The Most Mysterious of Plays
Chapter Three: Konan
"Finally! Where were you?!"
"AAAAAAAAH!"
Yui leaped backwards, landing behind a surprised Miaka. She peeked out again at the huge, hideous face that had appeared in front of her a moment ago. "Wh-wh-wh-what is that?" she asked.
"This is Taitsukun. She's the creator I mentioned, no da," Chichiri explained. He didn't appear to be distressed about her appearance in the least.
"But how… why did we come here, anyway, Chichiri?" Miaka asked suddenly. "I thought the creator wasn't supposed to help or hinder any particular god."
"I called in a favor. After all…" He reached up to his face, and began to peel away…
Oh my God… he's peeling away skin!
Yui shuddered and looked away.
I knew he was some sorta freaky guy! This proves it!
But then, being a teenager, she couldn't help but just take one peek…
She gaped.
The cheerful face, apparently some sort of thin mask, was now limply held in one hand. Now, Chichiri's face suddenly appeared much older and wiser than hers.
Wow, I thought he was only a year or two older than me, like Tamahome. But, he's got to be in his twenties or something…
His face was angular, with a small nose and small ears. One eye was full and round, the coloring a rich brown.
As for the other..
Yui gasped.
A long, dark scar covered his entire eyelid, reaching above his eyebrow and touching the bridge of his nose. His expression was much more somber than it was with the mask on, and Yui could understand why.
He's hiding a scar. A huge one. Just like I am…
The thought shocked her.
Wh-what am I thinking? Of course it's not like me. What happened to me was… was… I can't even think about it without breaking down. It must have just been an accident or something. He just doesn't like people staring at it.
Which is exactly what I'm doing.
Oops.
Yui focused her gaze on the one good eye, as the man smiled at the lot of them faintly.
"After all, I had the honor of training under Taitsukun for three years," he said simply.
Wow! Is it me, or did his voice just drop an octave? What's with that? It's like this is his mature side and that other side's his 'fun' side or something. This guy is definitely weird…
Judging by the surprised looks on Miaka and Tamahome's faces, Yui guessed that they hadn't seen Chichiri without his mask before, either.
That's right… Tamahome!
"Tamahome! How are you?" Yui asked, walking over to the bed.
The young man was sitting up in the bed, propping his head up with one hand while he warily eyed Taitsukun. His expression seemed to light up when he noticed the two girls, however. "I'm fine. It was just a small injury- OW!"
Taitsukun removed her mallet from Tamahome's head, leaving the Warrior to fall gracelessly onto the ground. While Yui was wondering where in the world Taitsukun got a mallet, the creator said, "That was a small injury. And look at you! Whining like a child! If you all wish to summon Suzaku, you'll have to be a lot tougher than that!"
"I am tough," Tamahome muttered.
Yui was about to see if she could get him some ice- or, failing that, a Nyan-Nyan, even though she didn't really want to talk to them again- when Taitsukun fixed her with an unreadable expression. The young blonde found herself freezing in place, unable to move under that intense scrutiny.
Again, that unreasonable fear welled up within her…
She knows she knows what should I do I can't let Miaka know I can't I can't I can't-
"You are in grave danger. Both of you," Taitsukun said gravely. "But especially you, Priestess of Seiryuu."
"What?!" Yui blinked, then felt her hands clenching. "I am not their stupid Priestess!"
"Says you. But what about Nakago? What about the Seiryuu Seishi, their Emperor?"
"Who cares what they say?" Yui asked scathingly. "They're all stuck there without a Priestess anyway."
"Stuck where, and how? Are you aware of how big Konan is? How big Kutou is, Priestess?"
Yui shook her head. "Stop calling me that!"
"Yui…" Miaka said softly. She stood a few feet away, watching the interaction with big, worried eyes. Chichiri looked slightly uncomfortable, and spent his time placing his mask back on his face and scratching the back of his head. Tamahome looked mildly interested in what the group had to say.
"Kutou is more than twice the size of Konan, Priestess of Seiryuu. What makes you think that they won't come after you?"
"Come… after me?" Yui asked.
Taitsukun threw her arms up over her head. "Hopeless! The only chance for Konan lies within this room, and both of you are absolutely hopeless!" She flicked a wrist, and barked, "Nyan-Nyan!"
"NYAN-NYAN FIX! NYAN-NYAN HEAL!"
About five of the tiny healers popped into the room, all landing on top of Tamahome. He let out a loud, "Oof!" before falling to one side. Miaka and Yui turned away, blushing at his bare torso.
Tamahome struggled with the Nyan-Nyans, cursing and squirming about as the rest of them stared, collectively sweat-dropping. Then, Taitsukun said, "Well? I'm waiting for some suggestions from you lot."
"Yui could come with me and help me find the other Seishi!" Miaka said immediately. "Since we'll grow bigger in number as we go along, we can all protect her more!"
"And what exactly would you say to them? 'This is our enemy, the Priestess of Seiryuu, who you have to protect just as much as you have to protect me?'" Taitsukun asked.
Miaka frowned. "I can take care of myself!" she protested.
"Like back there in Kutou, no da?" Chichiri asked gently.
She blushed. "That was… but you said…!"
"I know what I said. And I know what I meant, too. Have you figured it out yet, Priestess of Suzaku?" Chichiri had not removed his mask again, but his voice had dropped an octave once more. Yui once again blinked in surprise.
Why does he switch voices like that? Is it like another… mask?
Miaka sighed. "I thought I did. But now I'm not sure."
"Think on it. Let me know when you believe you know, and don't just run off and do it. We were fortunate in finding your friend this time, but next time, who knows? No da."
"You're right." Miaka gave him a small smile. "Well, what do the rest of you suggest, then?"
Tamahome, who had been wrestling with the Nyan-Nyans in a giant dust cloud behind the group, suddenly sent three Nyan-Nyans into orbit and stood out of the bed, fastening his belt around his pants but still bare-chested and barefoot. "I think we should send Yui home," he said softly. "Then there's no danger to her at all."
"What?!" Miaka demanded, grabbing Yui's hands. "But-!"
"It's a thought, no da," Chichiri said. "Though perhaps not a pleasant one for you two."
Yui felt a tug at her heart, both at the Seishi's words and at Miaka's reaction. Nakago, you bastard, you lied to me…Her hands clasped over Miaka's, and she looked defiantly up at the two Seishi. "I'm not going anywhere," she said. "I'm not going to go home and be able to do nothing when Miaka's in trouble!"
"Besides, none of you are girls!" Miaka added, as though that settled everything.
Taitsukun whipped out a mallet and smacked Miaka on the head with it. Yelping, Yui leaped back to avoid being smacked too (or being bowled over by an unconscious Miaka). "Baka. We can't send her back anyway. We'd need her Seishi's powers, and they have no intention of letting her escape. The only way to keep her safe with you and to get her home is for Miaka to summon Suzaku."
"Then… what else could we do?" Miaka fretted. "She can't stay but she can't go…"
The group was silent. Tamahome slipped on the rest of his clothing while Miaka and Yui simply held on to each other, as though at any moment something would try to rip them apart. Chichiri gazed about at the room thoughtfully, while Taitsukun waited for them to figure things out.
"Perhaps… she could stay at the palace?" Chichiri suddenly suggested. "Hotohori-sama should allow her to stay as a guest. Miaka can go searching for the Seishi. I can keep a contact between the two so they can speak, if nothing else, no da. If Kutou tried to move in now, well…" He suddenly trailed off.
Yui, however, caught up the end of his thought. "You want to use me as a hostage," she whispered, eyes wide.
"No, no!" he said, waving his hands. "Not like that, no da! Well, rather, what we could do is say you're our hostage, just to keep 'em in line until Miaka gets back, no da."
"I don't know," Yui said.
But Tamahome, Miaka, and even Taitsukun were nodding. "Good," Taitsukun said to her pupil. "It's about time one of you showed some brains. Do as you say."
Wait a minute. Why aren't I being consulted?! This is about me!
She was about to tell them this, but before she could even open her mouth Yui found Miaka looking up at her hopefully. "Yui-chan, what do you think? Would it be all right? I don't want you in danger, but I don't want you to go, either…"
Yui opened her mouth, then closed it. She looked around at the rest of the people in the room; the Nyan-Nyans, who were watching the conversation interestedly, the Creator, Taitsukun, Tamahome, Miaka, Chichiri…
After a long moment, she let her head fall so her chin could rest on her chest, and murmured, "Do I really have a choice?"
"Yui…" Miaka said softly.
"At the least, I can let you know when you're being an idiot about something. It'll be better than talking to a book, that's for sure!"
Yui lifted her head and smiled at the other young woman, who was now gaping at her. "Ne, Miaka, when did you turn into a koi?" she asked, poking her friend in the chin. "Stop that. It's highly unattractive."
The brunette's mouth snapped shut. Then Miaka lunged at her friend.
"Oh, Yui! I'm so happy! I'm so glad we got you safe and you're with us and you'll be safe and we can go home soon!"
The two crashed to the floor, thanks to Miaka's unexpected glomp and Yui's sudden loss of balance. Yui ed as the Seishi sweat-dropped and the Nyan-Nyan came up to inspect the damage.
"Well, I'm glad you all agree then," Taitsukun said dryly. "Right then." She waved one arm, and, miraculously, the Nyan-Nyans all rushed to her side. "Well? What are you waiting for? Get going!"
Chichiri jumped a little, then said, "Oh, right, no da," rather sheepishly. Then he flourished his cloak- where'd that come from? Yui wondered- and spread it out on the floor before the little group. "Just step on it, no da. It's a lot more comfortable than going in the hat, honest! No da."
"Right! Come on, Yui, let's go first!" With that, Miaka pulled her friend by the arm onto the cloak. And Yui, grinning like an idiot, didn't resist in the slightest.
End Chapter Three.