Alex's POV
We have finally decided it is okay for Amaris to come with us to find the other seishi and priestesses. She can walk on her own without Hotohori's help. She and I are also finally on speaking terms now since I made fun of Tamahome that one day with the oldest high school prank. I just couldn't resist, even if he was being serious about a truce. I'll work with him, no problem, but that doesn't mean I can't have my fun as well.
Hotohori's advisors about had a heart attack when he said that he wished to come with us. I laughed at their faces.
...But on a serious note, do they have to have Hotohori's opinion for every single minute detail? Who cares if tomorrow's breakfast napkins are eggshell or off white? Honestly! They're just going to end up in the same place anyway...
I can see a similar conclusion from his majesty's face. Therefore, I did what naturally comes to me and spoke my mind. I basically told them to think for themselves, but started going off in French when they couldn't get that basic point. Good gods...can people be any more dense?
I think I startled Tsuki with my very colorful French. Oops...
"What about setting up a schedule," Amaris suggested, "one color one day, another color another day?"
"What of the lunch and evening meal, priestess?" one asked, causing me to smack my forehead.
"You may use the same method," she said with the patience of a saint, "Hypothetically speaking, you use light colors for the breakfast and lunch meal and darker colors for the evening meal."
"What if we cannot decide Lady Priestess?" another asked.
"Well," the crimson-haired priestess said, gaining a thoughtful expression, "stop what you're doing and ask yourself this question. " What would I think of this if I was the emperor?"
"Be like the emperor?" one sputtered, "That's blasphemy!"
"Not literally like him," Amaris said, waving her hands to try to make peace, "but think of what you would do in his stead. Would you like off white or eggshell?"
"Umm... I really do not like either, priestess," she said, blushing softly.
"What would you choose then?" Amaris said my jaw dropping.
"Well, I like sunshine yellow, Priestess," the servant explained.
"There, there," Amaris said, "you just thought for yourself."
"Are you sure his majesty will not be angry?" she said shyly.
"I'm sure he'll be as happy as a clam," the priestess says, smiling brightly.
The servant bows and takes her leave. Jaw is literally on the floor. She just did what I was yelling about in French. I have a new respect for her from this moment on. Screw the fact that she lives in the country below mine, she's cool in my book.
Tamahome, just as I was, had his jaw settling on the floor just as comfortably as mine. She closed them both as she walked passed, smiling brightly.
"You'll catch flies in your mouth that way with a cave that big," she said, my anger growing steadily before she added, "Tamahome."
Then I fell to the ground, laughing my arse off. She is my new best friend now, other than Nuriko, of course.
Tsuki, despite being blind, was a fashion designer in France. She was fairly famous in her town for her work. She was planning to go to Paris to try to sell her work to a company. Then she appeared in The Book. She made all of us girls (boyish style for me to hide my feminine features) clothes to keep us apart from the trends of Konan. I don' know about you, but I do not like wearing kimonos that often. It makes me feeling I'm wearing pajamas in public. It's not very appealing if you ask me...
Despite my boyish attitude, I wish I could wear what the other girls wear. It's not the fact I don't like my figure I try to hide, but their outfits are so adorable. It makes me wish I wasn't so scruffy and wear something cute for once.
However, I swallow my desires and take the beautiful clothes before me. Nuriko puts a hand on my shoulder in understanding as I go to my room to change. I take the specially made clothes, replace them for my dirty ones, and ask for them cleaned. The nearby servant agrees and leaves me in peace. I quickly change to meet the others outside. Did you hear? We're going on horses! They are so much fun... I get my own and I called him Hershey, like my horse from back home. Tamahome and Miaka share while Hotohori and Amaris also share. Nuriko and I are the only solo riders. Tsuki and Chichiri have decided to stay behind to better acquaint themselves with the palace.
OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo
We have stopped for the night. It is somewhat late and who knows what lies in the woods at night. I felt dirty from riding all day and said I was going to take a bath in the nearby lake and specially asked not to be disturbed. I was especially surprised to see Nuriko swimming beside me. In response, I nearly freak out on reflex until he covered my mouth.
"It's all right Nee-chan," he said quietly, calming me down.
"Don't scare me like that ever again," I whisper harshly, "I nearly had a heart attack!"
"Peace, little one," he said, holding his hand up in amity, "I figured since we both are the way we are, we can keep watch for any onlookers while the other baths. We aren't in the safety of the palace any more, so four eyes are better than two."
"Isn't there a rule against seeing the opposite sex naked or something?"
The purple-haired man shrugged. I hate it when he doesn't give me a simple, straight answer.
He instead looks up at the starlight and looks back at me.
"You know," he says softly, "you actually look very beautiful without your boyish fascia around you."
I blush brightly at his words. As this occurs, he asks me to come closer to him. Not having anything else to do, I complied. It was then that he suddenly kissed me on the lips.
Holy shittake! He just kissed me! It was somewhat nice considering it was my first kiss from a guy ever.
"I'm sorry," he said, turning away, "Maybe I'm being too forward."
I look at him sadly and come close to him once again. Being very bold, I then kissed him softly in return. Now it's his turn to blush. Haha! That's payback Nuriko!
However, instead of being embarrassed, he smirks and attacks me with tickles and splashing. I laugh as he finds all of my ticklish spots with ease.
"Ticklish, aren't we little boy," Nuriko says, splashing me with water.
"Not fair Nuriko!" I call out to him, splashing him just as much.
We are having so much fun that I wore myself out by the time we finish. I doggedly pull myself out of the water and put on my clothes. I barely even have the strength to stand, so Nuriko carries my weight back to camp. I protest at being carried back bridal style like a helpless girl, so I opted for piggyback. I barely even noticed the questioning glances as to why both Nuriko and I were both wet. Forget all of you; I'm comfy up here, so nyah! I fall asleep before I even notice I slipped down and settled down to sleep. Night night world...
Amaris's POV
Nuriko and Alex have returned, both wore out and wet. I blush softly when conclusions begin to form in my mind, all very naughty. I shake my head to rid myself of those thoughts and the blush on my face. Hotohori notices my actions and smiles softly.
"Jumping to conclusions?" he asks quietly while Nuriko stares in our direction.
I nod softly while my cheeks turn crimson once again. His smile brightens as he sits beside me.
"It is quite pretty out here," I say softly, trying to start up conversation.
"Yes," he says softly, "quite beautiful. Could you see the stars from your world Amaris?"
"Not very well," I say, staring at the dark sky dotted with tiny pinpoints of light, "cities are better lit than here, so the stars are rarely visible. I haven't seen them this clearly before."
Hotohori nods softly as he shares my gaze. It took me a minute to notice his hand was over mine gracefully. I look down when his grip slightly tightens.
"I know our worlds are different," he says to himself more than me, "but are they so different that you wouldn't stay in mine?"
I stare at him sadly, remembering what I was going to tell him before our incident. It hurts me that he doesn't know I have accepted his proposal. I want to tell him so badly, but I fear something will happen if I tell him like the last time I tried.
Besides, I am still unsure if I can be a good empress to his people. True, I have the patience of a saint (Quoth Alex), but there is much more to ruling a country than undying patience.
Maybe I should wait until I feel I'm ready to take that responsibility on my shoulders. It seems somewhat overwhelming now, but maybe I'll grow used to that idea as time passes.
However, I can't just leave him in the dark. I do love him, but I'm not ready to fall IN love just yet. Now that is just confusing...
As I get up to go to bed, I kiss his cheek tenderly before going to my area. He is surprised to say the least touches his cheek softly. I turn away, blushing brightly, and get ready to go to sleep.
"Good night," I say awkwardly, "Hotohori."
"Good night, my priestess," he says in return.
I snuggle into my bedroll and wait for sleep to claim me, but it stays away this night. After a few hours, I notice noises around us.
Not the natural night sounds, mind you, but human voices. I sit up instantly when I hear a nearby twig snap. I turn every direction to see our party surrounded.
I scream when one touches me and everyone wakes up to see what I have discovered. A hand clamped over my mouth to prevent further noise and my arm, twisted behind my back. The other seishi try to come to my rescue, but they are unconscious. In time, I am as well. My world is fading into black...
OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo
Alex's POV
Oh my f-ing god, my head hurts like hell. Who knew a water fight could lead to a splitting headache. I tried to move to ease my head, but found my hands and ankles bound together.
Perfect... Just perfect...
I take inventory of our members and see everyone's here, steadily awakening, and finding him or herself in the same situation I found myself in beforehand.
"Where are we?" Amaris asks, trying to nurse her sore head.
"I think we are in Mt. Reikaku, a stronghold for bandits," Hotohori explained while trying to free his hands, but found it fruitless.
"Great," I say sarcastically, "more trouble."
"More trouble than you know," a voice said behind us.
We all turned to see a blue haired man with a scar on his tanned cheek. He seemed friendly (for a bandit) but his tone was serious was serious afterwards.
"I came to retrieve one of your lady friends with red hair for our leader," he said, staring at Amaris, "so orders are orders."
He took her up, undoing her bonds, and let her walk beside him.
"You can't take her!" Tamahome said while noticing Hotohori's hardened stare.
"And why can't I?" The blue-haired man said coolly, "I can't disobey orders."
"You can't because..." Tamahome starts before he trails off, losing his reason of him taking her.
I sigh and think up an excuse.
"Because that girl you're holding onto is the emperor's bride."
Everyone looks at me in either horror or just jaw dropping surprise. I just love getting attention, can't you tell?
"Th-the..." Scar-face said sputtering.
"You heard me, Scar-face," I say defiantly, "that is the emperor's bride."
He regains his composure quickly.
"The name is Kouji," he said coolly, "and why would a future empress be all the way out here with a group like you?"
"Well," I say just as coolly as him, "an empress has to have her handmaidens to help her and bodyguards to protect her."
"But, there are only two bodyguards. Why have so many handmaidens for one woman?"
"Believe me you," I say, almost in a whisper, "some of these ladies could easily kick your arse any time of day, rain or shine."
Kouji just laughed in my face. What's so funny?
"Female bodyguards, that's the greatest laugh I've had in a while!"
You can tell I'm very pissed off at the moment. It is one thing to call girls weak to my face, but laughing about it is another story entirely. Not all girls are just damsels in distress waiting for rescue from a high tower by a gallant hero. What a total stereotype...
"Well then little one," Kouji said smirking, "I'm afraid I'll have to take your 'Empress' to my superior. You can wait patiently like a good little boy and wait for her return."
He left with that last note and Amaris on his arm, looking like a deer caught in headlights. I growl in frustration and try to undo the bonds again before he can get too far. I notice Hotohori's sword sitting a few feet away. Smirking at my brilliant idea, I fall onto my stomach and crawled worm-style towards the beautiful blade. Soiled during my escapade, my clothes are ruined but I could care less at the moment. I grab the hilt by my teeth and toss into my lap, cutting my wrist bounds. I then use it to free my legs and the others around me. Afterward, I return the weapon to its owner and then began our search for the 'Empress.'
Amaris's POV
Alex and his big mouth are running amuck...
Why did he have to go and say that I was Hotohori's bride? It's not even true! I have wished it true, but he didn't have to go and lie about it!
Meanwhile, Kouji is still snickering about Alex's comment about how those 'girls' could easily hand him his arse. It's still annoying to hear him snickering about warrior women, but I kept my mouth from the bigot. However, I saw remorse in his eyes while he was taking me to his leader.
Why would he feel penitence towards me? He leads me to his master's room where I saw the ugliest looking man I have ever seen. He was beyond grotesque and misshapen, but something I could not begin to describe.
On his right, however, was a pretty looking Spanish girl with a scowl that was able to scare the wits out of any person.
"Welcome, young lady," the grotesque leader boomed, "to Mt. Reikaku."
I nod demurely while the other girl just raised a delicate eyebrow.
"I understand you came here with your companions, is that correct?"
"Yes sir," I say.
"So she does have voice," the leader smirked while the girl just glared.
"Leave her be, Eikou," the girl said with a thick Spanish accent, "release her to her companions so they can leave in peace."
"So feisty today my dear, aren't we?" Eikou said with a perverted smirk on his lips.
"I have a name, you know," she says hotly, "and it's Felicity."
"Please sir," I say; getting both of their attentions, "my companions and I are looking for the fifth seishi and his or her summoning partner. By any chance, do you know of a person around here with a glowing red character on their body somewhere or a girl that has strange clothing and does not carry an accent you recognize from this world?"
"You're looking at a girl that isn't from this world," Felicity said with some interest, "and I gladly would love to leave this place. Anything would be better than drunken bandits even if they keep their distance."
"You're more than welcome to come with us Felicity," I say, smiling a little bit, "and maybe you can help us find the fifth seishi."
"Sounds like fun," she said, standing up.
I look on in amazement as her dark hair reaches past her ankles and red asymmetrical star earrings dangle from her ears. However, before she could walk towards me, Eikou grabbed her arm and mine as well.
"You ladies are not going anywhere," he threatens as his grip tightens.
"Let go, hÃbrido!" Felicity yelled hotly, struggling to get free.
"I'm afraid I cannot let ones as pretty as you go just that easily."
Felicity did what every woman would do in this kind of situation.
"Remember to always practice S.I.N.G, chica," she says to me while punching and kicking him in the four most vulnerable places on a man.
We ran away from him but he was too quick for us. He quickly recovered and grabbed us again, his vise-like grip returning. We called out in terror until a red flash of hair punches Eikou in the stomach, catches both of us in his arms, and runs off just as quickly. All of the excitement has caused me to pass out cold.