While I was proofreading and editing this, I thought it was going pretty
good, but then I saw I wrote something in that, let's say. happened to soon
in my story for my taste. It's not anything major, but if you catch it,
you'll know.
To Diana-Sama: I'm sorry if anything confuses you! Thank you for asking a question though. I suppose Tasuki can just hold his stomach better, or like Chiriko mentioned, it wasn't necessarily seasickness. I got the idea from that bus thing on the 1st OAV. heh, that was a cool bus thing.
Chapter 28 : Halted Travel
Nuriko looked up, panicked. "Miaka!!! LOOK OUT!!!!"
Miaka looked back at Nuriko, who was running to her. The she felt a blast of cold air, and the presence descend on her. She looked up into the dark trees, and a long, silver blade came down to her.
"Miaka!!!!" Nuriko shouted.
Miaka closed her eyes in terror, then opened them again. The blade was an inch from her nose, and it looked very sharp.
"Get away from her!!!" Nuriko shouted, catching up to Miaka.
A fan of fire lit up in the distance, casting light on the scene.
The holder of the blade blinked. "Nuriko?"
Nuriko was taken back, the flame's approaching light coming a little closer so he could see the attacker. He stumbled back. "I.... Inami?"
"What the heck is going on?" Tamahome asked, walking ahead of Tasuki and Hotohori.
The attacker lowered her sword. "What in the world are you doing here?"
"Inami?!" Tamahome gasped.
"What the hell?" Tasuki asked, his voice a bit hoarse.
The long, silver blade magically retracted into a foot-long, gold object in Inami's hands. "Why are you guys in Hokkan, and in the middle of the East Pine Forest?"
"Why the hell are you attacking us?" Tasuki asked.
Inami, who wore a regular robe and had her hair done back like always, put a hand behind her head. "Sorry, I sensed a powerful energy entering the country, it's kinda my job to check it out..." Inami stopped herself mid-sentence, looking about the group. "But why are you guys out here? Don't you know how dangerous it is? There ARE wolves roaming around... and without any notice too..."
Miaka stood up. "Sorry, we came here looking for the shinzaho."
"Shinzaho?" Inami asked, looking from Miaka back to Hotohori. "What in the world."
Out of the blue, Tasuki's legs began to quiver a bit.
"Tasuki?" Saori asked, running up to him. "Tasuki, are you okay?"
Tasuki looked around him, the images of his friends and the forests blurring up, and finally turning black.
****************************************
Yui realized once taking Hikari down to the car she didn't have a car seat, so reluctantly she walked back up to Tamahome and Miaka's apartment, unlocked to door, searched the kitchen for the keys, locked the door, went down two flights of stairs, opened Miaka's car, somehow yanked the car seat out, buckled it into her car, and fastened Hikari in, keeping the keys with her.
"You're a lot of trouble, you know that?" Yui scolded the little infant, though she wasn't at all serious.
Moving around the car, Yui plopped tiredly into the front seat and start the engine. The Universe of the Four Gods was on the seat next to her. Yui carefully pulled out of the parking lot and headed to Tetsuya's apartment building. She was there quite frequently actually, and a lot of her stuff was there. She and Tetsuya even had plans to move in together.
"Let's hope your mom doesn't get into any more trouble." Yui joked. She drove down a mildly trafficked road, pulling up to an intersection. She was about to turn when something caught her eye.
"Huh?" Yui wondered, a shiver running up her spine. She looked at her arm curiously. She could have sword she saw blue light...
Yui shook her head. "Mind's playing tricks again."
*****************************************
Slowly, Tasuki opened his eyes, letting the sunlight slowly hit them. It took him a second to come to. He was laying on a fairly large bed, much to his surprise. A few thick blankets covered him up to his shoulders. Over his head the bed's violet canopy hung almost perfectly. A large window to the right let in pure, white light, illuminating the room. Tasuki realized he had no idea where he was, or how he got there.
Then he noticed he felt absolutely horrid. His head felt hot, his nose was stuffed, his mouth was dry, his throat was sore, and he felt tired all over. He didn't think he's ever felt this sick in his entire life. He tried to swallow, but found he could barely even lift his tongue enough to do the task. Suddenly the blankets on top of him felt like they were made of lead, trapping him inside a furnace.
A quick knock came at the door and it opened, a person with a tray full of various things entering the room, closing the door so it was just a crack open.
"Ah, so you've finally decided to wake up, ne?" Inami joked as she walked over to the dresser next to Tasuki's bed. She wore a silk, purple robe with red and white embroidered flowers over it, even nicer than the ones she wore in Konan. Her long copper hair was pulled partially back in a fancy bun like always. The robe was sleeveless, but independent black sleeves covered most of her arms.
Inami placed the tray down and removed a damp rag from Tasuki's forehead, placing the back of her hand over it. "It hasn't gone down much..." She said quietly. She frowned and placed the rag in a bowl of cool water.
Despite his condition, Tasuki managed to say a few raspy words. "Where... am I?" The sentence was followed by a few suppressed coughs.
Inami stood straight, placing her hands on her hips. "Welcome to the Capitol palace of Hokkan. It took us a while to get all of you guys here, you alone have been out for over a day."
Tasuki tried to speak, but words were replaced by coughs. He quickly freed a hand from under the blankets of the bed to cover his mouth with, turning towards the wall.
"You don't sound very good." Inami sighed, sitting on a chair near the bed. "You have the Kyuunetsu flu, congratulations. No one around here usually gets it, they build natural immunities." She leaned the chair over to the tray and wrung out the rag, folding it. "But every now and then a foreigner comes along and it flares up." She slowly dabbed the rag on Tasuki's forehead. "I don't think I've ever seen a case as bad as yours... it hit you pretty hard. Apparently pretty quickly too. If it makes you feel any better, Tamahome, Mitsukake, and Saori got it too, but they look quite healthy compared to you. Mitsukake will have to heal himself before taking care of you." She picked up a smaller bowl from the tray. "Can you sit up?"
Tasuki pushed his hands against the mattress and boosted himself up a little, his face clearly showing his discomfort. His cheeks were tinted pink from the fever. However, Tasuki managed to sit up a little.
"You can go back to sleep if you want to." Inami sighed. "Here, this should help some." She slowly placed the bowl of soup in Tasuki's hands, making sure he had a grip on it before letting go. "Don't ask what's in it until after you eat it though..."
Tasuki tried to say something, but he couldn't. His eyes looked really tired, but he seemed to handle himself fairly well... for a sick person.
Hotohori opened a wooden door and entered another guest room. The room was decorated with more of a red and pink feeling. In the corner on a bed was a ball covered in a mess of covers, coughing every now and then.
Hotohori walked in with a bowl in his hands. "Saori, are you feeling all right?"
Saori replied with a hoarse cough.
Hotohori put the soup on a dresser and sat at the edge of the bed. "If you're feeling well enough, you should eat something. Inami informed me that you'll get nausea as well if you have the Kyuunetsu on an empty stomach."
Slowly the covers lifted, revealing a red-nosed, mussy haired Saori. "Arigatou, Hotohori-sama." She said in a slightly awkward voice. "I really appreciate it." Saori covered her mouth and cough a little.
"It's quite all right." Hotohori answered, handing the bowl of chunky soup to Saori. Saori took the spoon and slowly lifted some to her lips, taking her time to chew and slowly swallow, taking a deep breath afterwards as if she couldn't breathe while eating. "I don't think I've ever gotten sick so fast before." Saori looked into the bowl. "This stuff isn't too bad, what's in it?"
Hotohori smiled. "Inami told me it was in everyone's best interest not to tell you."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hotohori, the emperor of Konan, stood before the Hokkan emperor, who sat in a throne before him. Inami was in the room as well, farther to the side, standing quietly.
The Hokkan emperor was in his mid-thirties. He was built fairly well and was a tall man, with short black hair and a black mustache. He was dressed in thick, layered imperial robes, the outer being light blue with a darker center. Patterns of gold embroidery were perfectly stitched in detail on every inch of fabric.
Hotohori bowed. "I have momentarily left Konan for the time being, leaving my son in charge there. We seek the Shinzaho, and since I am among the Suzaku Seven, it is also my duty to stay with the priestess on this journey. We know the shinzaho is somewhere here in Hokkan. I thank you greatly for your hospitality, not only in our short stay here, but in the feuds with Kutou as well."
The Hokkan emperor chuckled slightly. "Hotohori, if you will allow me to use that name, I understand perfectly well, there is no need to explain. I remember the tales my great great grandfather passed down of the Genbu seven over 200 years ago. I myself was here when our mountains still held the shinzaho of Genbu's priestess. I hope to do what I can to make your journey easier. This certainly is an unusual happening." The emperor had a strong, masculine voice.
Hotohori bowed again. "Thank you very much. We will try to make our stay short. We'll be leaving as soon as the others of my company have recovered from their illnesses."
The Hokkan emperor nodded. "Perhaps Akue would be willing to help you in your quest, since you all ready know about her." He looked over to the young girl.
Inami looked up. "If it is what you wish, Sire."
"It is your choice."
Inami nodded. She looked towards Hotohori. "I will attend with your group if you desire my help, Highness."
Hotohori nodded his appreciation.
"The Hokkan palace is so much bigger than the Konan palace." Miaka told Tamahome as she entered his room.
"Hokkan is a big country." Tamahome replied, a little stuffy. His condition seemed to be the lightest, and he was recovering pretty quickly.
Miaka smiled. "Not that I'm glad everyone is sick, but I'm really glad I got to see it. It's absolutely gorgeous. Do you think Inami lives here?"
Tamahome shrugged. "But I am glad that I got to see it too."
Miaka laughed. "Most of all you've seen is this room."
"Hey!" Tamahome objected, stirring a spoon around in a bowl of soup. "I walked here, didn't I?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chichiri, who was helping to prepare for their leave the next day, slowly walked the expansive halls of the Hokkan palace. The ceilings were very high, and most of the walls were made from marble. Every window had a curtain, their colors changing with every new corridor. The border of every large window was done in spectacular stained glass, everything from a rose in the sunset to a full moon shadowing wolves.
Chichiri came upon two large double doors which he supposed to be the library... or at least one of them. A magistrate had suggested looking there for Inami, who would help him with any mapping or other things he needed.
He slowly opened the door, letting himself in. The walls were covered with immense shelves full of all kinds of literature, barely a space empty. As suspected, at the rear of the room by a large window, Inami sat on the built in bench, looking at the view of the capitol city. However, she didn't seem to have a very happy expression on her face.
Chichiri tilted his head. "Inami, are you okay, no da?"
Inami sighed, not looking away from the window. "The long with held treasure at peace, its guardians ascend into the sky." She said quietly, as if talking to herself. "Then it shall be that a deceased warrior shall rise again and protect the land." Inami turned to look at the magician, her eyes a little watery. "You see, Chichiri? My coming here was prophesized from the very beginning, I remember hearing it myself 200 years ago. So this..." Inami looked back out the window, "This is my duty." Inami paused, then spoke again a little quieter. "Reborn in a world not how it used to be. Family... friends... even my emperor are generations passed." Inami sighed and turned towards Chichiri. "I'm sorry Chichiri, Kakuni will help you with anything you need. I think I would like to be left alone right now."
Understandably, Chichiri nodded and left the room, quietly closing the door behind him.
Inami looked back onto the city, then redirected her view to the bright sky. "Hikitsu..." she whispered, "Am I being selfish?"
*****************************************
Yui adjusted herself from atop Tetsuya's bed, Hikari laying playfully next to her, shaking a star-shaped plush toy in her tiny hands. Yui lightly tickled Hikari's stomach with her fingernails as she read the Chinese passages appearing on the page before her.
"Eventually Inami emerged from her solemn spot in the library and began making preparations for leave with a smile on her face..." Yui sighed. "Strange girl." She remarked. "The Priestess of Suzaku tended to her friends, Tamahome making a smooth recovery. The girl from the other world, Saori Kawai, regained her strength after four days with just a small cough to wear off. Mitsukake regained his composure as well, but it would take a while for him to be in better health before he could use his powers without making him sicker. However, the group of travelers were held back by the mountain bandit's illness. Inami came to him every day, making sure his fever was down and he had plenty to eat for a steady recovery, never once bickering as before. The Suzaku no Miko worried terribly over the ailments of her friend, continuously updating the sick man on events that passed."
Hikari cooed lightly and Yui smiled. Her best friend all ready had a child, and she was technically still single. Of course, perhaps if she had fallen in love with someone in the book it would have been different.
Yui petted the top of Hikari's head. She was beginning to get an auburn tint in her hair, though it wasn't as red as her mothers. Yui snapped herself out of another sidetrack and turned to the anxiously awaiting book.
"Tasuki wanted to leave after six days, but was convinced by members of his group that he was still too ill. Luckily his fever had left, and he was dealing with congestion. They prayed that he would heal in time whether naturally or by Mitsukake's slowly recharging powers before it reached his lungs. If that happened, the party would be forced to leave without him."
************************************
"This stuff is really gettin' old, no offense." Tasuki said as he forced down another spoonful of the mysterious soup.
"Well, eat it anyway. It'll help you get better faster. From what I heard, you're all having another race with Seiryu." Inami said, finishing folding a navy blue shirt. She placed in on top of a folded pair of black pants and a dark green robe. She took a nearly empty clothing basket off the larger dresser and placed it under her arm. "These are for when everyone is ready for departure, they'll be warmer than your other clothes." Inami looked into the basket. "Looks like I have to deliver to Chiriko now, I'll be back for your dishes." Without another word, Inami left. There was a bit of a remaining awkward feeling between the bandit and the ambassador, and Inami generally didn't leave much room for chitchat.
Luckily Mitsukake seemed fully regenerated the next day. Tasuki's recovery was coming along, but he could still use help. In the late morning Mistukake came in and use his healing power on Tasuki, who immediately felt as right as rain.
"Awesome! I forgot I could breathe like this!" Tasuki shouted.
Miaka laughed. "You're so silly Tasuki."
"Now that everyone seems to be better, I do believe we should get started. We are vastly behind schedule, and we cannot allow the Seiryu seven to summon their beast god." Hotohori advised.
Chichiri nodded. "For all the time Tasuki bought us, we have all the preparations made, no da."
Tasuki made a face. "Did you just insult me?"
So by early afternoon, everyone was saddled up, all in a different color of wool robe the emperor so graciously provided. Miaka and Saori even wore the hats.
Inami ran out from the palace walls in her own robe, her hair down in a fancy half-back like always, two blue chopsticks running diagonally on either side. Around her waste was a leather belt with a narrow pouch on the left, which was filled with something that took up all of the interior. Inami grabbed onto a reign of the horse and swung on.
"You're heading north, right?" She asked.
Chichiri nodded. "We should get as far as possible while the sun is high, then find an inn to rest and plan, no da."
Inami nodded, she turned towards Hotohori. "May I suggest heading through Nanibi, Highness? It's a city northwest from the capitol, about 15 miles from here."
Hotohori nodded. "That would be a good place to start."
More author's notes: Gah. That chapter wasn't too bad, but my own "technically created" character gets so much on my nerves. I want to shoot her.
Well, I got some more brainstorming ideas for my sequel, hopefully to be started in January. (My goal is to finish this fic by 2004.) I tell you one thing, a certain -Chiriko- is going to rock my world!
Any comments, suggestions, or questions, please send in a review! Thank you to all my faithful readers!
To Diana-Sama: I'm sorry if anything confuses you! Thank you for asking a question though. I suppose Tasuki can just hold his stomach better, or like Chiriko mentioned, it wasn't necessarily seasickness. I got the idea from that bus thing on the 1st OAV. heh, that was a cool bus thing.
Chapter 28 : Halted Travel
Nuriko looked up, panicked. "Miaka!!! LOOK OUT!!!!"
Miaka looked back at Nuriko, who was running to her. The she felt a blast of cold air, and the presence descend on her. She looked up into the dark trees, and a long, silver blade came down to her.
"Miaka!!!!" Nuriko shouted.
Miaka closed her eyes in terror, then opened them again. The blade was an inch from her nose, and it looked very sharp.
"Get away from her!!!" Nuriko shouted, catching up to Miaka.
A fan of fire lit up in the distance, casting light on the scene.
The holder of the blade blinked. "Nuriko?"
Nuriko was taken back, the flame's approaching light coming a little closer so he could see the attacker. He stumbled back. "I.... Inami?"
"What the heck is going on?" Tamahome asked, walking ahead of Tasuki and Hotohori.
The attacker lowered her sword. "What in the world are you doing here?"
"Inami?!" Tamahome gasped.
"What the hell?" Tasuki asked, his voice a bit hoarse.
The long, silver blade magically retracted into a foot-long, gold object in Inami's hands. "Why are you guys in Hokkan, and in the middle of the East Pine Forest?"
"Why the hell are you attacking us?" Tasuki asked.
Inami, who wore a regular robe and had her hair done back like always, put a hand behind her head. "Sorry, I sensed a powerful energy entering the country, it's kinda my job to check it out..." Inami stopped herself mid-sentence, looking about the group. "But why are you guys out here? Don't you know how dangerous it is? There ARE wolves roaming around... and without any notice too..."
Miaka stood up. "Sorry, we came here looking for the shinzaho."
"Shinzaho?" Inami asked, looking from Miaka back to Hotohori. "What in the world."
Out of the blue, Tasuki's legs began to quiver a bit.
"Tasuki?" Saori asked, running up to him. "Tasuki, are you okay?"
Tasuki looked around him, the images of his friends and the forests blurring up, and finally turning black.
****************************************
Yui realized once taking Hikari down to the car she didn't have a car seat, so reluctantly she walked back up to Tamahome and Miaka's apartment, unlocked to door, searched the kitchen for the keys, locked the door, went down two flights of stairs, opened Miaka's car, somehow yanked the car seat out, buckled it into her car, and fastened Hikari in, keeping the keys with her.
"You're a lot of trouble, you know that?" Yui scolded the little infant, though she wasn't at all serious.
Moving around the car, Yui plopped tiredly into the front seat and start the engine. The Universe of the Four Gods was on the seat next to her. Yui carefully pulled out of the parking lot and headed to Tetsuya's apartment building. She was there quite frequently actually, and a lot of her stuff was there. She and Tetsuya even had plans to move in together.
"Let's hope your mom doesn't get into any more trouble." Yui joked. She drove down a mildly trafficked road, pulling up to an intersection. She was about to turn when something caught her eye.
"Huh?" Yui wondered, a shiver running up her spine. She looked at her arm curiously. She could have sword she saw blue light...
Yui shook her head. "Mind's playing tricks again."
*****************************************
Slowly, Tasuki opened his eyes, letting the sunlight slowly hit them. It took him a second to come to. He was laying on a fairly large bed, much to his surprise. A few thick blankets covered him up to his shoulders. Over his head the bed's violet canopy hung almost perfectly. A large window to the right let in pure, white light, illuminating the room. Tasuki realized he had no idea where he was, or how he got there.
Then he noticed he felt absolutely horrid. His head felt hot, his nose was stuffed, his mouth was dry, his throat was sore, and he felt tired all over. He didn't think he's ever felt this sick in his entire life. He tried to swallow, but found he could barely even lift his tongue enough to do the task. Suddenly the blankets on top of him felt like they were made of lead, trapping him inside a furnace.
A quick knock came at the door and it opened, a person with a tray full of various things entering the room, closing the door so it was just a crack open.
"Ah, so you've finally decided to wake up, ne?" Inami joked as she walked over to the dresser next to Tasuki's bed. She wore a silk, purple robe with red and white embroidered flowers over it, even nicer than the ones she wore in Konan. Her long copper hair was pulled partially back in a fancy bun like always. The robe was sleeveless, but independent black sleeves covered most of her arms.
Inami placed the tray down and removed a damp rag from Tasuki's forehead, placing the back of her hand over it. "It hasn't gone down much..." She said quietly. She frowned and placed the rag in a bowl of cool water.
Despite his condition, Tasuki managed to say a few raspy words. "Where... am I?" The sentence was followed by a few suppressed coughs.
Inami stood straight, placing her hands on her hips. "Welcome to the Capitol palace of Hokkan. It took us a while to get all of you guys here, you alone have been out for over a day."
Tasuki tried to speak, but words were replaced by coughs. He quickly freed a hand from under the blankets of the bed to cover his mouth with, turning towards the wall.
"You don't sound very good." Inami sighed, sitting on a chair near the bed. "You have the Kyuunetsu flu, congratulations. No one around here usually gets it, they build natural immunities." She leaned the chair over to the tray and wrung out the rag, folding it. "But every now and then a foreigner comes along and it flares up." She slowly dabbed the rag on Tasuki's forehead. "I don't think I've ever seen a case as bad as yours... it hit you pretty hard. Apparently pretty quickly too. If it makes you feel any better, Tamahome, Mitsukake, and Saori got it too, but they look quite healthy compared to you. Mitsukake will have to heal himself before taking care of you." She picked up a smaller bowl from the tray. "Can you sit up?"
Tasuki pushed his hands against the mattress and boosted himself up a little, his face clearly showing his discomfort. His cheeks were tinted pink from the fever. However, Tasuki managed to sit up a little.
"You can go back to sleep if you want to." Inami sighed. "Here, this should help some." She slowly placed the bowl of soup in Tasuki's hands, making sure he had a grip on it before letting go. "Don't ask what's in it until after you eat it though..."
Tasuki tried to say something, but he couldn't. His eyes looked really tired, but he seemed to handle himself fairly well... for a sick person.
Hotohori opened a wooden door and entered another guest room. The room was decorated with more of a red and pink feeling. In the corner on a bed was a ball covered in a mess of covers, coughing every now and then.
Hotohori walked in with a bowl in his hands. "Saori, are you feeling all right?"
Saori replied with a hoarse cough.
Hotohori put the soup on a dresser and sat at the edge of the bed. "If you're feeling well enough, you should eat something. Inami informed me that you'll get nausea as well if you have the Kyuunetsu on an empty stomach."
Slowly the covers lifted, revealing a red-nosed, mussy haired Saori. "Arigatou, Hotohori-sama." She said in a slightly awkward voice. "I really appreciate it." Saori covered her mouth and cough a little.
"It's quite all right." Hotohori answered, handing the bowl of chunky soup to Saori. Saori took the spoon and slowly lifted some to her lips, taking her time to chew and slowly swallow, taking a deep breath afterwards as if she couldn't breathe while eating. "I don't think I've ever gotten sick so fast before." Saori looked into the bowl. "This stuff isn't too bad, what's in it?"
Hotohori smiled. "Inami told me it was in everyone's best interest not to tell you."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hotohori, the emperor of Konan, stood before the Hokkan emperor, who sat in a throne before him. Inami was in the room as well, farther to the side, standing quietly.
The Hokkan emperor was in his mid-thirties. He was built fairly well and was a tall man, with short black hair and a black mustache. He was dressed in thick, layered imperial robes, the outer being light blue with a darker center. Patterns of gold embroidery were perfectly stitched in detail on every inch of fabric.
Hotohori bowed. "I have momentarily left Konan for the time being, leaving my son in charge there. We seek the Shinzaho, and since I am among the Suzaku Seven, it is also my duty to stay with the priestess on this journey. We know the shinzaho is somewhere here in Hokkan. I thank you greatly for your hospitality, not only in our short stay here, but in the feuds with Kutou as well."
The Hokkan emperor chuckled slightly. "Hotohori, if you will allow me to use that name, I understand perfectly well, there is no need to explain. I remember the tales my great great grandfather passed down of the Genbu seven over 200 years ago. I myself was here when our mountains still held the shinzaho of Genbu's priestess. I hope to do what I can to make your journey easier. This certainly is an unusual happening." The emperor had a strong, masculine voice.
Hotohori bowed again. "Thank you very much. We will try to make our stay short. We'll be leaving as soon as the others of my company have recovered from their illnesses."
The Hokkan emperor nodded. "Perhaps Akue would be willing to help you in your quest, since you all ready know about her." He looked over to the young girl.
Inami looked up. "If it is what you wish, Sire."
"It is your choice."
Inami nodded. She looked towards Hotohori. "I will attend with your group if you desire my help, Highness."
Hotohori nodded his appreciation.
"The Hokkan palace is so much bigger than the Konan palace." Miaka told Tamahome as she entered his room.
"Hokkan is a big country." Tamahome replied, a little stuffy. His condition seemed to be the lightest, and he was recovering pretty quickly.
Miaka smiled. "Not that I'm glad everyone is sick, but I'm really glad I got to see it. It's absolutely gorgeous. Do you think Inami lives here?"
Tamahome shrugged. "But I am glad that I got to see it too."
Miaka laughed. "Most of all you've seen is this room."
"Hey!" Tamahome objected, stirring a spoon around in a bowl of soup. "I walked here, didn't I?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chichiri, who was helping to prepare for their leave the next day, slowly walked the expansive halls of the Hokkan palace. The ceilings were very high, and most of the walls were made from marble. Every window had a curtain, their colors changing with every new corridor. The border of every large window was done in spectacular stained glass, everything from a rose in the sunset to a full moon shadowing wolves.
Chichiri came upon two large double doors which he supposed to be the library... or at least one of them. A magistrate had suggested looking there for Inami, who would help him with any mapping or other things he needed.
He slowly opened the door, letting himself in. The walls were covered with immense shelves full of all kinds of literature, barely a space empty. As suspected, at the rear of the room by a large window, Inami sat on the built in bench, looking at the view of the capitol city. However, she didn't seem to have a very happy expression on her face.
Chichiri tilted his head. "Inami, are you okay, no da?"
Inami sighed, not looking away from the window. "The long with held treasure at peace, its guardians ascend into the sky." She said quietly, as if talking to herself. "Then it shall be that a deceased warrior shall rise again and protect the land." Inami turned to look at the magician, her eyes a little watery. "You see, Chichiri? My coming here was prophesized from the very beginning, I remember hearing it myself 200 years ago. So this..." Inami looked back out the window, "This is my duty." Inami paused, then spoke again a little quieter. "Reborn in a world not how it used to be. Family... friends... even my emperor are generations passed." Inami sighed and turned towards Chichiri. "I'm sorry Chichiri, Kakuni will help you with anything you need. I think I would like to be left alone right now."
Understandably, Chichiri nodded and left the room, quietly closing the door behind him.
Inami looked back onto the city, then redirected her view to the bright sky. "Hikitsu..." she whispered, "Am I being selfish?"
*****************************************
Yui adjusted herself from atop Tetsuya's bed, Hikari laying playfully next to her, shaking a star-shaped plush toy in her tiny hands. Yui lightly tickled Hikari's stomach with her fingernails as she read the Chinese passages appearing on the page before her.
"Eventually Inami emerged from her solemn spot in the library and began making preparations for leave with a smile on her face..." Yui sighed. "Strange girl." She remarked. "The Priestess of Suzaku tended to her friends, Tamahome making a smooth recovery. The girl from the other world, Saori Kawai, regained her strength after four days with just a small cough to wear off. Mitsukake regained his composure as well, but it would take a while for him to be in better health before he could use his powers without making him sicker. However, the group of travelers were held back by the mountain bandit's illness. Inami came to him every day, making sure his fever was down and he had plenty to eat for a steady recovery, never once bickering as before. The Suzaku no Miko worried terribly over the ailments of her friend, continuously updating the sick man on events that passed."
Hikari cooed lightly and Yui smiled. Her best friend all ready had a child, and she was technically still single. Of course, perhaps if she had fallen in love with someone in the book it would have been different.
Yui petted the top of Hikari's head. She was beginning to get an auburn tint in her hair, though it wasn't as red as her mothers. Yui snapped herself out of another sidetrack and turned to the anxiously awaiting book.
"Tasuki wanted to leave after six days, but was convinced by members of his group that he was still too ill. Luckily his fever had left, and he was dealing with congestion. They prayed that he would heal in time whether naturally or by Mitsukake's slowly recharging powers before it reached his lungs. If that happened, the party would be forced to leave without him."
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"This stuff is really gettin' old, no offense." Tasuki said as he forced down another spoonful of the mysterious soup.
"Well, eat it anyway. It'll help you get better faster. From what I heard, you're all having another race with Seiryu." Inami said, finishing folding a navy blue shirt. She placed in on top of a folded pair of black pants and a dark green robe. She took a nearly empty clothing basket off the larger dresser and placed it under her arm. "These are for when everyone is ready for departure, they'll be warmer than your other clothes." Inami looked into the basket. "Looks like I have to deliver to Chiriko now, I'll be back for your dishes." Without another word, Inami left. There was a bit of a remaining awkward feeling between the bandit and the ambassador, and Inami generally didn't leave much room for chitchat.
Luckily Mitsukake seemed fully regenerated the next day. Tasuki's recovery was coming along, but he could still use help. In the late morning Mistukake came in and use his healing power on Tasuki, who immediately felt as right as rain.
"Awesome! I forgot I could breathe like this!" Tasuki shouted.
Miaka laughed. "You're so silly Tasuki."
"Now that everyone seems to be better, I do believe we should get started. We are vastly behind schedule, and we cannot allow the Seiryu seven to summon their beast god." Hotohori advised.
Chichiri nodded. "For all the time Tasuki bought us, we have all the preparations made, no da."
Tasuki made a face. "Did you just insult me?"
So by early afternoon, everyone was saddled up, all in a different color of wool robe the emperor so graciously provided. Miaka and Saori even wore the hats.
Inami ran out from the palace walls in her own robe, her hair down in a fancy half-back like always, two blue chopsticks running diagonally on either side. Around her waste was a leather belt with a narrow pouch on the left, which was filled with something that took up all of the interior. Inami grabbed onto a reign of the horse and swung on.
"You're heading north, right?" She asked.
Chichiri nodded. "We should get as far as possible while the sun is high, then find an inn to rest and plan, no da."
Inami nodded, she turned towards Hotohori. "May I suggest heading through Nanibi, Highness? It's a city northwest from the capitol, about 15 miles from here."
Hotohori nodded. "That would be a good place to start."
More author's notes: Gah. That chapter wasn't too bad, but my own "technically created" character gets so much on my nerves. I want to shoot her.
Well, I got some more brainstorming ideas for my sequel, hopefully to be started in January. (My goal is to finish this fic by 2004.) I tell you one thing, a certain -Chiriko- is going to rock my world!
Any comments, suggestions, or questions, please send in a review! Thank you to all my faithful readers!