I opened my eyes to realize I was lying on silken sheets, fully bandaged and with a major headache. Owie...
Since when do I have silk sheets?
I opened my eyes to take in my surroundings. The sheets I was under were indeed made of silk with a bright and cheerful red tinge to them. Now that I look around, a lot of what was around me was some shade of red or a gold color. There was also a monarch and royal air about the room. I also recognize a statue of the red peacock I saw before I lost consciousness. It looked cool now that I saw it up close. When I heard voices outside, I dived under the covers before anyone could see me.
I know eavesdropping is a very bad habit...but you can nag me later...
"You're highness," one voice said, "are you sure it's right for the girl to stay here? Forgive my pardon, but she is not from Konan..."
"I realize that, Advisor," a silken male voice replied, "but that's what intrigues me.
"She appeared out of nowhere in outlandish clothes that barely covered her body. She was blood-stained on many parts of her body and barely breathing when I found her. Something must've happened to her before she entered our world."
"Do you think it's the legend of Suzaku, Sire?" the advisor asked, "We have already found that other girl with that boy and she appears just as outlandish as this one albeit not injured."
"I realize this, so one or the other could be the Priestess of Konan whilst the other must belong to Kutou. The only question is which."
The advisor sighed and told his superior that he did not know. The silken voice then dismissed the advisor and closed the door. He then approached my bed and sat down gently.
"Who are you?" he asked softly, though I doubt he expects an answer.
I pull back the covers slightly to look at the person speaking to me. I gasp in amazement at him. He's a lot more handsome than any man I've ever seen. He has olive green hair with mysterious golden eyes. He also looks very regal with royal red robes and a nice hat (looks like a Chinese take-out box) and shoes to match (ducky feet!). His eyes looked at me in wonderment as I pulled down the covers down shyly.
"You were awake the entire time?" he asked, his silken voice questioned me.
I gulp down the lump in my throat, trying to work up my nerve. This is the first time I've talked to a guy. Especially one like him. Or even one of his status. I'm rambling...
"Yes..."I say shyly.
He smiles softly, you know, one of those smiles that make girls melt at the sight of it. Yum...
"Please," he says politely, "forgive my rudeness. I am known as Saihetei, Emperor of Konan. You may also call me Hotohori of the Suzaku Seven if you wish."
I look at him shyly and quietly respond, "My name is Amaris."
"A very pretty name," is his quiet response to my answer.
I blush softly.
"Thank you, Emperor Saihetei," I say through my shyness to him.
He nods softly, smiling again, then stands.
"Are you hungry?" he asks, gently taking his slender hands and placing them around my tiny ones.
"A little bit, sir," I respond, then try to stand up.
"You do not have to call me by my title Amaris. In fact, I would greatly enjoy an informal 'Hotohori' from people."
I nod shyly.
"Okay, Hotohori... sir," I say, covering my mouth at the formality I used.
He smiled, amused. Poo... I tried to do as he asked, but I still manage to screw it up...
Life is not fair sometimes...
"Sorry," I say quietly.
"Do not apologize," he said, putting an arm around my shoulder, "you've nothing wrong."
He showed me a closet full of clothes to wear since my old ones were practically dead. The small room was full of dress kimonos and lots of shiny jewelry and other accessories. O.O; wow...
"Choose what you like," Hotohori called out, keeping his eyes averted from me.
Well...this is a definite pickle...
"I've never worn kimonos before," I told his through the screen.
"Do you want for me to send for someone to help you?" he asked.
"I don't want to be a bother to anyone..." I say trailing off.
"You are not being a bother," Hotohori reassured me, "I'll send for a maid to help you dress, then we can talk over lunch."
He left me with a kimono waiting on the door until a maid came in and dressed me. She had a fuss though because I have short hair. It's bright fire engine red with white in my bangs. I always thought it was cool. It's natural too! - She even applied a bit of makeup to hide my scratches and bruises on my face. She commented how pretty I looked, but I bet that was just something she said to all the girls she fixed in the palace. I nodded in return and walked out to greet Hotohori.
He was surprised to say the least.
"You look wonderful," he says, making me blush.
"Thank you," I reply.
He smiles again and offers his arm to me. I just stared at him stupidly.
"Do you wish to accompany me to the Dining Hall?" he questioned.
I nod still confused.
"You may take my arm so we can go," said, moving his arm a little for emphasis
Then it clicked. Nice way to be courteous in front of the emperor dimwit! I immediately take his arm and walk beside him, blushing.
We walk together for some time, but I can't help but feel like we were being watched.
I look around to try to suppress my curiosity, but see nothing. When I look away, I feel those eyes once again boring into my back. I dare not look back in fear I might see something that could hurt me.
Like my dad...
I instinctively hold tighter to Hotohori as the memory entered my mind. I barely feel the silk of his sleeve or even his arm anymore. I just saw darkness all around me. I panic a little, sensing people around me.
I stare as the people passing by me on a busy sidewalk take no notice of me. They just continue with their daily lives. Cars pass...people pass...everything is passing me by.
I run towards my house, not once getting run over and see my house perfectly fine. Both cars are in the garage, meaning both of my parents are home. I dash inside to see my parents arguing once again.
"It's your fault she ran away, you idiot!" my mother yelled at him, but he waved his hand indifferently.
"I just knocked her around a bit and she runs away," he says in a casual manner, "she'll come crawling back. She'll realize that here is a better place than on the streets."
"But what if someone takes her in and she spills about us abusing her?"
"The bitch can't stand being around other people, much less strangers. She's afraid of her own shadow."
"Someone could take pity on her..."
"Who would want a used has-been? She's so messed up, it's not even funny. I very much doubt she could deserve some fool's pity."
I feel tears coming to my eyes. Did they hate me enough to not even care about me?
"People will start to get suspicious if she doesn't go to school. "
"Take her out of it," my father said, making the hand gesture.
"Then the state will come in and revoke our rights as parents."
"Then go to the cops and report a missing child," my father commented, taking a drink from his Jack Daniel and swallowing, "if they find her, great; if they don't, then we get the pity. A missing child is a perfect opportunity to wallow in people's sympathy."
My mother smirked, understanding his plan. She immediately went to the phone and in her best worried and hysterical voice; she called the police to report me missing. My father, seeing the cops might be here soon, took up his Jack Daniel, as well his other alcoholic drinks and asked his neighbor to hold onto in a safe place. The ratty neighbor agreed and took all of my dad's alcohol to his basement.
The police arrived soon after my mom had clear up the bits of evidence to lead to my abuse. All that remained was evidence that I was obviously gone. My mother was putting on an award winning act of being the terrified and worrisome mother who just lost her only child. My father was playing to role of husband to her in comforting her.
The cops searched the entire house, but found nothing. But once they started going down to the basement, my parents hid secretive smiles at their jobs well done. They entered it, an obvious struggle being present. They had messed up my room to make it looked like I was forcefully taken. The cops searched the room, almost discovering the old red book.
They had never seen that kind of book before and opened up the book to the first few pages. It was written in Chinese.
"Your kid can speak Chinese or Japanese or something?" one of the cops asked, looking over the pages
"She's...an overachiever... always wanting to learn new things," my father lied through his teeth.
"Well, maybe you should consider sending this kid to an art school someday...this chic has got talent," another commented, looking through my old sketch books, admiring my skills.
"Nevertheless," my father said, "You need to find her first for to go to an art school, okay?"
The cops nodded and took various things for examination (excluding my sketch book and the old red book.) They left both books on a nearby bookshelf and left.
Afterwards, my parents went down and took the book upstairs to look at it better. They searched through the book, still not understanding Chinese. They turned to the next blank page and the characters started appearing on pages in glowing red print. Though they didn't understand it, my parents thought of this as magical. Frankly, I didn't understand it either and wished I could read Chinese.
Suddenly, a teenager-looking man with spiky red hair appeared beside me. I jump back, startled. The figure looked amused.
"Who... who are you?" I say to him, backing away slowing.
"I am one of Konan as its god and protector. I am known as Suzaku.
"You're Suzaku?" I say softly.
"Yes, I am," he said, nodding, "and why did you call my true form a peacock?"
I was shocked. Uh... oops?
"Peace," he said calmly, "I am not angry. But I heard you wish you could read my book?"
"Well," I said softly, barely above a whisper, "I don't want them to discover its secrets or for anyone else to either."
The man nodded and waved his hand carelessly.
"It is done," he said, then turned to leave.
"Wait," I call out to him, "Suzaku... How do I get back to Konan...and what's really written in the book that keeps appearing as the pages turn?"
He turned to me and smiled.
"My book records your adventures in Konan and the other existing worlds inside of it. As it occurs, it appears in solid ink, just as any other book. And do not worry; the book can never be destroyed, only manipulated."
"But how do I get back to Konan?" I ask again.
"I'm sending you back this very moment. A certain emperor is worried that his priestess has fallen ill. I bid you farewell, my second priestess... serve me well in gathering your seishi and summoning me before Kutou summons their god, Seiryuu or the consequences could be disastrous."
"I will, Suzaku," I say, gathering my confidence in this.
He smiles and turns before my vision turns black once again and I wake up within my silken bed, with a warm hand over mine.
"Suzaku," I hear a voice whisper quietly, "let her return to me...please."
"Hey," a new voice interrupts, "she's waking up your highness."
His grip suddenly jerks in surprise at the voice. I tighten my grip around his hand as I open my eyes. I saw two people I didn't know standing over me. One was a young girl a bit younger than me with buns on both sides of her head tied with red ribbons. She was also wearing a brown Japanese school-girl uniform with a blue ribbon on the chest. Next to her was a young man with bright violet eyes and a dark bluish green hair. He also looked like a street punk or a money moocher from this time judging by the size of his gold pouch.
Or lack there of gold.
The next thing I knew, warm, silken arms wrapped around me, holding me close.
"I was so worried," Hotohori whispered in my ear, hugging me tenderly, "after you've slept for these many months... I thought you had passed on."
"It's alright..." I say, awkwardly, "I came back..."
He gives me another reassuring squeeze and releases me. The girl came forth, her hand extended.
"My name is Miaka, and this is Tamahome behind me. He is one of our Seishi along with Emperor Saihetei, or Hotohori. I am a priestess here. You are too. Isn't that great!"
I nod in acknowledgement, smiling softly.
"I guess Suzaku was right..." I say softly, "I am his second priestess."
"You spoke with Suzaku-sama himself?" Hotohori questioned, raising a delicate eyebrow.
"Yes, "I reply and told them the things I saw.
They were all appalled by my story, but I did sugar coat some things; like leaving out my lonely nights and my frequent rapes. The fact I had no friends or no place to run was also left out. Just the recent story and the times they showed me their hatred.
"I have heard of stories of kids experiencing domestic violence," Miaka commented, "just never thought it was true..."
"I haven't heard of something happening here in Konan," Tamahome said, rubbing the back of neck anime style.
"I haven't either," Hotohori said, taking my hand, causing me to look up at him.
"You have my word that they will not harm you here, Amaris," he says comfortingly, "I promise."
"And I will kick anyone's butt that tries to hurt you Priestess," Tamahome exclaims, being a macho man.
I giggled at the thought. I'm assuming he's going to be the protective older brother though he looks to be my age. Miaka, being a little sister to me, as well as a partner, we have to summon Suzaku into this world before Seiryuu is summoned.
Hotohori... what is he to me besides my seishi?
I know that he's the emperor of Konan and one of the Suzaku Seven, but... what else is there?
He's beautiful beyond all reason, and very caring and protective. And he talks to me as a regular person instead of the object I'm so used to. When I learned he was the emperor, I expected to be treated as an underling or to not be treated so well... I was from a strange place to them and was dropped into their laps unexpectedly. I half expected to be left to die after being thrown out or thrown into the dungeon for trespassing on the palace grounds.
But I wasn't...
I've been treated like a princess ever since I came here. Maybe even better... and everyone have been so kind to me. I doubt I can imagine leaving this wonderful place.
I suddenly felt those pair of eyes on me again, staring at me coldly. I look up before a violet hair disappeared from my view. I sigh softly and yawn with a chibi face. Hotohori smiled softly and excused Tamahome and Miaka so that the two of us could be alone.
"I'm sorry," I say softly, "for worrying you so."
He smiles softly and takes my hand gently. He kissed my hand gently in a polite gesture.
"You are here with me, and that's all that matters to me. You are safe from harm and very healthy, which eases my heart and mind, and you are here for me to care for and protect with all my being. You are one of the Priestesses of Suzaku, hand chosen by him to bring my country to peace and harmony. For that, I thank Suzaku, as well as you and Miaka.
"When I was a boy, I was told the legend of the Priestess of Suzaku. It was an amazing story, and how I discovered that I was Hotohori from the character on my neck."
He pulled down his shirt collar so that I could see the red glowing Chinese character upon his neck.
"As a child, I had never had much time to play, being expected to be the next emperor. So I never had any friends in my youth. The one thing I had, though, was hope. When I discovered my mark, I was overcome with joy. I had hope that in time, I would have a friend finally. My hope for her would be that she saw me for what I was instead of what my title is; that she would see me as Hotohori, the seishi and friend... rather than Emperor Saihetei, ruler of Konan."
Wow... that was deep...
"I also hoped," he said shyly, his cheeks turning slightly, "that the priestess would accept my proposal as... my empress."
My eyes widen greatly. He wanted to marry a priestess from the legend? Since there are two of us...he can choose one of us or... do they allow bigamy here? Eep!
"I'm sorry," he said quickly, bringing me out of my thoughts, "maybe I brought this out too soon."
"No, no," I say just as quickly as him, "it's just...marriage at my age...I'm not sure..."
"I am eighteen if you must know," he admitted.
"Then you're a year older than I am. Still..."
"I can give you anything you desire," he says, "all I ask of you is your hand...and your love...
"Will you accept my proposal, Lady Amaris, Priestess of Suzaku?"