Lonely Angel
Disclaimer: I do not own any bit of this story, Fushigi Yugi belongs to Yuu Watase, and Harry Potter/Hogwarts belongs to J.K. Rowling and Warner Bros.
Author's Note: Well, my rough draft is now a monstrous 63 pages. I think I need more road blocks along the journey, though. I think Nozomi and the others are having far too easy of a time collecting warriors. What do you readers think about introducing Nakago far earlier than anticipated? (insert evil laugh of choice here) I also tried putting thoughts in italics. Let me know if this makes it easier for you.
Take Charge, Nozomi!
Quietly, Tamahome slipped into Nozomi's room, hoping not to disturb her if she was asleep. He didn't need to bother, however, as Nozomi had been waiting for him to come back. Opening her eyes, she asked in an utterly calm voice, "Did you have fun in the marketplace?"
Laughing a little Tamahome replied, "Well, until I got worried about you, then yes, I did have a good time in the market."
"I'm sorry I made you worry Tamahome. I'm assuming Hotohori told you why I haven't said anything about what happened out there."
"Yes, he said you promised someone you wouldn't tell. I want to know why." Tamahome looked earnestly into Nozomi's eyes, a serious look residing there.
Just as seriously, Nozomi looked in his eyes and said, "I knew this person would be embarrassed, so I promised that I wouldn't let anyone know. But, I have also promised Hotohori that I won't go out into the city ever again without an escort, and not at all while I'm injured. Does that help with your worrying?"
"Yeah, it does a little." Tamahome still didn't seem quite satisfied though, so Nozomi decided to change the subject.
"Tamahome, thank you for worrying. I'm sorry I made you worry, but it was sweet of you to worry about someone you just met three days ago."
Shrugging off the compliment, Tamahome huffed. "I am supposed to protect you, after all."
Smiling at him, Nozomi insisted that didn't mean he had to. She also offered him some of her money from the magical world. She figured that even though it wasn't money generally used here, it was gold, and therefore probably of some value. Eagerly, Tamahome accepted. He could sell it for an outlandish price, why wouldn't he?
After that, Nozomi and Tamahome had a lovely little chat, until Nozomi was so tired and worn out from the pain that she physically couldn't say awake any longer. She told him about the writing on the Galleon she had given him, told him a little about life in Japan compared to life in England, and demonstrated to him the power of her Discman. He was quite fascinated with it, and tried to steal it, though came back when Nozomi good naturedly threatened to disembowel him if he didn't give it back.
True to her word, Nozomi wandered around the palace grounds with the aid of her crutches, and never again tried to set foot in the city while her leg was still healing. Quite often, she would sit down on the soft grass surrounding a lake in one of the gardens. It was a lovely spot to think and be alone.
'Of course, I'm not always alone on these walks' Nozomi thought. 'Nuriko usually joins me on my strolls through the gardens. He always makes fun of me, but now it's more like the teasing I'd get from an older sibling.' Something had changed behind the insults, and it made Nozomi very happy.
The first time Nuriko insulted her after their alleyway adventure; Nozomi lit up and gave Nuriko a bear hug, declaring, "You do love me!" To which Nuriko responded with another insult, something about Nozomi's lack of intelligence. Nozomi just snuck in beside Nuriko and laughed, preparing for a lovely little walk. That memory made Nozomi laugh under her breath. 'I'm sure smiling a lot more these days. Rose would be proud of me.'
'I see Hotohori a lot as well, never for very long, though. I think his advisors get frustrated with it, actually. They can hardly blame him for wanting some time to himself; they pester him night and day. Either that or they don't approve of me as a companion. Maybe they think I'll be a bad influence.' Again Nozomi let out a small laugh. 'They're probably right, considering what I have planned in case they make a fuss about him coming with us when we find the rest of the warriors. But I will not let them cheat him of something he wants so badly.'
Speaking of Hotohori, she could see him coming now. Since he was glancing back over his shoulder, she figured he was making a real effort to avoid his advisors. "It's safe. I haven't seen anyone around here except a random maid 15 minutes ago."
"Oh, Nozomi, I didn't know you were here. I'm sorry if I'm disturbing you."
"Not at all. I just like being outside. You're more than welcome to join me anytime."
"I thought Tamahome would be with you, one of the guards said you were together."
"That was this morning. He left right after lunch. He never stays around the palace long. He's usually out in the city, looking for ways to make money, or on some personal business of his own. I asked him one time why he was gone so much,but he just gave me some lecture on how money's important. Eventually I'm going to have to satisfy my curiosity, but for now I'll accept the fact that Tamahome doesn't want to tell me." 'He's another big brother figure, though I'd never tell him that. He might get a big head.'
"So what have you been thinking about?"
"Huh?"
"You were obviously thinking something very pleasant when I came up. I was just wondering what it was. You don't have to tell me, of course. I was just curious."
"I was just thinking about this world. It's very strange, but in only a few days here, I feel more at home than I did after 18 years in my world."
"Your Majesty!"
Both Nozomi and Hotohori internally swore. They'd found him. Nozomi gave Hotohori a sympathetic smile. "I'd suggest escaping through the lake, but I'm afraid that when my leg is broken, so is my tail. Sorry."
"It's not your fault. But thank you for the thought."
"No problem. And there's always next time, eh?"
Hotohori smiled at her. "Yes, there's always next time."
"Your Majesty, you really shouldn't run off like this. You need to sign some of these new papers…"
Nozomi watched as poor Hotohori was almost literally drug back to his position at the palace by an over zealous advisor. 'Keh. More like drill sergeant. Who wants to work all day? Hotohori needs a break from those clowns.' As she sat there, staring at the tranquil lake, she tried to concentrate on anything but the feeling of emptiness that always came when Hotohori left.
She tried not to think about that feeling too much, but when she was bed-ridden most of the time, and trapped within the palace grounds, it was hard not to dwell on it. And due to Nuriko's more than obvious feelings, Nozomi definitely did not want to think about what his eyes did to her heart and stomach. She was far too afraid of what she might find there.
In spite of all that, however, she found herself wishing for his company more and more. Tamahome and Nuriko were great, and she always enjoyed herself when she was with them, but she never felt the need for their presence like she did Hotohori's.
She wouldn't admit, even to herself, that she sat by that particular lake because it was close to his quarters. When Nuriko confronted her about it, she faked ignorance.
When she was well enough to sit up instead of lay down all day, she stayed with Hotohori while he worked, just enjoying being in the same room. Sometimes she read the books she had obtained from the library, now profusely glad she had gotten three, and sometimes she would just lean back and watch his features change expression every few minutes, in response to whatever proposal he was reading.
Finally, she was healed enough for even Hotohori to agree that she could commence looking for the remaining four warriors. When she was informed of this, Nozomi was ecstatic. "Great! When do we leave?" She asked with a huge smile on her face.
Hotohori smiled at her enthusiasm. She had such energy now. When she first came, it was as if she was hiding her emotions from the world, or just afraid to get close to anyone. Now, she was like a small child on her birthday. The change was amazing, and he loved every bit of it, every bit of her.
He had tried to tell her that for the past few weeks while she was healing, but every time, without fail, someone would interrupt. Usually it was one of his ever present advisors, but occasionally it had been Nuriko or Tamahome. Normally he would have let them know that they were not welcome at that particular time, as much as he liked his fellow warriors, but Nozomi took whole hearted pleasure in their company as well as his.
"We set out tomorrow morning, so get anything you need ready." He answered with a smile.
"Excuse me, your Majesty." An advisor came forward. "What do you mean 'we'? Surely you are not thinking of accompanying them? Konan needs you."
Before Hotohori could respond, Nozomi stepped in. "Yes, Konan does need him." Hotohori stared at her in shock, how could she wish him to remain behind after all those talks they had? "But right now they need him more as one of the seven legendary warriors than they do as an emperor. Surely you are capable of doing without him for a few weeks?"
"But…Miko-sama…we're in the middle of a war with Kutou, we need our emperor to make the decisions."
Nozomi tried extremely hard not to visibly sigh. "What is your name, sir?" she asked with the utmost politeness her grandpa had taught her all those years ago. You do catch more flies with honey than vinegar, after all.
"Tong Shen-tian, Miko-sama." The advisor was clearly nervous at being addressed by the woman of legend. Nozomi continued to be extra polite, though it did not help diminish the advisor's nervousness.
"Well Tong Shen-tian, you seem like a highly intelligent young man. Don't you agree then, that even though Hotohori has his duties to Konan as emperor, he also has a duty to them as a chosen warrior of Suzaku?"
"Yes, that is true." He was still nervous, and it was clear as a bell.
"He has been performing his duties as emperor without fail for four years now. Now the time has come for him to perform his other duties. However, if you keep insisting that he needs to stay here, he will feel obligated to. The quicker we find the rest of the warriors, the sooner we can summon Suzaku, and the more warriors I have by my side, the fewer impediments there will be to that goal. If you think about it, they are really two means to the same end. I truly believe that if Hotohori comes with me, the war will be over sooner than if he stays behind, and then no one will have to make those crucial decisions you want him to stay to make. Don't you agree?"
"That does make sense, Miko-sama, but what happens if Kutou attacks while his Highness is gone?"
"Who makes the decisions if Hotohori is sick?"
"No one, Miko-sama. We wait until his Highness is better."
By this point Nozomi was getting a headache. Forget what she said about this guy being intelligent. Suddenly she had an idea. She had used this with the one friend she made at Hogwarts after she moved to Japan. It just might work here. "In that case, I have an idea. My magic can help in this situation. Will someone bring me two identical mirrors? Preferably small, hand-held ones?" One of the maids rushed off to fulfill this request.
"What are you going to do, Miko-sama?" Tong Shen-tian asked, still exceptionally nervous.
"If you had a method of immediately contacting Hotohori when there was an emergency, would you let him go?" Nozomi asked earnestly.
"I suppose that would be acceptable, why?"
Nozomi was prevented from replying by the maid that came rushing into the room with the mirrors she requested. After thanking the slightly breathless young lady, Nozomi set the two mirrors on a table. They would work perfectly. They were small enough to slip inside a pocket, perfectly round, and perfectly identical.
Taking her wand out, Nozomi slowly tapped each mirror with the tip, took a small step back, and spoke the incantation, "ambo speculum epistula". Briefly, the two mirrors glowed with a white-blue light, and then looked like normal, everyday mirrors again. Satisfied, Nozomi handed one of them to the still nervous advisor. "Keep that with you, and if there is an emergency that you need Hotohori for, look into this mirror, and say my name."
"Why your name, Miko-sama?"
Nozomi gave a slightly impish grin. "Because you're going to have to convince me that it's an emergency first." Nozomi pocketed her mirror, turned her back on Shen-tian and walked regally out the door. Everyone looked after her, rather confused, except one.
Hotohori could barely contain his excitement, and only years of practice kept his face in a neutral expression. He was going with her! He could finally leave the castle and be a normal person for the first time in his life. What's more, he was going with the full blessing of his advisors, with no need to feel guilty about abandoning his place at the throne. Smiling inwardly, he thought that with Nozomi on his side, he would still be going, even if his advisors objected. She certainly was determined, and he loved it.