Silly me, I didn't write anything on my first chapter of this. ;; Oh well. I'll write here instead.

I love writing angst, but I also love full- why isn't there a "fluff" category on this site! Anyway, I have a chapter for all of the Suzaku characters. I was originally going to write this as a doujinishi (which was looking ADORABLE so far), but that got scraped.

So here's the Hotohori chapter.

I got up early to try on the robes I'd be wearing in my future government position (provided I pass the exams, of course). Not only were they a little too big for me, but they were also really heavy. My shoulders slumped downward and threatened to the rest of me with them, so I had to carry my sleeves everywhere it I went. It made me look pretty silly, but my only other option was to collapse under them. I stood and waited by the older men serving in the court, trying to hold my head up as high as they were as we waited for Hotohori, His Majesty. The room was silent for at least ten minutes as we stood, and I admit I began to nod off. However, as soon as he finally entered the room, everyone around me suddenly broke the silence. In loud, deep voices they all greeted him in unison, and I was startled enough to nearly fly out of my robes.

He greeted them formally, and they took their seats as he did. I struggled to pick my giant sleeves back up and get to my appointed seat, embarrassed enough already. He noticed and dropped all formalities as he came to me. "Having a little trouble in your first day?" asked, as the sun peaked through the windows and light up his face and made it even more beautiful than normal. If I didn't know better, I'd think he planned that. "We'll have to get those refitted for you before you actually start working."

Too embarrassed to say anything, I avoided eye contact and nodded, and struggled to my seat as fast as I could. He immediately went back to addressing everyone else in a regal manner. It was apparent that he didn't see me as someone who had an important reason to be there. While it's true, I'm still only a student and haven't officially become an official yet, that doesn't mean I can't be as valuable as everyone else there. I managed to keep myself from getting upset, and thought it'd be better for me to try to act like everyone else was and include myself.

At every other pause in the discussion, I'd open my mouth to say something, but would be interrupted right away. The next times I'd would try speaking louder. I had some good things to say, too, but thought them out so precisely that by the time I as ready, they were on a different train of thought. At last, after all my attempts, I was able to speak up loud enough (and quickly enough) to hold everyone's attention, but by that time, I was so focused on just getting my chance in the spot light that I forgot what I was going to say. I let my mouth hang open for a minute before saying quietly "I agree." The officials there, as well as Hotohori, began to chuckle at my expense. I was feeling mortified. Maybe the court really wasn't the place for a child. Even if I did have something good to say then, it's not likely that they would have taken me seriously.

After that, I stopped trying to say anything, and stopped following the conversation altogether, just hoping for a recess. Or better yet, for the entire discussion to end for the day. I did my best to look interested until the meeting was finally brought to close, and I made my escape as fast and quietly as I could. I probably could have been even faster and even quieter if I wasn't lugging around those robes. I looked around quickly for a secluded place to just sit and cry for a few minutes before going all the way back to my quarters. I spotted the gazebo and made my way over there. Just when I was about to let my weaker side let loose and sob, a familiar voice rang out behind me.

"Chiriko!" Hotohori said. He had been running just a little, apparently to keep up with me. "Are you alright?"

Choking back my tears, I forced myself to nod and smile. "I'm fine, Your Highness."

His face grew stern. "Chiriko," he said authoritatively, "You and I are both warriors of Suzaku. Please don't trouble yourself with formalities. Call me Hotohori."

I only nodded. He was trying to treat me more like a little brother than a member of his court. Just because I'm young doesn't mean everyone has to treat me differently.

"You seemed like you were in a hurry to get out of there," he said. "Is there a reason you couldn't wait to leave with everyone else?"

I opened my mouth to think of some excuse, but no words out, and I found myself only choking on tears. They started to fall from my eyes, and without a second thought I started using my giant sleeves to wipe them away. It was obvious I was crying anyway, and Hotohori would had to have been a fool to miss it. He grew more concerned as I started hiccupping back the rest of my tears. I don't know what he was thinking at the time, but he then leaned over and draped his arms around my shoulders tightly.

"There, there," he said. "Please tell me what's going on." My stomach churned in embarrassment. My situation had gone from bad to worse, as I was now the charity-case- child being comforted by the gentle and loving emperor of Konan. The very same emperor who I was come to work alongside professionally. This was exactly the opposite of proving my worth like I had hoped.

About half an hour later, we found ourselves just sitting quietly at the edge of the gazebo, and for some reason had stripped our feet bare and had them wading in the water. People on the edge of the lake who saw us probably had no idea what to think of that.

"I'm sorry," he said, in less of a big-brother tone than he had before. "It seems I made your problem even worse."

Not being able to hold a grudge against the emperor, I shook my head. "It's not your fault. I…" I paused and reflected on my situation. "…I'll grow up eventually."

He chuckled a little. "You think that's your problem?" I furrowed my eyebrows and looked back at him. "Age isn't something that can tie you down. Not unless you let it do that. Your problem, Chiriko, is your attitude."

I had to let that sink in for a moment, so he continued in a suave voice. "I'm sorry. If 'Chiriko' is too personal for you, I'll call you Ou Dokun."

"No, no!" struggled I, flustered as ever. "W…we're both Suzaku warriors after all."

Laughing a bit without opening his mouth, looked back and replied, "That's more like it. If you'll let me, I'll use that relationship to help you prepare for your next appearance in court."

An unforced smile hit my face as I nodded in agreement. I wasn't sure what he could teach me, though. But it's not like I was in any position to refuse the emperor. He wiggled his toes a little in the water as a koi fish swam by, and began his lecture. "When I first took my position of emperor, I was still very young. However, I didn't have the option of acting shy and hiding behind my lack of age. The people of Konan need people to lead them, and that weight was on my shoulders. Unfortunately, I wasn't a genius, like you."

I blushed at the reference. "Was it difficult?"

"Not at all," he said with the easiest of grins. "I had my officials there to aid and guide me in my decisions. I get the final say, of course, but there are plenty of times I would have made terrible choices without their help. Each one of them also brings great leadership qualities to the court, and are responsible for the well-being of Konan."

"I don't know that I have those qual--"

"Of course you have those qualities of a leader, Chiriko!" he raised his voice and looked me straight in the eye. "You just don't have the confidence to use them to your full potential!"

He was too intimidating to look at face to face, so my gaze slid down to my submerged foot. "That really all depends on my character appearing, Your Hi---Hotohori."

"Then maybe it's your lack of confidence that keeps it from appearing," he continued, sounding a little irritated with my attitude. "Fear is the only thing that will hold you back. What do you have to be afraid of in the court?" I didn't answer right away, so this gave him time to quiet down and think of something more encouraging to say. "If your worried about embarrassing yourself, don't be. Just last week I fell asleep right in the middle of one of our meetings. Everyone spent the rest of the meeting scolding me for it, even though those old men nod off at every other meeting!"

The mental image of Hotohori dozing off while at court made me laugh, just as he had hoped. Laughing certainly does have a way of easing things of your mind, and bringing you back into a good mood. The water light up a little as my foot began to glow once again with my character. The emperor noticed as well, and decided to bring our somewhat fruitful conversation to a close. "That character that marks you as one of the Suzaku warriors is going to put you through much greater challenges at just an official meeting. I hope that you'll learn how to overcome your fears while you travel with the others to find the Shinzaho."

"Thank you, Hotohori," I smiled as I kicked some water off my toes. "I'll do my best."

"You better," he replied and slipped his wet feet back into his shoes. "Try hard enough for the both of us. I'll be the one still stuck at court."

I'm grateful for the time I was able to spend with Hotohori as a Suzaku warrior and not just as a child. With his help, maybe I will be able to raise my confidence. Hopefully we will be successful in our coming journey, so I can look forward to many days in court working along side him.

Next is… Tamahome or Tasuki, I think. Get out your umbrellas, folks, it's raining fluff.