,
but unsatisfied with the fact that she was still a
horrible ruler. She had decided just to stay at the
palace and let the suitors come themselves. They were
all still horrible snobs, and Houki did ask her
council if she could send a message to the land to ask
men to come, instead of rich merchants.
The council had approved, but the people who came
were even worst. It seemed her true lover would never
come, and once again, Houki locked herself in her
room.
Houki awoke with the sun shining in her face. She
woke up with a huge yawn, and walked to her bathroom.
She undressed herself, and turned on the shower. She
waited for the shower to get warm, then got in
herself.
The water felt so warm, that she felt like she was in
heaven. She was about to get out, when she felt the
door open.
She gasped and tried to keep herself quiet. She saw
an outline of a man with red hair, and tried to
scream, when he knocked on the glass that covered her.
"Uhh...yer highness...I have mah eyes closed, but I
need you to come out!" Houki blushed as she reached
for her towel. She put it around her torso, then
opened the glass and stepped out.
The man, Tasuki, took a little peek at her and
blushed. Houki giggled and spoke. "Uhhh...what do you
need, Master Tasuki?" Tasuki blushed even harder and
left the bathroom.
Houki put on her bathrobe and followed him out to her
room. She saw him standing at a corner, facing it.
Houki ran and jumped on her bed, and giggled at
Tasuki. Tasuki peeked at her, and noticed she was
covered. He walked towards her and sat next to her,
sitting a fair distance away.
Houki giggled again as he tried to talk to her, but
blushing furiously. Houki herself felt her cheeks get
hot.
Then Tasuki spoke. "Uhh...yer highness... I wanted to
talk to you about something." Houki suddenly
remembered the night of her saving. "Ummm...about what
I did, uh, you know, when I burned the creep?" Houki
nodded. "Well, do ya know what I did after I burned
him?" Houki nodded.
Tasuki's whole face was almost completely red. Houki
giggled yet again, then spoke. "Are you expecting a
reward, Tasuki?" Tasuki looked up, surprised, and
shook his head.
"Uhh, no, it's not what I mean. I mean, I just wanted
to apology"
Houki covered his mouth softly. "Tasuki, I have no
regrets." Tasuki looked at her wide eyed. Houki
smiled, and Tasuki soon smiled as well.
"Well, then, do you wanna come with me into the city
later?" Houki's eyes grew wide. He was asking her out.
"Of course, Tasuki." Houki fell into him, and felt
Tasuki wrap his arms around her.
Tasuki purred. "Houki...for a long time, I've
really..." Houki smiled and finished his sentence.
"...had the hots for me?" Tasuki nodded, then drew her
close.
Tasuki's lips passionately kissed Houki's, and Houki
kissed him back.
Houki had finally found the one...
THE END
Author's Note: I'm stopping the story here because I
intended to have a Houki and Nuriko fic, not Houki and
Tasuki. I'm hoping you guys liked the story, and I
would really would appricitate comments or tips.
Thanx, and always support anime!