Chapter Fifteen: Stay…
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Yui was too bewildered to speak. After a moment of thinking of what to say, she then faced her boyfriend.
"Chichiri, you aren't cheating on me, are you?" she asked, hoping he would say no.
"Definitely not! Besides, you're the most beautiful girl in the whole wide world for me, Yui," Chichiri said as he kissed her on her forehead.
"Ahem," Miaka coughed, "Here's your bracelet. And um, Yui, do you know that your dear boyfriend is a conman?"
"A conman? Well, yeah, of course I do," Yui replied and Chichiri smiled slyly at Miaka.
"But don't you think it's not right… it's bad, isn't it?" Miaka inquired.
"I don't really want to do that. I just need money badly, for our travel," Chichiri answered.
"Oh, and where do you plan to go?"
"Wait, don't you think we're telling her so much?" Yui questioned with doubt and uncertainty in her voice.
"Don't worry, I won't tell anyone. Trust me." Miaka told them reassuringly.
"But how could we trust someone whose name we don't even know?" Yui said, clinging to Chichiri's arm.
"Oh yeah, I forgot to introduce myself. My name's Miaka Yuuki, but some people call me Miki so I prefer to be called by my nickname."
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Hotohori went home with his mind still focused on what Tamahome said. He faced his mirror again and was pleased to see his beautiful face. He started to praise himself again.
"I'm so beautiful…" he said admiringly at himself. Satisfied, he let down his mirror on the bed.
"But your beauty won't save your empire from Kutou…" a voice said.
Hotohori looked around but then he saw no one, and so he thought he was just imagining things.
"Go back to the palace and protect Konan…" the voice said again.
This time, Hotohori began to feel as if a strange presence was with him…in his room…
"Go back…" it whispered once more.
Hotohori stared at the mirror on his bed. He idly looked at it, and saw his face. He felt weird; he wanted to break his mirror into pieces. But he didn't. He waited for the voice again.
"Go back…"
There it was. And who said it? Hotohori did. He was even surprised that those words came from his lips. He stared at his reflection and like a day ago, it stared back with fiery eyes.
"Wake up!" it yelled. "Wake up from this dream! You can't stay here and wait for Kutou to completely destroy our country! Wake up Saihitei! You can't stay with Miki and live happily with her forever. You must go back to the palace. Go back before it's too late!"
"I…can't…I need time…"
"There's no time left! Go-"
That's it. Hotohori threw it against the wall. The mirror was broken. No more reflection. No more conscience to bother him.
Or at least, that's what he wanted to believe.
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Chichiri and Yui told Miaka everything as they walked to Miaka's village to sell Yui's bracelet.
"I used to be a farmer working for the Hongo family, that is, Yui's family. I met her one day, when she and her father visited the fields to see if we're doing our jobs properly. A little while later, her father got exhausted and decided to take some rest."
"I decided to go for a walk and explore the fields. While I was walking, I accidentally tripped on a stone and almost fell over but the Chichiri was there to catch me." Yui added.
"We had some introductions and after short period of time, we became good friends. She visited me more often and after a while, we have decided to bring our friendship to the next level."
"One romantic afternoon, he invited me to the Tower of Sunset. As the sun was setting, he knelt on one knee and asked me if I was willing to be his girlfriend. At first I was too shocked to speak, but when I came back to my senses I finally said yes."
"I didn't take long before her father discovered our relationship. He did everything to separate us, but love always finds a way out. Finally, he decided to bring her to Sairou, where the man who was betrothed to Yui awaits."
"That's why we decided to escape. I don't want to marry anyone except the one my heart hungers for, who happens to be Chichiri," Yui said with a smile.
"Here we are," Chichiri announced as they approached a small store.
"So, what have you got there?" an old man with eyeglasses and a grizzly beard asked.
Yui showed her bracelet. The man inspected it for a while. After a couple of minutes, his eyes widened.
"My, these gems are all genuine! Are you sure you want to sell this?" the man cried out.
"Yes, and I need the money right now." Yui answered.
"How much is it?" Miaka asked enthusiastically.
"Hmm…well, I could give you 750 000 gold ryou for this," the man said.
"Then it's settled." Yui said.
The man went in a room and after a bout he came back with ten big bags of money.
The trio went out with their heavy load and started to walk again.
"What time is it?" Yui asked.
"Oh my! It's 9:45 in the evening! My mom might be worried about me by now," Miaka exclaimed.
"Oh no, we won't catch up with the last ship in time! What're we gonna do?" Yui said with fright.
"I guess I could use my seishi power now," Chichiri said as he got his hat.
"Seishi? What kind of seishi are you? Where's your character?" Miaka asked eagerly.
"He's a Suzaku seishi and his character's on his knee," Yui answered for him.
"Wow! I've got a friend who's also a Suzaku seishi like you," Miaka told them.
"Now enough of the chattering. Miaka, would you like to go with us?" Chichiri asked.
"No thanks, my mother's waiting for me. My house is just near so you don't have to worry."
And so Yui and Chichiri waved goodbye then went into the hat and disappeared.
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Miaka went back home where she found her mother standing by the door. Miaka greeted her and at the same time, apologized for going home late. Her mother forgave her and prepared their dinner. Hotohori also came down and ate with them quietly.
"Rei, you seemed stressed, is there a problem?" Miaka asked. Hotohori didn't even look at her.
"Rei…"
"I have to go back…" he whispered.
"Did you say something?"
"I have to go back…" he said in a louder voice. "I have to go as soon as possible. I have to protect my people."
"What are you saying? I can't understand…mom, is anything wrong with him?"
"I don't know. Excuse me, I'll just wash the dishes."
"Rei…are you not happy here with us? Do you wish to go home?"
"I have to…I must…"
"I'll accompany you tomorrow. We'll leave by five thirty to the pier."
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At 5:50 in the morning Miaka and Hotohori were already at the pier, waiting for the ship.
"So you live in the mainland of Konan," Miaka said, breaking the silence.
"Yes." Hotohori answered.
"I guess it's not really important for you to know that…I don't want you to go…I want you to stay with me…" Miaka said absentmindedly. She wasn't looking at Hotohori anyway.
Hotohori looked at her. He wanted to speak but the words seemed stuck in his mouth. He stood up upon seeing the ship. People began to board the ship. He got his baggage and fell in line. Miaka followed him though she had no intention of going with him. After a short while, it was already Hotohori's turn to board the ship. As he walked towards it, he felt a hand grasp his arm.
"Don't go," Miaka whispered behind him. "Don't leave me…"
Hotohori struggled to free himself but Miaka just held onto him tighter.
"Stay…" she murmured then fainted.
"Miki! What happened?" Hotohori cried out. He touched her forehead. "Oh Miki, you've got fever! Why didn't you tell me?"
Hotohori carried her and laid her on a bench. He got a towel from his baggage and wet it with cold water. He placed it on her forehead. He placed her head onto his lap and held on her hands. Her hands were ice-cold.
What am I supposed to do? He started to panic but then he saw someone. Someone who could help. That someone is Tamahome.
"Tamahome! Come over here!" he shouted.
Tamahome immediately run to his side. He was dumbfounded upon seeing Miaka.
"Help me. Please," Hotohori pleaded.
Tamahome wasted no time.
"I'll carry your baggage and you carry her. My cousin and I have our horses nearby. You ride on my horse and I'll use my cousin's," he said.
"A thousand thanks," Hotohori replied.
A minute later they were already on their way to Miaka's house. Miaka's temperature continued to drop faster. She began to chill. Her lips began to fade and she started to breathe deeply.
"Hang on Miki, we're almost there," Hotohori said as he hugged her closer.
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There! Will Miaka die? What would happen next?
Please review!