Chapter 7 : Star Festival
"Wow!" Miaka exclaimed. "It's even better than I remember it!!!" Her and Saori dazzled at all of the lights, decorations, and music. People at merchandise and game stands called out to the customers, offering their best prices.
"It be neat having a stand here during this time..." Taka drooled. "Think of all the customers! All the money!" Taka got a glazed look over his face. "WEE HEE!!!!"
"I wonder if the festival would attract Mayo..." Saori thought. She couldn't push herself to be worried, though . The bright lights and laughter everywhere instantly cheered her up.
"So, where do you two want to go first?" Tasuki asked as if Miaka and Saori were little five year olds.
Miaka and Saori looked all around them. Saori looked towards Nuriko. "Can we do anything?" She asked, not wanting to be greedy.
Nuriko smiled and nodded.
"Look! There's a bottle game! We have things like that back in Japan!" Miaka pointed out as Saori's smile widened. "Let's go there!"
With the speedy happiness of the two girls, you would have thought they WERE five year olds.
Miaka grabbed Taka's hand and ran in that direction. Akue laughed and followed Nuriko.
"Japan, ne?" Akue asked.
Nuriko looked over to her. "What about it?"
Akue realized she should have been quiet, but re-directed the question. "Is that were Miaka is from?"
Nuriko nodded. They stopped at the wide stand. Bottles were built up in skinny pyramids, and a rack of small prizes hung above them.
Miaka noticed a small doll. "Maybe Hikari would like that." She addressed to Taka. "Get out of the way." Tasuki said, pushing through the couple. "Hey, I'll take three shots."
Tasuki handed the smiling man some money and received three soft balls. He took aim, and managed to hit down an entire pyramid.
Saori clapped her hands. "Wow, you're really good at that!"
The man took down a few prizes and held them up. Tasuki turned to Saori. "Well, which one do ya want?"
Saori looked at him and smiled. She looked over at the prizes, and selected a red hairpiece. The man handed it to her, and she thanked Tasuki about four times.
Next, they went to get a snack. Everyone got roasted chestnuts except for Miaka, who in addition got a fried fish too. Taka took Miaka to a hoop game, Nuriko and Tasuki went to a souvenir stand, and Saori followed Akue to a clothing booth, still staying close to the other two. Nuriko and Tasuki insisted they stay in sight, for safety precaution.
"Wow... I never see things like this in Japan." Saori commented. Akue looked startled. "You're from that place too?"
Saori nodded.
Akue shrugged and looked at the items.
"Why do you need new clothes?" Saori asked.
Akue looked at the back of the robes. "I brought light clothing with me, but most of it is still heavy." She turned to Saori. "It's rather chilly up in Hokkan. Here, you pick out something too, I'll buy it for you."
Saori felt a little guilty at first since Akue would be paying for it with her own money, but Akue insisted, so Saori began looking at the brightly colored robes in her size.
Akue found a light red robe with short sleeves. "Ah!" she declared. "This should work." She selected the article and pulled it off its hangar. "I really shouldn't wear it in the palace though."
Saori found a light blue robe that had 3 small ties to keep the flap shut, and a darker blue belt. "May I get these?" Saori asked politely.
Akue eyed them. "Sure."
Taka FINALLY made a hoop after two tries, and got a bracelet for Miaka. Miaka started to get really tired about Taka's lectures on how the games were set up to create a higher profit. Sometimes it seemed all he talked about was money.
"Ryuuen!"
Nuriko and Tasuki turned around to se no other than Rokou, Nuriko's brother.
"Hey!" Nuriko happily greeted. Rokou ran up and hugged him as if it was their last time together.
"I was hoping you'd be here." Rokou said. "When do you think you can return? Are you staying at the palace now?"
"Keep a little quiet, alright?" Nuriko advised.
Rokou nodded. He looked at Tasuki. Tasuki happened to be the reason Rokou had kicked everyone out the first time they had gone looking for Nuriko's memory jewel. "Ryuuen, have you seen the..."
"AAHHH!" Came a bloodcurdling scream.
Tasuki and Nuriko looked alarmed. "That was Saori!" Tasuki shouted, running in her direction.
When Nuriko and Tasuki reached the clothing booth, they saw something shoot right past their faces, nearly knocking them over. People everywhere ran past them, screaming.
"AAH!" Came Saori's voice again.
The stands to their right began breaking as something came hurtling through them. It stopped.
"Akue!" Nuriko shouted, running over to her.
Akue gripped her arm hard, red liquid seeping through the dark fabric. "There's a mad man over there!"
Nuriko and Tasuki ran through the crowds, and found Saori cornered by a man with unusual weapons.
"Nah!" Tasuki said in disbelief. "Suboshi's back too?!!!"
Suboshi turned towards Nuriko and Tasuki. "Welcome, care to die as well?" He mocked, pulling back one of the spinning orbs. "Go,Ryuseisui!" He shouted, throwing it towards Tasuki.
"REKKA SHINEN!!!!" He shouted, whipping his fan out, shooting fire on the advancing meteor bell.
Taka came behind Nuriko, noticing Suboshi. Hate came over his face. He was the one who killed Suboshi, but in turn Suboshi was the one who killed his family.
Nuriko spun around. "Taka!" He said urgently. "Get Miaka away from here! Akue's been injured, she's down the street!"
Reluctantly, Taka turned and ran, pulling Miaka with him.
Now Suboshi had the end of his weapon wrapped tightly around Saori, a single meteor bell spinning dangerously close to her face. Suboshi held the other in his hand, daring the seishi to come closer.
Nuriko stood in fighting position, trying to choose a time to go. He saw a flash of beige next to him. Tasuki was already at Saori. He had just unwound her when Suboshi noticed he was no longer next to Nuriko.
~(for those who don't know, Tasuki also has the power of speed, which is demonstrated twice in the series.)~
Suboshi whipped his Meteor bell around, aiming for Nuriko, who in turn dodged the attack and came up in time to grab the rope. With one yank he had Suboshi flying towards him. Before he could make a hit however, the second meteor bell came whizzing at him. Nuriko barely moved his head in time, getting a two-inch trim on the left side of his hair. He stumbled to stand upright. "He's gotten better!" He yelled to Tasuki.
Saori had run behind the stands to get away. Tasuki feathered his fan out again. "Rekka Shinen!!" He called, a wall of fire heading for Suboshi. Suboshi rolled away, but he wasn't quick enough to avoid Tasuki's fist in his stomach. Suboshi bent over from the pain, and vanished in a streak of purple. Tasuki looked up to see a figure draped in a long cloak. The last he saw was Soi and Suboshi vanishing.
"Damnit." Tasuki cursed. "That dumb blonde never does his own dirty work." He shook off the lingering affects from the fight and looked towards Nuriko. "Y'all right?"
Nuriko nodded. They both ran back to where Taka, Miaka, Akue, and now Saori were. The tie on Taka's clothing was wrapped tightly around Akue's right arm.
***************************
"With the Seishi tired out, the Ambassador injured, and the star festival in shambles, everyone returned again to the castle. Nuriko and Tasuki gave a detailed report of what had happened. Hotohori's worrying burden for his country and people grew all heavier." Tetsuya read to Keisuke in the early morning. Yui was still asleep.
*************************
"Saori, what exactly happened?" Nuriko asked Saori, Hotohori wanting to know as well.
"Akue had just bought herself a robe for herself and I when the top of the stand fell in." Saori said, her voice jumping. She was still shaky. "There.... that boy was there. He threw that whistling thing at us. Next thing I knew, I was on the ground, and there was a big gash in Akue's arm from where that guy had hit her." She swallowed hard, trying to control her voice. She sat forward on her chair. "That's when I screamed. That guy..."
"Suboshi." Nuriko filled in.
"Yeah, Suboshi." Saori continued. "He kicked Akue really hard in her stomach. She fell through a bunch of stands when you guys showed up." She took a deep breath. "Thank you." She looked around. "Where, where is Akue? Is she all right?"
Hotohori nodded, understanding the whole story. "Do not worry, Akue is being aided by Mitsukake. She's probably all ready healed." He must admit to himself though, this wasn't a good way to treat the key that could save his country from war.
Saori looked at the emperor worried. "That's the second person who's come to attack us." She said, tearing up. "What if one of them got Mayo?!" Saori's attempts finally fell and she started crying.
Nuriko crouched down and wrapped his arms around her. "Don't worry..." He said, trying to remain cheerful. "Mayo is a strong girl. She's all right."
*************************
"Next time we'll have to send someone stronger to get the job done." Nakago explained, walking down a hall with the emperor.
"You need it done well, Nakago." The emperor scolded. "I don't want Hokkan knowing WE were responsible for the accident."
"Apparently Suboshi went after the wrong girl, although the Ambassador was injured." Nakago said calmly. "That way there is no proof we were deliberately going after the woman from Hokkan. Suboshi is too hotheaded to be reliable in a situation like this."
"Get it done." The emperor instructed. Nakago turned down a hall, leaving the emperor. He stopped in front of a door, and knocked.
"Come in." Came a voice.
Nakago entered the room. Mayo turned around from the mirror and faced him.
"Is all going well, priestess?" He asked, his voice the same flat tone as always.
"I told you, I'm NOT your priestess." Mayo firmly stated. "When will you let me go back to MY world?" Mayo didn't sound happy.
"By all means, priestess, you can go back whenever you want. You are the one who chose to come into this book, remember? Things were going so wrong in your life, you wanted to escape them."
Mayo looked away, a sad look on her face. She slowly put the hairbrush in her hand down. "I'm sorry, Nakago." She apologized. "You took me in when I was on the streets, I know I should show more gratitude." It seemed like Mayo was forcing the words. She never was a very apologetic person.
"Wow!" Miaka exclaimed. "It's even better than I remember it!!!" Her and Saori dazzled at all of the lights, decorations, and music. People at merchandise and game stands called out to the customers, offering their best prices.
"It be neat having a stand here during this time..." Taka drooled. "Think of all the customers! All the money!" Taka got a glazed look over his face. "WEE HEE!!!!"
"I wonder if the festival would attract Mayo..." Saori thought. She couldn't push herself to be worried, though . The bright lights and laughter everywhere instantly cheered her up.
"So, where do you two want to go first?" Tasuki asked as if Miaka and Saori were little five year olds.
Miaka and Saori looked all around them. Saori looked towards Nuriko. "Can we do anything?" She asked, not wanting to be greedy.
Nuriko smiled and nodded.
"Look! There's a bottle game! We have things like that back in Japan!" Miaka pointed out as Saori's smile widened. "Let's go there!"
With the speedy happiness of the two girls, you would have thought they WERE five year olds.
Miaka grabbed Taka's hand and ran in that direction. Akue laughed and followed Nuriko.
"Japan, ne?" Akue asked.
Nuriko looked over to her. "What about it?"
Akue realized she should have been quiet, but re-directed the question. "Is that were Miaka is from?"
Nuriko nodded. They stopped at the wide stand. Bottles were built up in skinny pyramids, and a rack of small prizes hung above them.
Miaka noticed a small doll. "Maybe Hikari would like that." She addressed to Taka. "Get out of the way." Tasuki said, pushing through the couple. "Hey, I'll take three shots."
Tasuki handed the smiling man some money and received three soft balls. He took aim, and managed to hit down an entire pyramid.
Saori clapped her hands. "Wow, you're really good at that!"
The man took down a few prizes and held them up. Tasuki turned to Saori. "Well, which one do ya want?"
Saori looked at him and smiled. She looked over at the prizes, and selected a red hairpiece. The man handed it to her, and she thanked Tasuki about four times.
Next, they went to get a snack. Everyone got roasted chestnuts except for Miaka, who in addition got a fried fish too. Taka took Miaka to a hoop game, Nuriko and Tasuki went to a souvenir stand, and Saori followed Akue to a clothing booth, still staying close to the other two. Nuriko and Tasuki insisted they stay in sight, for safety precaution.
"Wow... I never see things like this in Japan." Saori commented. Akue looked startled. "You're from that place too?"
Saori nodded.
Akue shrugged and looked at the items.
"Why do you need new clothes?" Saori asked.
Akue looked at the back of the robes. "I brought light clothing with me, but most of it is still heavy." She turned to Saori. "It's rather chilly up in Hokkan. Here, you pick out something too, I'll buy it for you."
Saori felt a little guilty at first since Akue would be paying for it with her own money, but Akue insisted, so Saori began looking at the brightly colored robes in her size.
Akue found a light red robe with short sleeves. "Ah!" she declared. "This should work." She selected the article and pulled it off its hangar. "I really shouldn't wear it in the palace though."
Saori found a light blue robe that had 3 small ties to keep the flap shut, and a darker blue belt. "May I get these?" Saori asked politely.
Akue eyed them. "Sure."
Taka FINALLY made a hoop after two tries, and got a bracelet for Miaka. Miaka started to get really tired about Taka's lectures on how the games were set up to create a higher profit. Sometimes it seemed all he talked about was money.
"Ryuuen!"
Nuriko and Tasuki turned around to se no other than Rokou, Nuriko's brother.
"Hey!" Nuriko happily greeted. Rokou ran up and hugged him as if it was their last time together.
"I was hoping you'd be here." Rokou said. "When do you think you can return? Are you staying at the palace now?"
"Keep a little quiet, alright?" Nuriko advised.
Rokou nodded. He looked at Tasuki. Tasuki happened to be the reason Rokou had kicked everyone out the first time they had gone looking for Nuriko's memory jewel. "Ryuuen, have you seen the..."
"AAHHH!" Came a bloodcurdling scream.
Tasuki and Nuriko looked alarmed. "That was Saori!" Tasuki shouted, running in her direction.
When Nuriko and Tasuki reached the clothing booth, they saw something shoot right past their faces, nearly knocking them over. People everywhere ran past them, screaming.
"AAH!" Came Saori's voice again.
The stands to their right began breaking as something came hurtling through them. It stopped.
"Akue!" Nuriko shouted, running over to her.
Akue gripped her arm hard, red liquid seeping through the dark fabric. "There's a mad man over there!"
Nuriko and Tasuki ran through the crowds, and found Saori cornered by a man with unusual weapons.
"Nah!" Tasuki said in disbelief. "Suboshi's back too?!!!"
Suboshi turned towards Nuriko and Tasuki. "Welcome, care to die as well?" He mocked, pulling back one of the spinning orbs. "Go,Ryuseisui!" He shouted, throwing it towards Tasuki.
"REKKA SHINEN!!!!" He shouted, whipping his fan out, shooting fire on the advancing meteor bell.
Taka came behind Nuriko, noticing Suboshi. Hate came over his face. He was the one who killed Suboshi, but in turn Suboshi was the one who killed his family.
Nuriko spun around. "Taka!" He said urgently. "Get Miaka away from here! Akue's been injured, she's down the street!"
Reluctantly, Taka turned and ran, pulling Miaka with him.
Now Suboshi had the end of his weapon wrapped tightly around Saori, a single meteor bell spinning dangerously close to her face. Suboshi held the other in his hand, daring the seishi to come closer.
Nuriko stood in fighting position, trying to choose a time to go. He saw a flash of beige next to him. Tasuki was already at Saori. He had just unwound her when Suboshi noticed he was no longer next to Nuriko.
~(for those who don't know, Tasuki also has the power of speed, which is demonstrated twice in the series.)~
Suboshi whipped his Meteor bell around, aiming for Nuriko, who in turn dodged the attack and came up in time to grab the rope. With one yank he had Suboshi flying towards him. Before he could make a hit however, the second meteor bell came whizzing at him. Nuriko barely moved his head in time, getting a two-inch trim on the left side of his hair. He stumbled to stand upright. "He's gotten better!" He yelled to Tasuki.
Saori had run behind the stands to get away. Tasuki feathered his fan out again. "Rekka Shinen!!" He called, a wall of fire heading for Suboshi. Suboshi rolled away, but he wasn't quick enough to avoid Tasuki's fist in his stomach. Suboshi bent over from the pain, and vanished in a streak of purple. Tasuki looked up to see a figure draped in a long cloak. The last he saw was Soi and Suboshi vanishing.
"Damnit." Tasuki cursed. "That dumb blonde never does his own dirty work." He shook off the lingering affects from the fight and looked towards Nuriko. "Y'all right?"
Nuriko nodded. They both ran back to where Taka, Miaka, Akue, and now Saori were. The tie on Taka's clothing was wrapped tightly around Akue's right arm.
***************************
"With the Seishi tired out, the Ambassador injured, and the star festival in shambles, everyone returned again to the castle. Nuriko and Tasuki gave a detailed report of what had happened. Hotohori's worrying burden for his country and people grew all heavier." Tetsuya read to Keisuke in the early morning. Yui was still asleep.
*************************
"Saori, what exactly happened?" Nuriko asked Saori, Hotohori wanting to know as well.
"Akue had just bought herself a robe for herself and I when the top of the stand fell in." Saori said, her voice jumping. She was still shaky. "There.... that boy was there. He threw that whistling thing at us. Next thing I knew, I was on the ground, and there was a big gash in Akue's arm from where that guy had hit her." She swallowed hard, trying to control her voice. She sat forward on her chair. "That's when I screamed. That guy..."
"Suboshi." Nuriko filled in.
"Yeah, Suboshi." Saori continued. "He kicked Akue really hard in her stomach. She fell through a bunch of stands when you guys showed up." She took a deep breath. "Thank you." She looked around. "Where, where is Akue? Is she all right?"
Hotohori nodded, understanding the whole story. "Do not worry, Akue is being aided by Mitsukake. She's probably all ready healed." He must admit to himself though, this wasn't a good way to treat the key that could save his country from war.
Saori looked at the emperor worried. "That's the second person who's come to attack us." She said, tearing up. "What if one of them got Mayo?!" Saori's attempts finally fell and she started crying.
Nuriko crouched down and wrapped his arms around her. "Don't worry..." He said, trying to remain cheerful. "Mayo is a strong girl. She's all right."
*************************
"Next time we'll have to send someone stronger to get the job done." Nakago explained, walking down a hall with the emperor.
"You need it done well, Nakago." The emperor scolded. "I don't want Hokkan knowing WE were responsible for the accident."
"Apparently Suboshi went after the wrong girl, although the Ambassador was injured." Nakago said calmly. "That way there is no proof we were deliberately going after the woman from Hokkan. Suboshi is too hotheaded to be reliable in a situation like this."
"Get it done." The emperor instructed. Nakago turned down a hall, leaving the emperor. He stopped in front of a door, and knocked.
"Come in." Came a voice.
Nakago entered the room. Mayo turned around from the mirror and faced him.
"Is all going well, priestess?" He asked, his voice the same flat tone as always.
"I told you, I'm NOT your priestess." Mayo firmly stated. "When will you let me go back to MY world?" Mayo didn't sound happy.
"By all means, priestess, you can go back whenever you want. You are the one who chose to come into this book, remember? Things were going so wrong in your life, you wanted to escape them."
Mayo looked away, a sad look on her face. She slowly put the hairbrush in her hand down. "I'm sorry, Nakago." She apologized. "You took me in when I was on the streets, I know I should show more gratitude." It seemed like Mayo was forcing the words. She never was a very apologetic person.