The Secret of the Destiny

Chapter Four: Hotohori…as Rei

Now, let's go to Emperor Saihitei Seishuku's palace…

"Would you please put this bandage around my neck," Hotohori commanded the servant.

"What for, Your Highness?" she asked.

"I just want to cover my character," he answered.

"Sire, the ship is now ready for sailing," one of the advisers said.

-----

The emperor is going to visit every town of his empire. He's going to check what the improvements are in each town. He already visited all except for the town of Saama, which is located in the smallest island in the Konan Empire.

Well, Saama is Miaka's town…

…After some hours of sailing…

"Pirates! I can see ships of pirates!" one of the sailors shouted.

Pirates came and attacked their ship. Soldiers protected the emperor. Many of the Konan soldiers died. Alas, bombs struck the ship. One of them hit the exact place where the emperor was…

…Miaka's town after three days…

"Calling the attention of all people!" a man shouted. He's the town leader. Miaka and Tamahome went to the town square where the town leader is. Every person in the town was there. "I received an important news from the capital," the town leader said as he unrolls a scroll. "Our Emperor, Honorable Saihitei Seishuku is missing. Three days ago, as he was sailing to our island, pirates attacked their ship. His body wasn't found yet and they suspected that his body was swept by waves somewhere around our island. So my dear people please cooperate in our search for our beloved emperor." The town leader rolled back the scroll. "That's all you may all go back and do your stuff," he said.

"Hotohori, it can't be!" Miaka exclaimed as tears poured down from her cheeks.

Tamahome stood surprised. He knew that the emperor is also a senshi like him and sometimes called Hotohori. He held a comforting hand on Miaka's shoulder. "Why are you crying? That man doesn't care about us anyway. He never visited us. He's not a good emperor. It would even be better if we'll find him dead," Tamahome said.

Miaka looked at him with anguish. She pushed away his arm from her shoulder. "You can say that because you don't know him," Miaka said then she walked away.

"Hey, what's the big idea?" Tamahome asked as he chased Miaka.

Miaka ran as fast as she could. After a few minutes, Tamahome was already out of sight. Miaka stopped to gasp some air. She walked along the shore as she stared on the blank horizon. After some minutes of walking, she stumbled upon something hard.

"Ouch! What the hell is this rock doing here?" Miaka exclaimed as she regained her balance. She stared at the rock. Well, it wasn't a rock. It's-it's a-"A person!" Miaka exclaimed.

The person has a long black hair. Of course, Miaka thought it was a woman.

"Miss, please wake up!" Miaka shook the person. The person was lying on his/her chest. Miaka turned him/her around. To her astonishment, it was a man. (Did you guess it right? It's Hotohori!!!)

"You're so handsome…like Hotohori," Miaka thought. The man has a bandage around his neck. As Miaka tried to pull the bandage, someone called her name.

"Miaka, there you are! I've been looking all over for you," Tamahome scolded. Upon noticing the man, he raised an eyebrow. "Who the hell is that?" he asked.

"I don't know. Please help me carry him to our house. He's still alive. I can feel his heartbeat," Miaka ordered.

Together, they carried the man to the Yuuki household.

…Yuuki household…

Mrs. Yuuki was sleeping when they arrived. They walked quietly to Miaka's room.

"What are you doing?" Mrs. Yuuki asked as she placed her hands on her waist.

"Mom, we found this man on the shore and I'm afraid he's not from here. He's got a high fever," Miaka explained.

They took care of the man for a week. After a week, his fever died down. He woke up already.

"Uh, where am I?" the man asked as he stared at one face to another, from Mrs. Yuuki's to Miaka's. He slowly sat up.

"Don't worry. You're in good hands," Miaka said. "Who're you anyway?" she added.

"I can't tell them who I really am. What if they're like those bandits and criminals around? I really can't tell them I'm the emperor," the man thought.

"Don't tell me you're the emperor? Miaka asked as she prayed that he'll be her brother she missed the most.

"I-I'm not. My name is-is R-Rei, a Konan soldier," he/Hotohori said. "How about you?" he asked.

"Should I tell him I'm Miaka? He's a Konan soldier and he might bring me back to the palace. I can't leave my mom now. Maybe I shouldn't tell him who I really am," Miaka thought.

"I'm-I'm Mi-Mi-Miki. That's right, Miki," Miaka answered. Her mom looked at her with suspicion. She stared at Miaka's eyes. She understood what Miaka wants to say-that they shouldn't trust too quickly a stranger.

"I'm her mom," she said.

Hotohori (or Rei) and Miaka (or Miki) became good friends. Miaka now paid more attention to the stranger. Wherever she goes, she brings Hotohori with her. They never part. Tamahome noticed this, and whenever she sees Miaka with Hotohori, he gets jealous. One time he visited Miaka at home. Upon seeing him, Miaka grabbed his hand and they went somewhere far away.

"From now on, please address me as Miki," Miaka said, "Especially when Rei is around."

"Rei, that stranger? Why don't you tell him who you really are?" Tamahome asked, puzzled.

"I should've told you everything already but I'm afraid you might spill the beans," Miaka said.

"What're you talking about?" Tamahome asked, getting more confused.

Miaka told him everything about her past including Rei was a Konan soldier.

"I see," Tamahome replied, "for as long as I'm around, no one can take you away." Tamahome hugged Miaka. "Anyway, why did you choose the name Miki?"

"As you can see, my name is Miaka with the first syllable Mi and then I got ki from my surname Yuuki."

"You always invent names that way."

"What's wrong with that?"

"There you are, Miki," a voice said. As they whirled around, they saw Hotohori.

"Rei, how long have you been there?" Miaka asked.

"Oh, don't worry. I didn't hear anything. I just arrived. But I did see everything," he said as his gaze pointed to Tamahome who was hugging Miaka.

They immediately separated.

"That's nothing," Miaka said.

…The next day…

Miaka called Hotohori to her room. She was getting more fond and interested with the man each ay. She decided to put up a little talk.

"Rei, why don't you tell me something about you?" Miaka asked.

"Well, I'm a secretive person. I don't normally want to unravel any secret," he answered.

"But telling me something about you wouldn't matter, I guess,"

"Okay, I'll tell you something. There was this very special girl who became a part of my life. Since we were young, we've always been together; through thick and thin. We never left each other. Until one day, she left me alone in the midst of nowhere. I was so depressed when she left me. I can't blame her. She was too young. She was three years younger than me…she can't understand some things that are important to me."

"You know, you remind me of someone. Like you, I also had a special person in my life. He's very special to me; I don't want to leave him. I even chose him instead of my real family. But then, something happened and I really have to leave him. I was very sad then and I know he is too. I wished I never left him. I missed him so much. And what a coincidence, he's three years older than me."

"What's his name anyway?"

"His name is-" Miaka stopped for she heard someone call her. "Wait a sec, I'll go back later," she said.

"Miki, why didn't you go out immediately?" it was Tamahome.

"I was talking to Rei. What's the big idea anyways?" she replied.

"Do you remember Taka? I plan to get him from the farm again. Dogs grow fast you know. By this time, he can already eat by himself."

"Oh Taka, I missed him already. Wait, I'll just get Rei so we can all go together."

Tamahome frowned. "Yeah right," he said. He can't disagree with Miaka. Miaka immediately went inside their house and grabbed Hotohori out. She told him everything about Taka and their plan to get him back.

"Tamahome might not like the idea," Hotohori objected. "I don't want to spoil your precious time together."

"Nah, he can't resist me," Miaka chuckled. "Please Rei, for me." Miaka pleaded.

Tamahome stared at him with hatred. "Don't you dare!" he thought as he clenched his fist. He always feels jealous whenever Rei is around. He didn't like the guy, nor did he like the way Miaka treat him.

"No problem, is it okay Tamahome?" Hotohori asked.

"Sure," he said with a smile as an evil plan came forming in his mind.

For Evil Phoebe:

Here let me explain to you some things…

First of all, Miaka and Hotohori are not really siblings in my story. Some years ago, Mr. Yuuki, Miaka's father, had a debt to the emperor. He wasn't from a rich family so he was not able to pay for it. As payment, he gave his daughter, Miaka, to the emperor. When Miaka was six years old, she discovered the truth that she is not really Hotohori's sister. That's why she ran away. There, now do you understand? Anyway, thanks for informing me that you didn't understand…sorry if you didn't understand…maybe it was my fault…

Sorry for the looooooooong delay!!! I had some phone line problems which I have to fix first so I wasn't able to update earlier. That's all…did you like Hotohori's name? I can't think of anything better. I just want to make this clear: Hotohori doesn't have amnesia…he just doesn't want to reveal his identity. The people of Miaka's town don't know him yet. They just know him by his name and they haven't seen him personally. About the Saama thing, if you know something, someplace, or someone with that kind of name just ignore it. I'm not an expert in foreign languages you know. Anyway, I plan to make the other chapters somewhat funny. To all the reviewers, THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!! This is actually the very first time I ever thanked my reviewers…that's if you didn't read my bio… For all Hotohori fans don't worry, I'll take care of Hotohori and I'll make sure Tamahome won't do the least thing to him…I can always kill him you know! (Just kidding…I won't kill anyone here… this time I'll be gentle). Wondrin' bout Keisuke? Well, he has his job and goes to a faraway island where he stays to work for three months. After three months, he goes back to stay with his family for a month then goes back to his work. Right now, he's doing his job so he's not in the scene. Anyways please review!!!