Again we're focusing a lot on not-original-to-the-FY-series characters,
but it will pass! Again I'd like to thank all who reviewed and keep
reviewing. And actually, if there is any random thing you would like to
see an FY character do, whether dramatic or stupidly funny, write it in a
review, you never know when I could use it!
This chapter may be a bit hard to follow, but if you pay attention, you'll get it. It helps to remember that when flashbacks end, they're in present time!
Chapter 13 : Glimmers of Past and Present
Akue looked out her window. It was nightfall, two days after the small battle in Konan. She ran her finger across the gold band she wore, staring into her faint reflection in the glass. "When the elders of Hokkan find out, I'll be in so much trouble..." She whispered to herself, sounding as if the weight of the world was on her shoulders. Through the glass of the window she gazed up into the distant stars. "Hikitsu, what would you do?"
~~~~~~~~~~~FLASHBACK~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chichiri landed hard onto the palace floors. His body ached with fatigue. He looked at the body beside him. Tasuki was dead cold, barely breathing. Nuriko was out of it too, his neck red. Miaka's head laid on Nuriko's chest. He looked farther to his left. Akue knelt down, as if trying to catch her breath.
'What was that, no da?' Chichiri asked himself. Before he could interrogate Akue, Hotohori and the others ran into the room.
Saori was right on the highness's heels. She laid eyes on the sight, and nearly passed out. Mitsukake came running in, followed by Taka, who immediately noticed Miaka and ran to her side.
"Get Tasuki first, no da. He's worse than anyone." Chichiri ordered.
Hotohori ran to the magician's side. "Chichiri, Akue! What in the world happened?"
Akue smartly spoke up before Chichiri could answer. "Nakago, sire. He attacked. Chichiri's magic saved us, he truly is a saint."
Hotohori nodded. "I am glad to see at least two of you all right."
Chichiri gave an extremely confused glance over to Akue.
"Get doctors in here, now!" Hotohori shouted. "Quickly!"
"Your majesty," Mitsukake came from behind the emperor, "They are all in terrible condition, and my powers are not enough to heal all of them. I will be able to get all of them stable, however, if I use some of my powers on each." Mitsukake suggested.
Hotohori nodded. "Tasuki seems to be bleeding badly. Please, tend to him first."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~END FLASHBACK~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Akue, now in a smaller room, untied her hair, which was neatly decorated in an extensive bun. She untied her robe, letting it fall to the ground. She slowly stepped into the warm bath, sinking deep into the water. Her hair floated around her for a moment, before absorbing too much water and sinking down with the rest of her. She opened her emerald eyes and stared at the white ceiling. 'I should return to Hokkan soon... it's been too awkward here...' She closed her eyes once more, another memory floating into her mind.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~FLASH BACK~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A knock was heard at the door.
Akue spun around, shaking her head. She was tired, being up all night. "Come in." she instructed.
The door opened to reveal the tall blue-haired man, now back in his mask. Akue forced a smiled. "I meant to ask you about that, Chichiri. I didn't know you wore a mask."
Chichiri closed the door. "We have much larger things to discuss, no da." Chichiri announced. His seriousness wiped the smiled off Akue's face.
Akue looked down. "I can imagine what about."
Chichiri stood there in silence for a while, before Akue once again lifted her head. She seemed almost to be crying, but no tears fell.
"You can't tell anyone, promise me that!" She yelled, stunning Chichiri. "I wasn't... I promised them I wouldn't! The whole reason I wear this stupid thing is so I won't accidentally...." Akue grabbed the band on her forehead, nearly breaking it as she ripped it off and through it across the room. She fell onto her bed, putting her head in her hands. "What am I going to do?" She asked.
Chichiri walked over, still with his stick, and sat beside Akue. "You'll start from the beginning, no da."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~END FLASHBACK~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Akue sighed. "If I had just known he was listening... I could have stopped him... I wouldn't be in this mess....
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~FLASHBACK~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chiriko's eyes went wide. His ear was pressed up against the door. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. So that's what happened. Akue had an injury too, almost like a burn on her leg... her story never matched up. If she was hiding, like she told Hotohori, she wouldn't have been hurt at all.
It seemed unreal. How could the Ambassador...? There was a silence in the room. Chiriko took the moment to pull away from the door where Chichiri and Akue were talking. He didn't hear it all, and he hated eavesdropping, but it was his duty to the emperor to report this.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~END FLASHBACK~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~FLASH BACK~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"How long will it take, Mitsukake?" Taka asked as he sat beside Miaka on the bed. Miaka was unconscious, but very beaten.
"She'll be find by tomorrow, don't worry." Mitsukake reassured.
Miaka smiled at her husband. She gasped, remembering. She sat up in bed, a look of pain crossing her face.
"Miaka! Sit down!" Taka pressed his hands on her shoulders.
"Taka! No! Please!" Miaka begged as she was forced back into the bed.
"Taka, I need to speak with Saori."
"It can wait." Taka scolded. "You need to rest."
"It can't wait!" Miaka objected. "I need Saori, I know where Mayo is!!!!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~END FLASHBACK~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Mayo..." Now it was Saori who stared wishfully out her window. How could Mayo be the Priestess of Seiryu? Mayo was there when Yui had told her about her experience, plus she read it herself from the book... why would she want that? For power? Revenge? Maybe it was Suboshi's love for Yui and the beginning stride that made Mayo choose such a fate. Mayo seemed so sad when she talked about the death of Hotohori or Nuriko, but was it a lie?
Saori heaved a long sigh. She came here to rescue her friend, but now she wasn't sure if her friend wanted rescuing. She wondered if Coach Yuuki had realized after all this time where she had gone... he could be reading the book right now for all she knew.
Miaka said Nakago was going to use Mayo to summon Seiryu again, maybe even to once again make an attempt at being a god. Something was stopping them... as Taka had pointed out. What was it? As far as they new all the Seiryu warriors were alive... perhaps if one was killed, they wouldn't have a hope since the shinzaho things...
More questions filled Saori's mind. She clutched her hands to either side of her head, as if the questions were going to make her mind burst. She lit up, some. Chiriko was smart, perhaps he could help her. Being just less than two years younger than her, Saori seemed to depend on him, just like she depended on Chichiri.
*******************************
Nakago, a white bandage on his forearm, stood before the Kutou emperor after being summoned.
"Nakago, have you had word on the Ambassador you FAILED to kill? Or how about the Priestess of Suzaku?" The emperor snarled. He had yet failed to remind Nakago that he did not complete his assigned task.
"I believe I know of the Ambassador, Highness." Nakago said, bowing. "It all pieces together, yet how it is accomplished is still a mystery."
The young emperor tapped his fingers irritably on the armrest of his chair. "What do you suggest?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~FLASHBACK~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Nakago!" Suboshi ran to the site of the explosion, thinking he was dreaming. The Suzaku seven were gone, as was the first thing he noticed. He cursed loudly before seeing what had happened.
Nakago moved to full standing position, a long mark on his arm, much like the one Tamahome had given him once, but not as severe. Suboshi smiled in the back of his mind. He secretly loved it whenever Nakago was hurt or failed in any minor way. It knocked him of his high stool.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~END FLASHBACK~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
**********************************************************************
"Wouldn't the summoning of Suzaku keep anything of Seiryu from gettin' to us?" Tasuki asked, sitting sideways in a chair as he tilted it back.
Hotohori's eyes were closed as he rested his chin in his hands. "Perhaps, Tasuki."
Tasuki scooted forward. "Then why not? We're all here!"
"I'm afraid it's not that simple, no da." Chichiri butted in. "It is not so simple to summon a god again after so much time, no da. The priestess of Suzaku must be a virgin, no da."
Hotohori's eyebrow quivered, stress piling on. He looked up. "Too many things have been happening lately. It is too much for Konan."
"Perhaps, Sire, it is too much for one man at this moment. You should really get some rest, you look horrible." Nuriko chimed in, concerned.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~FLASHBACK~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Yes, Chiriko, What is it?" Hotohori asked as the young boy ran into the throne room. Hotohori waved away the magistrate he was conversing with.
"Sire, it is truly urgent!" Chiriko edged. "I over heard the Ambassador and Chichiri talking, what you know about the rescuing of Miaka is a lie!"
Hotohori looked serious at Chiriko. Chiriko had a very honest way of speaking, and Hotohori believe him.
"Chiriko, tell me, what did you hear?"
Chiriko swallowed, catching his breath some. "I did not hear all of it, but Chichiri did not do all Akue credits him for. Somehow Akue was the one who shot back Nakago, Sire."
Hotohori looked confused. "The Ambassador and Chichiri told me exactly what happened..." Hotohori rubbed his tired eyes. "Their story fitted together perfectly."
"I believe it's a lie, Sire." Chiriko addressed using a more calming tone. "All I heard is that Miss Cheinun somehow used... did something to keep Nakago off. Chichiri teleported them back. She said something about it being a secret. I don't know if she was talking about the incident itself or what strange things she's hiding. Perhaps, she is not an Ambassador at all."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~END FLASHBACK~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hotohori stood up. "Nuriko, perhaps you are right. We all need rest. None of us have gotten any descent sleep since the return of Miaka two days ago. It is late, you are adjourned.
Tasuki, Chichiri, Mitsukake, and Nuriko all pulled away from the table to leave. Nuriko walked up to Hotohori as the rest left.
"Sire, perhaps I should see the Ambassador? She hasn't been down for a long while." Nuriko suggested.
Hotohori nodded. "If you wish. I'm sure she has her own problems to cope with."
Nuriko turned to leave, but Hotohori stopped him. "Where are Miaka and Taka?" He asked.
"I think they're resting. The split really made them worry about each other. Taka going through the whole 'I'll protect you' thing again." Nuriko replied.
Hotohori smiled slightly. "Thank you, Nuriko."
~~~~~~~~~~~~FLASH BACK~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"You are the MOST despicable man I have EVER met!!!!" Akue shouted across the leisure room.
"YOU are the reason I HATE girls!!!" Tasuki shouted back.
Akue gave an irritated scream. "I don't know HOW you live with yourself!"
"I wouldn't be talking!" Tasuki yelled. "YOU'RE the one who came HERE! If you don't like it, LEAVE!"
Akue turned in a huff out of the room. Saori looked over at Miaka, eyes wide.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~END FLASHBACK~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~FLASHBACK~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Yes Sire?" Akue asked in front of Hotohori's throne. She was dressed in her usual formal robes, almost resembling a light dress.
"Ambassador, have you failed to tell the truth to me in the past few days?" Hotohori asked, the strictness sternness on his face.
Akue stood back. "What? What are you talking about?"
"Answer me." Hotohori ordered.
Akue's stomach wrenched. "I assure you, Sire. I have not deceived you since my arrival."
The Ambassador's words seemed so true, but Hotohori pressed on. "What happened the night you were in Kutou?"
Akue's mind raced. Chichiri wouldn't tell... she knew it. "I made an appearance, and hid behind the bushes under Chichiri's cloak. I could just see what was going on, as I explained before, but Chichiri had told me ahead of time to stay in my position no matter what. I saw him raise his staff and shoot something at the Seiryu warrior, Nakago, then we came back here."
Her story hadn't changed a note.
Hotohori nodded. "Very well, that is all."
Relieved, Akue bowed and turned to leave the great room. The silence was broken by a loud yawn.
Akue turned around to see Tasuki coming in. She rolled her eyes and continued on.
Tasuki's gaze switched back and forth from Akue to the emperor, over and over again until his head hurt.
"All right." He spoke up, quite loudly. "What did I miss out on this time? Tasuki is always the last to know!"
Akue turned, almost to the curtain-covered door. "What the heck are you talking about, Fang boy?"
Tasuki sighed. "What, everyone gets to hear about your secret but me?"
Hotohori stood up, and looked over to Akue, then back at Tasuki. "What did you say?"
Tasuki looked angry. "Did you all know before?" He kicked the air. "Why am I left out? I don't get told a thing, no da." He imitated Chichiri's trademark.
Akue's eyes widened. Tasuki hadn't been conscious.... had he?
Tasuki looked at the emperor's confused face, but didn't complain further, seeing as who Hotohori was. "The power thing!" He yelled. "That thing Akue did to beat the snot out of that damn Nakago!!!"
Hotohori looked at Akue, now his eyes wide.
Akue bit her lip, her expression as though she was both fighting back tears AND the urge to strangle Tasuki and hang him from a balcony.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~END FLASHBACK~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Taka..." Miaka whispered as she cuddled up next to the arm of her husband.
"Yes?" Taka asked in the dark, his eyes closed and body tired.
"I'm worried, about Mayo. And Hikari.... Yui-chan..."
"Don't be." Taka reassured, stroking his hand over Miaka's red hair. "They're fine, just like I told you they were a thousand times."
"What about mom?" She asked, her voice slightly shaky.
"Keisuke covered for you last time, ne? He'll take care of it."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~FLASHBACK~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"He helped her ESCAPE?!!" Mayo shouted at Nakago from in her bedroom, draped in night robes.
"The kodoku poisoning on him wore off right at the worst time, Priestess." Nakago informed.
Mayo picked up a hairbrush and through across the room. "Then give him a stronger dose if you have to! Kill him! We don't need him!"
Nakago, calm, shook his head. "Amiboshi is far too valuable, Lady Mayo. He will however, be punished at your digression."
Mayo gripped her bedpost firmly. "Do it now then. The way I know you punished Tamahome."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~END FLASH BACK~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~FLASHBACK~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I can explain." Akue Cheinun said to a now full table, including all of the Suzaku seven and two girls, Saori and Miaka. Her eyes followed down the finely finished oak wood to Chichiri, looking for comfort. Chichiri met her gaze, and let his eyes fall to his hands. He couldn't help her, and she knew it.
She took in a deep breath. After the huge confrontation with Tasuki and Hotohori in the throne room that seemed to get the whole palace's attention, she was jumpy down to the last toe.
'The elders are going to kill me...' she thought as she looked about the curious faces. Hotohori's looked slightly angry.
She cleared her throat, and stood up tall. "Let me first assure you, Highness, that I never lied. I am the Ambassador of Hokkan, as I said when I first came here, despite some beliefs." She gave an evil stare at Chiriko. "I assure you, nothing that happened in Kutou will affect my position as Ambassador, nor anything that goes on within the palace."
A long silence filled the room. Akue wanted to burst into tears on the spot and run, but she couldn't do that.
"The reason I kept my secret was because I promised, and the very reason I'm here shows my failure to keep my word." The light glinted off of Akue's gold headband, which once again decorated her forehead.
Akue sighed, staring at the Chair in front of her, that she rested her hands on. She looked back up, forcing courage into her eyes. She seemed to be speaking directly to Hotohori, for her eyes did not stray from him. "The reason I cannot enter the shrine of Suzaku.... the reason I insisted on coming to Kutou... the reason I wear this band...."
Akue paused, regaining her confidence. "My...."
All eyes were on her, making her thoroughly uncomfortable.
She swallowed hard. "My celestial name is Inami." She paused again. "And I am a warrior of Genbu."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~END FLASHBACK~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This chapter may be a bit hard to follow, but if you pay attention, you'll get it. It helps to remember that when flashbacks end, they're in present time!
Chapter 13 : Glimmers of Past and Present
Akue looked out her window. It was nightfall, two days after the small battle in Konan. She ran her finger across the gold band she wore, staring into her faint reflection in the glass. "When the elders of Hokkan find out, I'll be in so much trouble..." She whispered to herself, sounding as if the weight of the world was on her shoulders. Through the glass of the window she gazed up into the distant stars. "Hikitsu, what would you do?"
~~~~~~~~~~~FLASHBACK~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chichiri landed hard onto the palace floors. His body ached with fatigue. He looked at the body beside him. Tasuki was dead cold, barely breathing. Nuriko was out of it too, his neck red. Miaka's head laid on Nuriko's chest. He looked farther to his left. Akue knelt down, as if trying to catch her breath.
'What was that, no da?' Chichiri asked himself. Before he could interrogate Akue, Hotohori and the others ran into the room.
Saori was right on the highness's heels. She laid eyes on the sight, and nearly passed out. Mitsukake came running in, followed by Taka, who immediately noticed Miaka and ran to her side.
"Get Tasuki first, no da. He's worse than anyone." Chichiri ordered.
Hotohori ran to the magician's side. "Chichiri, Akue! What in the world happened?"
Akue smartly spoke up before Chichiri could answer. "Nakago, sire. He attacked. Chichiri's magic saved us, he truly is a saint."
Hotohori nodded. "I am glad to see at least two of you all right."
Chichiri gave an extremely confused glance over to Akue.
"Get doctors in here, now!" Hotohori shouted. "Quickly!"
"Your majesty," Mitsukake came from behind the emperor, "They are all in terrible condition, and my powers are not enough to heal all of them. I will be able to get all of them stable, however, if I use some of my powers on each." Mitsukake suggested.
Hotohori nodded. "Tasuki seems to be bleeding badly. Please, tend to him first."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~END FLASHBACK~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Akue, now in a smaller room, untied her hair, which was neatly decorated in an extensive bun. She untied her robe, letting it fall to the ground. She slowly stepped into the warm bath, sinking deep into the water. Her hair floated around her for a moment, before absorbing too much water and sinking down with the rest of her. She opened her emerald eyes and stared at the white ceiling. 'I should return to Hokkan soon... it's been too awkward here...' She closed her eyes once more, another memory floating into her mind.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~FLASH BACK~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A knock was heard at the door.
Akue spun around, shaking her head. She was tired, being up all night. "Come in." she instructed.
The door opened to reveal the tall blue-haired man, now back in his mask. Akue forced a smiled. "I meant to ask you about that, Chichiri. I didn't know you wore a mask."
Chichiri closed the door. "We have much larger things to discuss, no da." Chichiri announced. His seriousness wiped the smiled off Akue's face.
Akue looked down. "I can imagine what about."
Chichiri stood there in silence for a while, before Akue once again lifted her head. She seemed almost to be crying, but no tears fell.
"You can't tell anyone, promise me that!" She yelled, stunning Chichiri. "I wasn't... I promised them I wouldn't! The whole reason I wear this stupid thing is so I won't accidentally...." Akue grabbed the band on her forehead, nearly breaking it as she ripped it off and through it across the room. She fell onto her bed, putting her head in her hands. "What am I going to do?" She asked.
Chichiri walked over, still with his stick, and sat beside Akue. "You'll start from the beginning, no da."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~END FLASHBACK~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Akue sighed. "If I had just known he was listening... I could have stopped him... I wouldn't be in this mess....
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~FLASHBACK~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chiriko's eyes went wide. His ear was pressed up against the door. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. So that's what happened. Akue had an injury too, almost like a burn on her leg... her story never matched up. If she was hiding, like she told Hotohori, she wouldn't have been hurt at all.
It seemed unreal. How could the Ambassador...? There was a silence in the room. Chiriko took the moment to pull away from the door where Chichiri and Akue were talking. He didn't hear it all, and he hated eavesdropping, but it was his duty to the emperor to report this.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~END FLASHBACK~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~FLASH BACK~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"How long will it take, Mitsukake?" Taka asked as he sat beside Miaka on the bed. Miaka was unconscious, but very beaten.
"She'll be find by tomorrow, don't worry." Mitsukake reassured.
Miaka smiled at her husband. She gasped, remembering. She sat up in bed, a look of pain crossing her face.
"Miaka! Sit down!" Taka pressed his hands on her shoulders.
"Taka! No! Please!" Miaka begged as she was forced back into the bed.
"Taka, I need to speak with Saori."
"It can wait." Taka scolded. "You need to rest."
"It can't wait!" Miaka objected. "I need Saori, I know where Mayo is!!!!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~END FLASHBACK~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Mayo..." Now it was Saori who stared wishfully out her window. How could Mayo be the Priestess of Seiryu? Mayo was there when Yui had told her about her experience, plus she read it herself from the book... why would she want that? For power? Revenge? Maybe it was Suboshi's love for Yui and the beginning stride that made Mayo choose such a fate. Mayo seemed so sad when she talked about the death of Hotohori or Nuriko, but was it a lie?
Saori heaved a long sigh. She came here to rescue her friend, but now she wasn't sure if her friend wanted rescuing. She wondered if Coach Yuuki had realized after all this time where she had gone... he could be reading the book right now for all she knew.
Miaka said Nakago was going to use Mayo to summon Seiryu again, maybe even to once again make an attempt at being a god. Something was stopping them... as Taka had pointed out. What was it? As far as they new all the Seiryu warriors were alive... perhaps if one was killed, they wouldn't have a hope since the shinzaho things...
More questions filled Saori's mind. She clutched her hands to either side of her head, as if the questions were going to make her mind burst. She lit up, some. Chiriko was smart, perhaps he could help her. Being just less than two years younger than her, Saori seemed to depend on him, just like she depended on Chichiri.
*******************************
Nakago, a white bandage on his forearm, stood before the Kutou emperor after being summoned.
"Nakago, have you had word on the Ambassador you FAILED to kill? Or how about the Priestess of Suzaku?" The emperor snarled. He had yet failed to remind Nakago that he did not complete his assigned task.
"I believe I know of the Ambassador, Highness." Nakago said, bowing. "It all pieces together, yet how it is accomplished is still a mystery."
The young emperor tapped his fingers irritably on the armrest of his chair. "What do you suggest?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~FLASHBACK~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Nakago!" Suboshi ran to the site of the explosion, thinking he was dreaming. The Suzaku seven were gone, as was the first thing he noticed. He cursed loudly before seeing what had happened.
Nakago moved to full standing position, a long mark on his arm, much like the one Tamahome had given him once, but not as severe. Suboshi smiled in the back of his mind. He secretly loved it whenever Nakago was hurt or failed in any minor way. It knocked him of his high stool.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~END FLASHBACK~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
**********************************************************************
"Wouldn't the summoning of Suzaku keep anything of Seiryu from gettin' to us?" Tasuki asked, sitting sideways in a chair as he tilted it back.
Hotohori's eyes were closed as he rested his chin in his hands. "Perhaps, Tasuki."
Tasuki scooted forward. "Then why not? We're all here!"
"I'm afraid it's not that simple, no da." Chichiri butted in. "It is not so simple to summon a god again after so much time, no da. The priestess of Suzaku must be a virgin, no da."
Hotohori's eyebrow quivered, stress piling on. He looked up. "Too many things have been happening lately. It is too much for Konan."
"Perhaps, Sire, it is too much for one man at this moment. You should really get some rest, you look horrible." Nuriko chimed in, concerned.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~FLASHBACK~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Yes, Chiriko, What is it?" Hotohori asked as the young boy ran into the throne room. Hotohori waved away the magistrate he was conversing with.
"Sire, it is truly urgent!" Chiriko edged. "I over heard the Ambassador and Chichiri talking, what you know about the rescuing of Miaka is a lie!"
Hotohori looked serious at Chiriko. Chiriko had a very honest way of speaking, and Hotohori believe him.
"Chiriko, tell me, what did you hear?"
Chiriko swallowed, catching his breath some. "I did not hear all of it, but Chichiri did not do all Akue credits him for. Somehow Akue was the one who shot back Nakago, Sire."
Hotohori looked confused. "The Ambassador and Chichiri told me exactly what happened..." Hotohori rubbed his tired eyes. "Their story fitted together perfectly."
"I believe it's a lie, Sire." Chiriko addressed using a more calming tone. "All I heard is that Miss Cheinun somehow used... did something to keep Nakago off. Chichiri teleported them back. She said something about it being a secret. I don't know if she was talking about the incident itself or what strange things she's hiding. Perhaps, she is not an Ambassador at all."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~END FLASHBACK~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hotohori stood up. "Nuriko, perhaps you are right. We all need rest. None of us have gotten any descent sleep since the return of Miaka two days ago. It is late, you are adjourned.
Tasuki, Chichiri, Mitsukake, and Nuriko all pulled away from the table to leave. Nuriko walked up to Hotohori as the rest left.
"Sire, perhaps I should see the Ambassador? She hasn't been down for a long while." Nuriko suggested.
Hotohori nodded. "If you wish. I'm sure she has her own problems to cope with."
Nuriko turned to leave, but Hotohori stopped him. "Where are Miaka and Taka?" He asked.
"I think they're resting. The split really made them worry about each other. Taka going through the whole 'I'll protect you' thing again." Nuriko replied.
Hotohori smiled slightly. "Thank you, Nuriko."
~~~~~~~~~~~~FLASH BACK~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"You are the MOST despicable man I have EVER met!!!!" Akue shouted across the leisure room.
"YOU are the reason I HATE girls!!!" Tasuki shouted back.
Akue gave an irritated scream. "I don't know HOW you live with yourself!"
"I wouldn't be talking!" Tasuki yelled. "YOU'RE the one who came HERE! If you don't like it, LEAVE!"
Akue turned in a huff out of the room. Saori looked over at Miaka, eyes wide.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~END FLASHBACK~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~FLASHBACK~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Yes Sire?" Akue asked in front of Hotohori's throne. She was dressed in her usual formal robes, almost resembling a light dress.
"Ambassador, have you failed to tell the truth to me in the past few days?" Hotohori asked, the strictness sternness on his face.
Akue stood back. "What? What are you talking about?"
"Answer me." Hotohori ordered.
Akue's stomach wrenched. "I assure you, Sire. I have not deceived you since my arrival."
The Ambassador's words seemed so true, but Hotohori pressed on. "What happened the night you were in Kutou?"
Akue's mind raced. Chichiri wouldn't tell... she knew it. "I made an appearance, and hid behind the bushes under Chichiri's cloak. I could just see what was going on, as I explained before, but Chichiri had told me ahead of time to stay in my position no matter what. I saw him raise his staff and shoot something at the Seiryu warrior, Nakago, then we came back here."
Her story hadn't changed a note.
Hotohori nodded. "Very well, that is all."
Relieved, Akue bowed and turned to leave the great room. The silence was broken by a loud yawn.
Akue turned around to see Tasuki coming in. She rolled her eyes and continued on.
Tasuki's gaze switched back and forth from Akue to the emperor, over and over again until his head hurt.
"All right." He spoke up, quite loudly. "What did I miss out on this time? Tasuki is always the last to know!"
Akue turned, almost to the curtain-covered door. "What the heck are you talking about, Fang boy?"
Tasuki sighed. "What, everyone gets to hear about your secret but me?"
Hotohori stood up, and looked over to Akue, then back at Tasuki. "What did you say?"
Tasuki looked angry. "Did you all know before?" He kicked the air. "Why am I left out? I don't get told a thing, no da." He imitated Chichiri's trademark.
Akue's eyes widened. Tasuki hadn't been conscious.... had he?
Tasuki looked at the emperor's confused face, but didn't complain further, seeing as who Hotohori was. "The power thing!" He yelled. "That thing Akue did to beat the snot out of that damn Nakago!!!"
Hotohori looked at Akue, now his eyes wide.
Akue bit her lip, her expression as though she was both fighting back tears AND the urge to strangle Tasuki and hang him from a balcony.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~END FLASHBACK~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Taka..." Miaka whispered as she cuddled up next to the arm of her husband.
"Yes?" Taka asked in the dark, his eyes closed and body tired.
"I'm worried, about Mayo. And Hikari.... Yui-chan..."
"Don't be." Taka reassured, stroking his hand over Miaka's red hair. "They're fine, just like I told you they were a thousand times."
"What about mom?" She asked, her voice slightly shaky.
"Keisuke covered for you last time, ne? He'll take care of it."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~FLASHBACK~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"He helped her ESCAPE?!!" Mayo shouted at Nakago from in her bedroom, draped in night robes.
"The kodoku poisoning on him wore off right at the worst time, Priestess." Nakago informed.
Mayo picked up a hairbrush and through across the room. "Then give him a stronger dose if you have to! Kill him! We don't need him!"
Nakago, calm, shook his head. "Amiboshi is far too valuable, Lady Mayo. He will however, be punished at your digression."
Mayo gripped her bedpost firmly. "Do it now then. The way I know you punished Tamahome."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~END FLASH BACK~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~FLASHBACK~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I can explain." Akue Cheinun said to a now full table, including all of the Suzaku seven and two girls, Saori and Miaka. Her eyes followed down the finely finished oak wood to Chichiri, looking for comfort. Chichiri met her gaze, and let his eyes fall to his hands. He couldn't help her, and she knew it.
She took in a deep breath. After the huge confrontation with Tasuki and Hotohori in the throne room that seemed to get the whole palace's attention, she was jumpy down to the last toe.
'The elders are going to kill me...' she thought as she looked about the curious faces. Hotohori's looked slightly angry.
She cleared her throat, and stood up tall. "Let me first assure you, Highness, that I never lied. I am the Ambassador of Hokkan, as I said when I first came here, despite some beliefs." She gave an evil stare at Chiriko. "I assure you, nothing that happened in Kutou will affect my position as Ambassador, nor anything that goes on within the palace."
A long silence filled the room. Akue wanted to burst into tears on the spot and run, but she couldn't do that.
"The reason I kept my secret was because I promised, and the very reason I'm here shows my failure to keep my word." The light glinted off of Akue's gold headband, which once again decorated her forehead.
Akue sighed, staring at the Chair in front of her, that she rested her hands on. She looked back up, forcing courage into her eyes. She seemed to be speaking directly to Hotohori, for her eyes did not stray from him. "The reason I cannot enter the shrine of Suzaku.... the reason I insisted on coming to Kutou... the reason I wear this band...."
Akue paused, regaining her confidence. "My...."
All eyes were on her, making her thoroughly uncomfortable.
She swallowed hard. "My celestial name is Inami." She paused again. "And I am a warrior of Genbu."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~END FLASHBACK~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~