Chapter 5 : A Flame Among the Water
"She'll be fine in a minute." Mitsukake reassured as he held his hand over Miaka's head. A red mark appeared on his palm. It glowed brightly, shining a faded green light on Miaka. In under a minute, Miaka opened her eyes.
The first thing she did was scratch her nose. "Mit... Mitsukake?" She asked, sitting up.
"Nice to see you again, Miaka." The tall man replied.
"Achoo!" Squeaked Saori, who was in the back of the room, wrapped in a blanket.
Miaka looked at all the faces staring at her. "I'm hungry, anyone got any food?"
********************
"Relieved that the priestess was again well, and joyed to have their healer with them, the group set off in hopes of finding Chiriko. He lived in a city east of where they were." Yui read, her eyes softening.
"Now that we're at a nice part, who wants a beer?" Keisuke asked, already walking over to the kitchen.
Tetsuya jumped up. "Oh! Oh! I want one!" He leaned over the refrigerator door, which Keisuke had opened. "Look at all that food!"
"Miaka's a hungry eater." Yui pitched in. She stood up from her position on the floor and made herself comfortable on the couch, her finger marking her place in the book.
"Yui, want one?" Tetsuya asked, holding up a silver can.
"No thank you." Yui refused politely. "But I will let you get me some water. She sighed a bit, rubbing the back of her neck. "I swear, every time I read this book, it depletes on my life."
*********************
The sun hung high in the sky the day after Miaka's recovery. The Seishi and they girls had rested and prepared before leaving at dawn the next morning to search for Chiriko. Finding a horse for Mitsukake proved difficult, but they found a charitable donor who gave up his animal for a while.
"Chichiri.... when are we going to get there? I'm sick of all this riding..." Tasuki whined from his horse.
"Whenever I travel with you, you always complain, no da." Chichiri answered. "sometimes I wish you would shut up, no da."
Saori giggled at this. She rode in front of Chichiri.
Eventually, the team came onto the next city, Hasha, where Chiriko was supposedly taking a pre-examination. Several folk stopped to stare at the three dressed in unusual clothing. (Taka, Miaka, and Saori.) Though she knew they would help her later, Saori still looked at every face through the different cities, hoping she would somehow find Mayo.
Children played in the roads everywhere, battling with wooden swords or rolling balls to each other. The was laughter in the scattered markets, which Saori eyed with curiosity. She had never seen some of the strange things people were selling... she saw the common robes the civilians wore in several different colors, and some of the jewelry was purely unique.
"Chichiri, do you know where any government houses are around here?" Taka asked, leaning over Miaka. "That is were he's taking an exam, right?" Tasuki and Nuriko exchanged "Taka is such an idiot" looks.
"Yes, that is where they hold all the tests, even post ones." Chichiri answered, looking around. "Government buildings are generally big, so look around the tops of the houses for them."
Everyone was quiet for a minute, before someone got a conversation starter going.
"So Saori," Nuriko started, "When did you get here?"
Saori thought for a moment. She had lost track. "Uh... four days? Maybe five?" She answered. "I'm not really sure."
"And why are you here again?" Nuriko asked, almost rudely.
"I'm looking for my best friend, Mayo." Saori turned so she could look back at Nuriko. "You've met her, right?"
"Mayo... isn't that the girl who took care of Miaka's baby while she was in Konan?" Nuriko asked. The way he said it, he made Mayo sound like the most unselfish person in the world. Saori wasn't sure if he said it to cheer Saori up or what.
"Yes." Saori confirmed quietly. "She is."
The horse Saori was on stopped. She looked around.
"We're here." Chichiri announced.
The sestet all stared up at a large gate with an entrance in the front. Inside you could see a smaller building, where some men where talking out front.
Tasuki whistled. "I never get over how big these things are..."
Chichiri led the way in, followed by Taka and Miaka, then Nuriko, Mitsukake, and Tasuki bringing in the rear. Chichiri trotted over to a post to tie his horse up.
One of the men, who wore a purple suit and had black hair pulled back into a wrapped bun, came up to the strangers. "Hello, how may I help you?"
Chichiri dismounted. "Yes, are there any students testing right now?"
The man looked about the odd group, then back at Chichiri. "Yes, they're not finished yet. Are you one of the student's guardians?"
"No." Chichiri answered plainly. "Do you know when they'll be out?"
"I'm sure it will be shortly." The man smiled, and held out his hand. "I'm Rukurai Hanin, and I'm in charge of the marketing that goes on around these parts."
Chichiri took and shook the man's hand.
**************************
"The warriors and company awaited outside the building for an hour for the hopeful emerging of Chiriko... some more patiently than others." Yui stopped and brushed her hair behind her ear. "Finally, a few students started filing out of the building, ten in all..."
************************
The ninth one to come out was a fair bit shorter than the rest, and had his light purple hair in a high ponytail atop his head. He shook the hands of the three officials outside, and turned with a surprise.
"Tasuki? Chichiri? Miaka! You're here already?" He asked.
Tasuki looked dumbstruck. "How'd you know we were coming, kid?"
Chiriko smiled. "With the sudden Kutou attack at hand, I only had to add that to my vision to logically come to the conclusion."
"Visions?" Tasuki repeated. "Kid, you're starting to scare me, you know that?"
Chiriko looked around the group. He noticed an unfamiliar face. He walked up to the girl. "I'm sorry," he said, looking up, "I don't believe I know your name." Saori smiled. "My name is Kawai Saori." She bowed slightly. "And you're Chiriko, right?"
"Yes!" Chiriko sounded very enthusiastic.
**********************
"Greetings and welcomes were exchanged among the old friends." Yui took a bite of a roll, chewed, and swallowed. "Chiriko graciously provided stay for the travelers at his mother and father's house. Early the next morning, the seishi eagerly set back for Konan. The rumor of war was in the air. After a days journey, the group was readily welcomed back to the palace by their beloved emperor, Hotohori..."
***************************
"It is very good to see everyone back together." Hotohori said. The group sat around a long, rectangular table, with four of Konan's magistrates seated by Hotohori. Hotohori got serious. "AS you all know, Kutou attacked us not too long ago. They threaten to take over our land, like they've been trying to do for the past two centuries. I am afraid to admit, though you already know, by a power that I am not certain of, Nakago once again has the Kutou Emperor in his grasp." Several people looked down at the table.
"What do you suggest we do?" Tasuki questioned.
Hotohori thought deeply, his hand clenched tightly in fists. "I do not want another war, but if it is what needs to happen, then let it be. Konan should have its armies ready, and we'll let Kutou make the first move. We need to be absolutely prepared. We can keep our preparations inconspicuous, Kutou won't be expecting that."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Boushin, you're so big!" Miaka said to Hotohori's son in a resting room in the palace. "You look just like your father, you know that?"
"Cheer up, Saori." Taka encouraged the girl silently sulking on the couch. "We'll find Mayo, I promise."
"You can't promise something like that." Saori snapped. "What is she gets caught up in the war? What is his majesty can't avoid it?"
"Believe me," Nuriko interrupted, "His Highness Hotohori will take care of everything. Your friend will turn up, alright?"
Tasuki had his elbows propped up on a low table on the floor, staring at a marble chess-like game like his life depended on his move. He slowly put his hand on a tall dragon-shaped piece, and moved it over three black squares.
Chiriko looked at Tasuki's move. He quickly moved an armored soldier like piece and placed it in front of Tasuki's dragon. Tasuki groaned and removed his piece from the board.
Saori took interest in what the two were doing. "Chiriko, what game is that?"
"It's called Nisuya." Chiriko answered, moving his own dragon to one of Tasuki's sword pieces. Tasuki moaned again and removed the piece. "You're pretty lucky with it." Saori commented, kneeling down and studying the pieces removed from the board.
"Luck has nothing to do with it." Chiriko commented. Tasuki moved a bird to the far corner. "The game is all about strategy, and taking risks. If you don't take great risks, you'll lose. You just hope your opponent doesn't notice them, or any traps set out." Like always, Chiriko place great emphasis on what he was saying, making the game seem even more exciting. He moved a tall man with a sword in his hand across the board, removing Tasuki's bird himself. "The only problem here is, Tasuki is taking too many risks, and may I add, ones that are bluntly obvious." Chiriko moved the silver king down the board again, knocking off Tasuki's gold one. "I win." he stated.
Tasuki slinked back against the couch. "You're just showin' off."
****************************
"How many men do you have prepared, Nakago?" The young raven haired emperor asked, walking with his general down the vast halls of the Kutou palace. "We have 150,000 strong as of now." Nakago replied. "I still want to take care of the Suzaku warriors before attacking further."
The emperor laughed. "What can seven puny men do?" he mocked. "Even the Magician can't stand up to my army."
Nakago ignored the emperor's arrogance, staying creepily calm, as usual. "They get in the way, I know from experience. They are easily brushed aside, but I still want them gone."
"Do as you wish." The emperor instructed. "But I don't want to be kept waiting for long. What will you do?"
"Soi is recovering from her first encounter. We almost had the bandit, but the warriors Mitsukake and Nuriko got in the way. I'll send out another." Nakago stopped outside a door, cracking it open slightly, peering in.
"Is she ready yet?" The emperor asked.
"Not quite, she's still resisting. I will break her in to my will, just like I did the first one."
Inside the room lay a purple bed, draped with different violet curtains. In the middle sat a girl, half covered, wearing a long, white shirt. She faced away from the door, and slept quietly, her short red hair smoothed out over the pillows.
***********************
Yui dropped the book from her hands. "Mayo!"
"She'll be fine in a minute." Mitsukake reassured as he held his hand over Miaka's head. A red mark appeared on his palm. It glowed brightly, shining a faded green light on Miaka. In under a minute, Miaka opened her eyes.
The first thing she did was scratch her nose. "Mit... Mitsukake?" She asked, sitting up.
"Nice to see you again, Miaka." The tall man replied.
"Achoo!" Squeaked Saori, who was in the back of the room, wrapped in a blanket.
Miaka looked at all the faces staring at her. "I'm hungry, anyone got any food?"
********************
"Relieved that the priestess was again well, and joyed to have their healer with them, the group set off in hopes of finding Chiriko. He lived in a city east of where they were." Yui read, her eyes softening.
"Now that we're at a nice part, who wants a beer?" Keisuke asked, already walking over to the kitchen.
Tetsuya jumped up. "Oh! Oh! I want one!" He leaned over the refrigerator door, which Keisuke had opened. "Look at all that food!"
"Miaka's a hungry eater." Yui pitched in. She stood up from her position on the floor and made herself comfortable on the couch, her finger marking her place in the book.
"Yui, want one?" Tetsuya asked, holding up a silver can.
"No thank you." Yui refused politely. "But I will let you get me some water. She sighed a bit, rubbing the back of her neck. "I swear, every time I read this book, it depletes on my life."
*********************
The sun hung high in the sky the day after Miaka's recovery. The Seishi and they girls had rested and prepared before leaving at dawn the next morning to search for Chiriko. Finding a horse for Mitsukake proved difficult, but they found a charitable donor who gave up his animal for a while.
"Chichiri.... when are we going to get there? I'm sick of all this riding..." Tasuki whined from his horse.
"Whenever I travel with you, you always complain, no da." Chichiri answered. "sometimes I wish you would shut up, no da."
Saori giggled at this. She rode in front of Chichiri.
Eventually, the team came onto the next city, Hasha, where Chiriko was supposedly taking a pre-examination. Several folk stopped to stare at the three dressed in unusual clothing. (Taka, Miaka, and Saori.) Though she knew they would help her later, Saori still looked at every face through the different cities, hoping she would somehow find Mayo.
Children played in the roads everywhere, battling with wooden swords or rolling balls to each other. The was laughter in the scattered markets, which Saori eyed with curiosity. She had never seen some of the strange things people were selling... she saw the common robes the civilians wore in several different colors, and some of the jewelry was purely unique.
"Chichiri, do you know where any government houses are around here?" Taka asked, leaning over Miaka. "That is were he's taking an exam, right?" Tasuki and Nuriko exchanged "Taka is such an idiot" looks.
"Yes, that is where they hold all the tests, even post ones." Chichiri answered, looking around. "Government buildings are generally big, so look around the tops of the houses for them."
Everyone was quiet for a minute, before someone got a conversation starter going.
"So Saori," Nuriko started, "When did you get here?"
Saori thought for a moment. She had lost track. "Uh... four days? Maybe five?" She answered. "I'm not really sure."
"And why are you here again?" Nuriko asked, almost rudely.
"I'm looking for my best friend, Mayo." Saori turned so she could look back at Nuriko. "You've met her, right?"
"Mayo... isn't that the girl who took care of Miaka's baby while she was in Konan?" Nuriko asked. The way he said it, he made Mayo sound like the most unselfish person in the world. Saori wasn't sure if he said it to cheer Saori up or what.
"Yes." Saori confirmed quietly. "She is."
The horse Saori was on stopped. She looked around.
"We're here." Chichiri announced.
The sestet all stared up at a large gate with an entrance in the front. Inside you could see a smaller building, where some men where talking out front.
Tasuki whistled. "I never get over how big these things are..."
Chichiri led the way in, followed by Taka and Miaka, then Nuriko, Mitsukake, and Tasuki bringing in the rear. Chichiri trotted over to a post to tie his horse up.
One of the men, who wore a purple suit and had black hair pulled back into a wrapped bun, came up to the strangers. "Hello, how may I help you?"
Chichiri dismounted. "Yes, are there any students testing right now?"
The man looked about the odd group, then back at Chichiri. "Yes, they're not finished yet. Are you one of the student's guardians?"
"No." Chichiri answered plainly. "Do you know when they'll be out?"
"I'm sure it will be shortly." The man smiled, and held out his hand. "I'm Rukurai Hanin, and I'm in charge of the marketing that goes on around these parts."
Chichiri took and shook the man's hand.
**************************
"The warriors and company awaited outside the building for an hour for the hopeful emerging of Chiriko... some more patiently than others." Yui stopped and brushed her hair behind her ear. "Finally, a few students started filing out of the building, ten in all..."
************************
The ninth one to come out was a fair bit shorter than the rest, and had his light purple hair in a high ponytail atop his head. He shook the hands of the three officials outside, and turned with a surprise.
"Tasuki? Chichiri? Miaka! You're here already?" He asked.
Tasuki looked dumbstruck. "How'd you know we were coming, kid?"
Chiriko smiled. "With the sudden Kutou attack at hand, I only had to add that to my vision to logically come to the conclusion."
"Visions?" Tasuki repeated. "Kid, you're starting to scare me, you know that?"
Chiriko looked around the group. He noticed an unfamiliar face. He walked up to the girl. "I'm sorry," he said, looking up, "I don't believe I know your name." Saori smiled. "My name is Kawai Saori." She bowed slightly. "And you're Chiriko, right?"
"Yes!" Chiriko sounded very enthusiastic.
**********************
"Greetings and welcomes were exchanged among the old friends." Yui took a bite of a roll, chewed, and swallowed. "Chiriko graciously provided stay for the travelers at his mother and father's house. Early the next morning, the seishi eagerly set back for Konan. The rumor of war was in the air. After a days journey, the group was readily welcomed back to the palace by their beloved emperor, Hotohori..."
***************************
"It is very good to see everyone back together." Hotohori said. The group sat around a long, rectangular table, with four of Konan's magistrates seated by Hotohori. Hotohori got serious. "AS you all know, Kutou attacked us not too long ago. They threaten to take over our land, like they've been trying to do for the past two centuries. I am afraid to admit, though you already know, by a power that I am not certain of, Nakago once again has the Kutou Emperor in his grasp." Several people looked down at the table.
"What do you suggest we do?" Tasuki questioned.
Hotohori thought deeply, his hand clenched tightly in fists. "I do not want another war, but if it is what needs to happen, then let it be. Konan should have its armies ready, and we'll let Kutou make the first move. We need to be absolutely prepared. We can keep our preparations inconspicuous, Kutou won't be expecting that."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Boushin, you're so big!" Miaka said to Hotohori's son in a resting room in the palace. "You look just like your father, you know that?"
"Cheer up, Saori." Taka encouraged the girl silently sulking on the couch. "We'll find Mayo, I promise."
"You can't promise something like that." Saori snapped. "What is she gets caught up in the war? What is his majesty can't avoid it?"
"Believe me," Nuriko interrupted, "His Highness Hotohori will take care of everything. Your friend will turn up, alright?"
Tasuki had his elbows propped up on a low table on the floor, staring at a marble chess-like game like his life depended on his move. He slowly put his hand on a tall dragon-shaped piece, and moved it over three black squares.
Chiriko looked at Tasuki's move. He quickly moved an armored soldier like piece and placed it in front of Tasuki's dragon. Tasuki groaned and removed his piece from the board.
Saori took interest in what the two were doing. "Chiriko, what game is that?"
"It's called Nisuya." Chiriko answered, moving his own dragon to one of Tasuki's sword pieces. Tasuki moaned again and removed the piece. "You're pretty lucky with it." Saori commented, kneeling down and studying the pieces removed from the board.
"Luck has nothing to do with it." Chiriko commented. Tasuki moved a bird to the far corner. "The game is all about strategy, and taking risks. If you don't take great risks, you'll lose. You just hope your opponent doesn't notice them, or any traps set out." Like always, Chiriko place great emphasis on what he was saying, making the game seem even more exciting. He moved a tall man with a sword in his hand across the board, removing Tasuki's bird himself. "The only problem here is, Tasuki is taking too many risks, and may I add, ones that are bluntly obvious." Chiriko moved the silver king down the board again, knocking off Tasuki's gold one. "I win." he stated.
Tasuki slinked back against the couch. "You're just showin' off."
****************************
"How many men do you have prepared, Nakago?" The young raven haired emperor asked, walking with his general down the vast halls of the Kutou palace. "We have 150,000 strong as of now." Nakago replied. "I still want to take care of the Suzaku warriors before attacking further."
The emperor laughed. "What can seven puny men do?" he mocked. "Even the Magician can't stand up to my army."
Nakago ignored the emperor's arrogance, staying creepily calm, as usual. "They get in the way, I know from experience. They are easily brushed aside, but I still want them gone."
"Do as you wish." The emperor instructed. "But I don't want to be kept waiting for long. What will you do?"
"Soi is recovering from her first encounter. We almost had the bandit, but the warriors Mitsukake and Nuriko got in the way. I'll send out another." Nakago stopped outside a door, cracking it open slightly, peering in.
"Is she ready yet?" The emperor asked.
"Not quite, she's still resisting. I will break her in to my will, just like I did the first one."
Inside the room lay a purple bed, draped with different violet curtains. In the middle sat a girl, half covered, wearing a long, white shirt. She faced away from the door, and slept quietly, her short red hair smoothed out over the pillows.
***********************
Yui dropped the book from her hands. "Mayo!"