Chapter Eleven: Kutou's attack
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Miaka stopped upon reaching the center of the group. She looked from one face to another, as if still making up her mind. Tamahome, who was sweating profusely, caught her attention. She walked toward him and whispered something. Tamahome frowned and so Hotohori, who was just beside him, became curious. Miaka then walked away from them.
"Damn," Hotohori heard Tamahome whisper.
Now, what's going on? Hotohori thought as he stared at Miaka who kissed Yuiren on the forehead. (Now, who guessed that?)
"So, it's finished!" Gyokuran announced, "Thanks for participating!"
"It's horrible," Tamahome snorted. Miaka eyed him and so he lied on the grass with his arms at the back of his head.
"It's terrific," Hotohori said, contradicting Tamahome's statement.
"It's almost night, we have to go home," Miaka then started to clear the place.
Hotohori and the kids helped her while Tamahome slept. Suddenly, a penny fell off from Miaka's pocket. With the sound of the penny, Tamahome bolted right up and snatched it.
"Yes!" he screamed in delight. The other six stared at him in astonishment. Miaka snatched back her penny.
"Yeah right," she said then continued fixing their things.
"Everything's settled," Hotohori declared then they started the long walk back to the farmhouse (with Tamahome, of course they didn't leave him behind).
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"Hey, kids! How's your day?" a familiar voice asked Tamahome and his siblings.
"Father? What are you doing here?" Tamahome asked as he hugged his father. His siblings did the same.
"So, that's his father?" Hotohori asked Miaka.
"Yeah, and he's a great man. Tamahome's far from being like him," Miaka chuckled as she rushed to Mr. Sou's side and greeted him.
"And who's this handsome young man?" Tamahome's father asked as he walked toward Hotohori.
"Hello Sir, my name is Rei. I'm a friend of your son," Hotohori introduced himself as he shook hands with him.
"It's the first time my son had a friend… who's also a male like him," Mr. Sou chuckled.
A little while later, Tamahome's father explained why he was there. He wants his kids to go back home.
"But why so soon?" his brother, Mao, asked.
"There were some rumors about the Kutou's attack to our empire while the emperor is away. I'm worried because the rumors proved to be true. The Kutou soldiers have attacked the other islands and our island may be the next. I just want my kids to be with me…so I could protect them," Mr. Sou explained.
"I understand. You know, your children will make good farmers," his brother said, "I'll help them fix their things."
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"Mom, we're home," Miaka shouted as she knocked on the door of their house.
Mrs. Yuuki opened it and hugged her. "You don't know how much I missed you," she said. Upon seeing the handsome emperor (although she had no idea who he really is), she added, "And you too, my little darling," and gave him the same hug.
You're just like my mother, the eighteen-year-old guy thought as he tried to recall the warmth of his mother's hug. He missed her…so much. Now, he's not with her. Ever since the death of his father, his mother was the only who keeps him company. Now, he's alone…in this island with the girl he still suspected to be his long lost adopted sister, Miaka.
They then entered the Yuuki household. Mrs. Yuuki prepared dinner while the couple waited at the table. Miaka noticed the serious look on the man's face.
"Any problem?" she innocently asked.
At first, one side of Hotohori wanted to tell her everything…that he's the emperor and that he's sorry for everything that's happening. But, no, he won't tell her…yet.
"This isn't the right time," he whispered a little loudly, which made the girl beside him raise an eyebrow.
"What?"
"Oh, I-I mean, I'm okay. I just feel a little sad for those who lost their homes in the other islands because of Kutou."
"Now that you spoke about it, I remembered something. Where is our emperor? Where is Hotohori?"
"Hotohori? You called him Hotohori? There's only one person who calls me—um, I mean, the emperor like that! And it's no other than Miaka!" Hotohori exclaimed as he held on Miaka's hands.
What's with that look on his face? It's like…he's excited…but why? How did he know about this? Could he be Hotohori, disguising as a stranger? Miaka thought, "How did you know 'bout that?"
"Well, I was a soldier, right? I told you that, didn't I?" Hotohori answered, and he was thankful for answering that without any mistakes. "Now, why did you call the emperor by that name?" he asked again, hoping she'll admit that she's Miaka and tell him how much she missed him.
"I—um—I just thought that—well, maybe it would be better if we call the emperor with another name…he's a seishi, isn't he? His constellation is named Hotohori, isn't it? And he's the sea snake while Tamahome is the crab." She paused and forced a smile when she realized that he was wondering how she knew a lot about Suzaku's constellations, "Tamahome told me everything about the constellations," she added, hoping that he doesn't notice how nervous she is.
"Is that really the truth? Tell me, the truth, please. I promise I won't tell the emperor when I go back," Hotohori pleaded as he squeezed her hands tighter.
"What are you saying? O—of course it's the truth…why would I lie to you? And—um, can you let go of my hands? You're hurting me a little…" she replied.
Hotohori let go of her hands. "I'm sorry," he apologized.
There was a sudden knock on the door.
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"Open this goddamn door!" a man furiously shouted as he pounded on the door.
Mrs. Yuuki opened it and was flabbergasted upon seeing a Kutou soldier. There was a group of armed soldiers behind him. Mrs. Yuuki was too astounded to speak. A soldier grasped her arm and pulled her.
"Let me go! Let go!" Mrs. Yuuki shouted.
With that, Miaka and Hotohori rushed to her aid. Hotohori pulled a knife and stabbed the soldier by the arm. With the pain he's feeling, the soldier let go of Mrs. Yuuki. The other soldiers began entering their house but Hotohori managed to close the door.
"Run to the back door!" Hotohori commanded Miaka and her mother as he tried to close the door and prevent the soldiers from entering.
"But, how about you? We can't just leave you alone," Miaka hesitated on going.
"Just go," Hotohori said. Suddenly, a sword was plunge into the door. "I'll follow," he added.
Miaka and her mother ran towards the back door. Just as Mrs. Yuuki was about to open the door, Miaka stopped her.
"Why?" her mom asked.
Miaka just pointed beneath the door. There were shadows! The soldiers have surrounded their house. There's no way to escape. Help must come…from outside.
After a while, Hotohori began feeling tired from pushing the door to prevent it from opening. He felt his arms go weary and his legs were shaky.
I hope Miki and her mom were able to make their way out, he thought. Unexpectedly, he felt the pressure from the other side of the door lighten. He opened the door a little, just big enough to take a peek.
Help has arrived! A man was there, standing on top of the unconscious soldiers. Who was it? It was…
"Tamahome? It's so nice to see you!" Hotohori exclaimed as he opened the door widely. "How's your family?"
"They're fine. I left them in a safe place. By the way, where are Miki and her mother?" Tamahome worriedly asked.
"We're here!" Miaka shouted, just loud enough for the two to hear.
"I thought I told you to go out?" Hotohori said.
"There were soldiers there," Mrs. Yuuki whispered. "They've surrounded our house."
"I just finished those guys in the front door so I guess you can go out through there now," Tamahome said triumphantly.
"I don't think so," a man disagreed.
The four turned to see Kutou soldiers pointing their swords to them. Those soldiers who were at the back door entered through the front door!
How can they get through this? Find out in the next chapter.
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Finished! This chapter is finished! What do you think? By the way, I got sick that's why I wasn't able to update earlier, but I'm feeling better now.
I won't ask too much right now because I'm gonna watch Full House: my favorite show. It's Korean but they dubbed it in our language. It's just so freaking wonderful! Han Ji Eun and Lee Yong Jae are the main characters…have you watched it? If you have, well congratulations!
Anyways, Please Review!