Chapter Five: Want some milk?
"Are you sure Tamahome? You wouldn't mind if I go along?" Hotohori asked, still cannot believe what Tamahome had just said.
"Sure. Like what they say, the more the merrier, right?" Tamahome answered, with a wide grin on his face.
Hotohori still doesn't believe him but he thinks Miaka would be disappointed if he refuses. He stared at Tamahome's face to have a clue to what he is thinking but his face was a complete mask. Then he stared at Miaka who was smiling at Tamahome's reply.
"Suzaku, please guide me. Don't let this man do whatever his evil plan is," Hotohori prayed. "Well I guess I don't have any choice but to agree, right?" he said with a smile.
"Terrific!" Miaka yelled gleefully.
"Let's see if you could still smile like that after this day," Tamahome thought evilly as he stared at Hotohori.
At the farm…
"Uncle, there he is!" Chuei yelled as he ran toward his brother. Shunkei and Gyokuran came running after him. Tamahome and Miaka also ran to meet them. Hotohori just stayed at a distance, feeling left out.
"'Mia-chan!" Yuiren yelled happily. Miaka went to her and hugged her. Yuiren was Miaka's favorite. It was at that time when Miaka finally realized that she and Tamahome left Hotohori there…somewhere…
"Rei? Where is Rei? Tamahome have you seen him?" Miaka asked, getting worried.
"So that's how you milk cows?" Hotohori asked to Tamahome's uncle although he doesn't know he's Tamahome's uncle.
"Yes." Tamahome's uncle answered.
"You press that-that"
"That breast? Yes, you press that and then you pull it so that the milk will come out. Here, try it."
"Me?"
"Yes."
"Well, wish me luck. I hope I do it right."
"So you're a friend of Tamahome?" Tamahome's uncle asked.
"Not really, more of Miki's," Hotohori answered. He was a fast-learner and soon he was able to fill a small pail.
"Miki? I don't know any friend of Tamahome whose name is Miki. Maybe you're referring to Miaka," Tamahome's uncle answered.
Hotohori was bewildered. "Miaka? Did you just say Miaka?" he asked.
"Why, yes. She's that girl there with Yuiren," he answered as he pointed to Miaka.
"I don't understand, she said her name was Miki," Hotohori said.
"There you are Mister Rei," Tamahome said as he came. "So you're with my uncle, huh?" he added.
"He's you're uncle?" Hotohori repeated.
"Well I believe you heard what I said, didn't you?" Tamahome answered sarcastically.
"Pleased to meet you mister," Hotohori said as he handed his hand to Tamahome's uncle.
"I'm Mao Sou, brother of Tamahome's father. I'm pleased to meet you, Rei, right? Is that your name?" Mr. Mao answered.
"Y-yes, it is." Hotohori replied.
"Hey, Mia-I mean Miki, I found Rei!" Tamahome shouted.
Miaka came over immediately. "Goodness Rei! I've been worried about you," Miaka sighed.
"Who are you?" Hotohori asked. All of them where surprised at Hotohori's question, especially Miaka.
"W-What do you mean, Rei?" Miaka asked nervously. "Maybe he already knew my secret. How stupid of me! I wasn't able to tell Mr. Mao that he should address me as Miki…what now? Maybe he'll turn me over to Hotohori and then…I'll never see my family anymore… on the other hand, I'll get to be with Hotohori again…I wonder how he looks like now…maybe he's handsomer now…" Miaka thought.
"Mr. Mao told me your name is Miaka. Tell me, are you really Miaka?" Hotohori asked, hopeful that her answer will be yes. "If she really is Miaka, I'll immediately tell her who I really am. I'll bring her back to the capital and she'll be my wife. Oh Miki, how I wish you'll just be Miaka!" Hotohori thought.
"N-no, certainly not," Tamahome answered for Miaka. This surprised his uncle, but he didn't say anything. "Uncle just confused Miki with Miaka…you know, uncle's getting old and having some memory problems," Tamahome said, as he laughed, hopeful that Hotohori would believe him.
"And who's getting old?" Mr. Mao yelled.
"So who are you?" Hotohori asked again.
"I'm Miki, your friend. Uncle Mao just confused me with Miaka because…because," Miaka can't think of any reason.
"Because Miaka is the name of my great, great, great-grandmother…and she looks quite like Miki," Mr. Mao ended Miaka's sentence.
"Okay," Hotohori sighed. "That seems reasonable enough. I'll just finish this pail then I'll go with you, Miki." Hotohori said as he turns his back and continued his business.
"I'll wait for you over there," Miaka said as she walked away. Tamahome followed her. Mr. Mao followed them and spoke with Tamahome. Tamahome explained that Miaka has a secret and Rei shouldn't know it and knowing her real name would completely reveal it.
Mr. Mao went back to Hotohori and guided him for a while. After some minutes, he excused himself and said he still has some things to do so he left Hotohori there.
Seeing this, Tamahome's eyes sparkled. "This is my chance," he said to himself. Then, he called Yuiren. "Yuiren, come over here," he said.
"Why, brother?" she asked innocently.
"Do you want a new doll?"
"Yes! Yes! Yes! Why, you'll buy me one?"
"Yes, but you have to do something for me first."
"And what is it?"
"I'll give you this pail of milk and you're gonna throw it on top of that long-haired man's head."
"That's bad, I don't wanna do it!"
"How about the doll?"
"Hmm…okay, for the doll! I'll do it!"
Yuiren carried the small pail she walked slowly toward Hotohori.
"Faster, Yuiren!" Tamahome whispered.
Yuiren ran at the highest speed she could. Although the pail is now just half full because it kept on spilling, she doesn't care. She just cares about the doll.
There was a large hump on the path where Yuiren was running. She didn't notice this…she kept on running until…she tripped on it.
"Oh no!" she yelled. This called the attention of everyone…even Miaka's. She came running to Yuiren's aid, unknowing what was really going on. Yuiren saw her, and the "flying" pail was so near Miaka that if she comes any closer, it would surely land on her head. "No! Don't come over here!" Yuiren yelled.
Miaka didn't understand her and continued running towards her. Well, what do you expect? It landed on her head.
Yuiren tried to stand but found out she won't be able to for she had a deep cut on her knee. Hotohori noticed this, and so went to her. At that time, Yuiren confessed everything to Hotohori as she cried.
"I was supposed to throw that pail to you, Mr. Long hair," she cried.
"Okay, but why?" Hotohori asked with his gentle voice.
"My brother told me he'll buy me a new doll if I do what he wants…I'm sorry, Mr. Long hair…I'm sorry Mia-chan…"
"It's just okay I don't blame you Yuiren…"
Hotohori hugged Yuiren. Yuiren stopped crying.
"Hey, Mia-I mean Miki, you alright?" Tamahome asked Miaka.
"Common sense Tamahome, do I look okay? You still think I look alright with this pail on top of my head and with milk all over my body, huh? Is this what you call okay?" Miaka asked him angrily. "I heard what Yuiren said, you are the one who told her to do this!"
"Y-you don't understand…m-maybe you just misinterpret what Yuiren said," Tamahome said nervously.
Miaka looks furious now she clenches her fists and bows her head. Slowly, she grabbed a spade nearby. "You bastard! Just shut the hell up!" she yelled as she chased Tamahome.
"Are they always like that?" Hotohori asked Yuiren.
"Yes, Mr. Long hair," she answered.
"Yuiren, would you just call me Rei? I'm not really comfortable when you're calling me Mr. Long hair," Hotohori said. Yuiren nodded her head in agreement. Hotohori led her to a grassy place under a shade of a big tree. They sat down and stared at Miaka as she chased Tamahome. Yuiren stared at Hotohori with keen interest. This made Hotohori feel uncomfortable again. He asked Yuiren what she wanted.
"Will you wait until I grow up?" she asked innocently.
"Why?" Hotohori asked, getting confused.
"I want to marry you."
"What? You really are still young. So innocent about things."
"No, I'm serious. I want you to marry me when I grow up."
"But, why do you want me?"
"First, you're handsome. Second…you're…you're"
"I'm what?"
"You're hair looks so beautiful. I always wanted to have a doll with such beautiful hair but those are the expensive ones and my brother couldn't afford them. That's why I want you to be my husband so that I don't have to buy a doll anymore because you'll be my living doll."
Hotohori laughed heartily. He was getting fond of the girl. "If only Miaka was the one who asked me to marry her, I'd be the happiest man in the world," Hotohori thought as he remembered Miaka.
"You know, Yuiren, you remind me of someone. She's so special. She's like a real sister to me," he said as he hugged Yuiren.
"Oh, I would like to meet her. Where is she?" Yuiren asked.
"She's gone…"
"Why? Is she dead?"
"I wish I just knew she was dead rather than like now, I don't know whether she's still alive or not…I could die suffering because of this loneliness I feel…"
"Mr. Long—I mean Mr. Rei, what's the matter?"
"Nothing, I think I'm already getting hungry. How about you?"
"Yes, my stomach's grumbling…"
Hotohori helped Yuiren up and together they entered the small house of Mr. Mao. They all ate happily except for Tamahome, who received pails of fresh milk and a bunch of blows from Miaka.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I'm very sorry it took so long for me to post this…I got a bunch of computer problems so I wasn't able to update fast… So, what do you think? Anyway, their adventures in the farm aren't done yet…so wait until I finish the next chapter and find out how Hotohori will make Tamahome look like an idiot…he he…I still hate him you know? Please R/R!