Miaka took one last look around her chamber at the palace, reluctant to leave the warmth of her room but determined to escape. Outside rain pelted the brick singled roof of the palace, ribbons and streams of water sliding off the roof to land with large splashes on the palace steps before running down them like some strange river to join the larger stream of the road below. Around the town, the people of Konan scuttled quickly from roof to roof, baskets and papers over their heads in an attempt to keep themselves dry as they went about their business. With a sigh, the young priestess sat down on her bed, head in her hands as she gazed unseeing at the far wall. She was thinking about three nights ago. She had been sitting with her English dictionary near the river.
"Miaka." The miko looked up to see Nuriko standing next to her. She quickly grinned at him but the smile quickly faded when he did not return it. Fear seemed to seep from her heart as he slowly sat down next to her, looking at the water. "Is... Is something wrong?" she said, trying to sound loose and carefree when inside warning sirens were going off. She swallowed to calm herself. Nuriko lowered his head, fingering his braid as he sat. She clenched her fists. "Nuriko, look at me!" she said louder, her voice cracking with the fear she was suddenly experiencing. "Miaka..." he said quietly, looking at her. Miaka nearly gasped at the look in her seishi's eyes before he looked away. Sorrow, pain, regret. "N-Nuriko... what happened?" she said softly, her voice coming out in a soft whisper. Her eyes widened in surprise as he suddenly clenched his fists. Not knowing what to say, Miaka could only wait.
"It's Tasuki." He said, refusing to look at her. Miaka's heart fluttered inside her as she listened. "What about Tasuki." she said gently, laying a hand on Nuriko's shoulder. Taking a deep breath he looked up at her and Miaka drew back quickly when she saw that he was crying. "He...left. I tried to stop him but..." he looked away, not wanting to make eye contact. /but I failed to stop one person. A person I love. And because of that I may have placed us all in danger. / He was jolted out of his thoughts by the priestess rising. "Miaka?" Her voice was calm and carefree, but somehow lifeless as she spoke. "Nuriko… I understand. Thank you for telling me." Nuriko started to get up but Miaka turned and shook her head. "No," she said and he stopped. A small half smile was on her face but her eyes were clouded. "Miaka, what..?" "Nuriko. Tell the others that I will not be there for dinner tonight."
She was leaving. Tasuki had been gone for a couple of days now, and the Miko felt his absence like a whole had been blown through her heart. Thinking about him again, Miaka felt her vision start to blur as fresh tears welled in her eyes. Quickly she brushed them away. /No more tears/ Hefting her overstuffed backpack onto her back, the Miko opened the door to her room, glancing down the long candle lit hall before stepping out into the night. Closing the door behind her, she shivered in the cool night air. Above her the moon was full, casting silver shadows on the Konan empire. /Arigato everyone/ she thought as she took the firsts steps of what would become a journey of destiny for her, and for everyone else.
Raeka-chan: Gomen asai...-is miserable- but this is also a short chapter..there will now be a pause of a few weeks before I update again...in the meantime..I am hoping -pleasepleasepleazzzzeeeeeee- that u review...reveiwing would help me so much...
Raebef-chan: In the meantime, please keep reading..R&R! until next time...ja!