A quick turnaround! I don't like withholding chapters just because I already updated. When a chapter is done, I post it. I'm too busy for anything else!
Please enjoy!
-Surprising Discoveries-
Tia sits up in her bed and stretches her arms upward with a groan. Due to it being a new room and a definite step down from her palace bed, she slept crappily. She creaks her head over to Nuriko in the other bed, still slumbering. She narrows her eyes, mystified.
"Of all the people, she is the one I would expect to have issues sleeping anywhere but the priciest," she muses to herself, but shrugs and starts about the room quietly. Nuriko has been really nice lately, so letting her sleep in a little would be a treat.
"Hrrronk!"
Tia freezes on the floorboard. Her face stretches in a grimace as she turns to watch Nuriko, who remains peaceful. Slowly, she lifts her weight from the floorboard to an agonizing, but quieter squeak. No reaction. She breathes a silent sigh of relief and grabs her clothes to get dressed. She undoes the ties on her braids and finger-combs her hair out. After a quick glance in the room's dingy mirror, she tiptoes out the room.
She meanders down to the common room, figuring that some tea would be nice while she waits for her friends to wake up. A drowsy waitress takes her order after she sits. It's here that she realizes that if she were home, she'd be on her phone. The idiot part of her brain wonders briefly in panic if maybe she left it somewhere in Konan.
"No, I didn't have it in my hand when I got pulled here, I know it. I miss you phone, bringer of joy, smiter of abject boredom," she thinks, instead twisting her fingers in the strands of hair that are falling over her shoulder. Humming begins, softly, but she doesn't dare sing. Her eyes flick around the empty room and she smiles sheepishly. "No one to really be an audience anyway, but whatever."
After her tea is brought to her, she circles the rim of the cup with her fingers absent-mindedly. With the morning sun streaming through the window onto her back, lovely tea, and the promise of furthering her quest, Tia decides she's in a good mood.
She's so caught up in daydreaming that she hardly notices when Chichiri sits down across from her.
"Tia? Are you still half asleep no da?"
She dopily peers at him, blinks, and then her brain catches up.
"Oh! Sorry. Morning. Was just enjoying the sun I guess," she says, taking up her cup to hide her face behind it.
"I know what you mean, no da. You let your hair out of those braids?"
"Yeah."
"It looks nice right now no da."
"Oh thanks! I'm glad you like it."
"..."
"..."
Neither want to say more because both are too busy kicking themselves. After all, there are better things to say. He could've commented on how, in the sun, her hair could almost be blonde and how peaceful she looked when he was walking in. She could've said literally ANYTHING that wouldn't hint that Nuriko's constant teasing might be correct!
"At least he's none the wiser. And didn't take it that way because he's nice like that," she thinks, her appreciation for his calm rising considerably. She perks up, however, when he opens his mouth to speak.
If divine intervention exists, it would be proven now. Tia and Chichiri have their attention torn from each other to the entrance of the inn. A well-dressed footman has burst through the door, looking harried and unkempt from running. His eyes light up when they land on Chichiri.
"You, sir! Oh, thank heavens I've found the correct inn at last!"
Tia feels herself fade into the background as the man rushes to their table. He bows to one knee, unable to speak from breathing so heavily.
"Sounds like there's an emergency no da," Chichiri comments, and she almost almost loses her composure. She ducks her head down to her lap to hide her quick smile.
"My apologies for interrupting your morning, but I have been sent by the matriarch of the Ou household. The younger master, our Doukun, went missing sometime at dawn," the servant informs, voice still breathy but the urgency gets through all the same. All lightheartedness flies out the window. She slams her hands on the table, causing the servant to flinch as the teacup clatters.
"He's missing?! You know this never would've happened if–"
"Tia, it's okay, no da."
She sucks in a breath through her nose, fists clenched on top of the table. Chichiri stretches a hand across and lays it atop her left fist, which she opens out of sheer surprise. He keeps it there, and her hand relaxes more. The messenger watches on, glancing between them both.
"You're asking for our help to find him no da?"
The servant snaps his attention back to the matters at hand.
"Yes, my lady and the young master are both in a terrible panic. We in the household know that you are the ones who can find him," he replies, which makes Tia peer down at him. After some scrutiny, and the tiniest of confirming nods from him, she understands.
"Thanks for not saying anything aloud. Go back to the household and tell them we'll be right there. Can't start from anywhere else," she instructs, though quietly. She's calmed down enough to at least not unleash her anger on this poor guy. He nods, respect in his eyes, and dashes back through the door.
She turns her attention back to her hand, which is still being covered. As much as she really doesn't want to, she chuckles nervously.
"I guess I got a little heated there, it's just one-a those things, hahaaa. I should go get Nuriko." She gently slides her hand from his and stands, never once looking at his face as she scurries back up to her shared room. Chichiri stares after her before bringing his hand up to observe more closely. He sighs, thinking to himself, "That might've been the wrong move."
… … …
Tia's brain is a whirl of confusion. Feeling things? Feelings?! He's still an entire mystery, she can't have feelings!... Right? When the search for Doukun is done, she's going to ask someone about it, maybe Houki. Although Nuriko is most convenient…
She throws open the door with a jolt and no mind for anyone else in the inn.
"Nuriko it's an emerge-n...cy…"
Her cry dies in her throat. Mind blanks. Nuriko stares back at her with what would be in any other situation a hilarious panicked gawp.
She… no. He is in the middle of dressing and quite openly showing a manly chest. No mistaking. Nuriko recovers, though shakily.
"Close the door, close the door!"
Tia doesn't think, only does. Countless hours of internet are rolling through her brain, but she's in a different culture now, but that shouldn't matter, and also there's still what happened downstairs and then the overarching issue of her prospective warrior being missing and-!
"Tia…?"
"Bwuh?"
Nuriko is dressed now, and approaching with an apprehensive expression. Tia shakes her head to reset pretty much everything in her head.
"We can talk later. We have to get going to the Ou Family household, they sent a servant to search for us cuz Doukun went missing earlier this morning," she explains, settling on the most pressing issue. Every other mess can wait. "It'll suck, but into the mental drawer it goes," she thinks, allowing Nuriko to exit the room and shut the door. Her expression also changed when she heard the news, engaging with the problem and nodding. Tia can also see stark appreciation for brushing off what she just saw.
"All these problems cropping up, is it always going to be like this?"
Tia laughs dryly.
"Yeah probably."
They meet up with Chichiri and set off. All three are focusing on what lies ahead, instead of the intensely awkward situations they'd rather not deal with. They swear. They do!
Mercifully, it doesn't take long for them to get to the household, where they are immediately ushered in. The atmosphere of the house has changed completely, having gone from a place of relaxed luxury to anxiety. Even the bright day in the brisk morning does nothing to perk moods.
"My lady, the Priestess of Suzaku and her warriors have arrived."
Tia steps around the servant who announced them, though pats his shoulder. He jolts at the contact.
"Thanks dude," she whispers, and continues on. Her friends notice but don't comment, as the matriarch is hailing them from her opulent chair.
"You took enough time getting here, young priestess. One would expect a young lady of your importance to be more reliable," the woman quips, and as much as it stings, Tia brushes it off. She can see the worry on the woman's face over the fate of her son.
"I'm only human, and that's that no matter what fancy title I have. Tell me everything you know as of right now, and whether or not you think this is a kidnapping or he just wandered away. I will find him," Tia replies, although inwardly she kicks herself for sounding so ominous. The matriarch sizes her up again and might even be vaguely impressed this time.
"You may well be our savior with that confidence, young lady. If that is the case, then I must hasten to tell you the truth."
Her words make Tia's heartbeat spike briefly in excitement. She continues.
"I have a duty to protect my sons, especially Doukun. He is your Chiriko, destined to stand alongside you as you save our empire. But…"
She looks pained as she trails off, hands clenching nervously. Tia walks over instinctively, and gingerly places a hand over them as she kneels.
"Don't feel bad. If he's Chiriko, he won't be completely helpless," she comforts, speaking calmly. She thinks of what makes her feel calm, or rather, who makes her feel calm.
The matriarch squeezes her hands in emphasis and meets Tia's eyes.
"Please, you must listen. His character appears on his foot, but should it disappear, his demeanor becomes more childish than a normal boy his age. He has been dazed without his character for weeks now, and with the pressure of hiding from examiners and ministers, I could not show the Priestess my son this way! For you to take him when he is most vulnerable would be cruel, even if it is fate," she explains urgently, and Tia nods as her eyebrows raise.
"A conditional character? Is it because he's young, maybe?" she wonders, turning her head to communicate with her friends.
"Well, we've got that confirmed at least. What clues do you have for us? Doesn't look like there was a break in, your security seems well enough. He knows the way of everything enough to sneak out, I think," Tia points out, dearly hoping she isn't missing some vital, obvious evidence that would contradict her.
"Yes, I believe you're right, Your Eminence. We all love him here, all the staff dotes on him and it wouldn't be far-fetched to assume he used it to his advantage," the matriarch answers, and as much as Tia wishes her mind to be as brilliant as Poirot's, she's fuzzy on her next move. Questioning the entire staff will take time.
"A last question: Is there anywhere in the city he might head to no da?"
Tia shoots him a grateful smile.
"I'm unsure. He stays in to study most days, and it's rare for him to leave without his brother alongside him."
With that answer, Tia pats the matriarch's hands for comfort one last time and leaves the room with her friends to commiserate. They change back into their shoes and head into the garden.
"Siblings are usually closer, maybe his brother knows," Nuriko suggests, fiddling with a lock of her hair. Tia shrugs.
"I wouldn't know, I'm an only child. Hey security guy, is your master around?"
The nearby guard jumps at the sudden callout but snaps to attention. They're all a bit unused to the rise in respect given now that these people know their true identity and purpose.
"Your Eminence, the young master has gone away on urgent business. It is the most unfortunate timing. The matriarch has sent word for him to return as soon as possible," he answers, and Tia groans.
"There goes that. Chiriko is so close… he was here! We saw him!" she exclaims, throwing her hands up in frustration.
"Tia, maybe you should try feeling for him no da," Chichiri suggests, earning perplexed looks from both of his companions.
"'Feel?' I thought she was just getting lucky before, or it was fate or whatever. You think she can feel us?" Nuriko asks, poking an elegant finger into the side of Tia's head. The Priestess allows it, because she has the same question.
"I have a theory that you can sense us no da, especially when we're nearby or when we're using our techniques. If you focus, you could get a read on where Chiriko went no da," he explains breezily, as if it were an easy trick and not an attempt at something straight out of Star Wars or Avatar: The Last Airbender.
"There's no way. There's no way I have that kind of sixth sense bullshittery going on. You're the cool people with magic powers, I just got lucky, like Nuriko said," Tia says, panic inducing her to run her fingers along her scalp. Even when she said it, however, she had doubts…
"Then… What do I always feel when they're fighting or worked up? Is that it?" she wonders, remembering the strange warmth. Her hands leave her hair, and she lowers them in resignation.
"It's worth trying…" she mutters, glancing between the warriors for validation. Nuriko raises her eyebrows and shrugs. Chichiri gives her the encouraging nod she needs, because that's just what he does, she's learning.
"Right-o. I think I know what to feel for, just gimme a few," she says, closing her eyes and really homing in on the feeling she always gets around her friends. Her ear itches. She scratches it, her nose scrunching in annoyance. "Let's go, brain!" she chides herself, taking a quick, deep breath and releasing it slowly. The wind is tussling some chimes somewhere on the second floor and to the left. Leaves are falling. There's a particularly miffed couple of birds arguing with each other as they chase through the yard.
Nothing.
"I hate to be the cliché amateur, but I can't feel him. I don't think it's something I can command, know what I mean?"
"Well, I'm not exactly surprised. He's not supposed to have his character all the time, he probably doesn't have it now," Nuriko answers dismissively, though Tia doesn't feel any better about failing.
"Hmmm… Try putting your hand in my prayer beads, like this no da," Chichiri suggests, taking her hand and hooking her thumb around his necklace. "They're filled with my chi, and it could act as a catalyst. Try again no da."
Feeling a bit ridiculous, and quite aware that Nuriko is shooting some sly look at her, Tia nods and closes her eyes. She takes a deep breath. Clears her mind as much as possible. Right as her brain begins to trot back into going through dumb distractions, she feels the warmth again.
"This is it! This is 'chi,' then. C'mon Chiriko, you're still part of the gang and I need you, with or without your character!" Her thoughts pounce on the feeling, embracing it. If she could describe the process from there, it would be like a spiral outward: Her search for the energy isn't so rigid and shapely, but that's just the feeling. She has no sense of time. There's only the search.
A spark hits. The tiniest twinkle of reddest red. It's the warmth she's been searching for! It has to be Chiriko. Without bothering to open her eyes, she points her unencumbered hand in the direction the quick feeling came from.
"There. From that way, let's hurry before he moves."
She drops her hand from the prayer beads and feels the connection fade. It's almost lonely, she realizes, not having chi as noticeable as his in her system. Tia murmurs a quick thank you for the assistance, feeling a bit reluctant to step back.
"Wow, not just here to look pretty! Guess the Priestess comes with perks. Let's go," Nuriko chirps, smacking her shoulder with gusto. Tia gasps slowly out in pain, turning with her fingers in claw shape at the agony.
"Nuriko, watch it," she hisses, but is only waved off.
"In a hurry, remember?"
Tia loses.
They decide to forgo horses, instead racing off in the direction Tia pointed on foot. It's obvious who the slowest member of the party is, even in her simpler clothes.
"You know, it's rather incredible that you can be this terrible at running!"
Tia growls as she exhales, yet again cursing her lack of great lungs. She doesn't have the breath to reply to Nuriko so she only glares and keeps pushing on. Something in the back of her mind tells her to lay down the law with her parents once more about needing to see a doctor about it. They never let her because money is always tight, but with the right proof and testimony, man, would it be nice to go through life without wheezing!
They continue to weave the streets, the amount of people slowing their progress down to a walk anyway. While Tia is grateful for the break to catch up on oxygen intake, Chichiri and Nuriko glance around to take in their surroundings. No sign of Doukun yet, and they're nearing the riverfront district.
"Tia, you should search for him again. If he's moved, we'll need to know no da. The farther down the river we go into the outskirts of the city, the more danger we'll be in no da," Chichiri says, waving them into a spot that would keep them out of the way. They go again, but Tia is squished even closer to him. The proximity strains her ability to focus, but Nuriko complains about how long it's taking her, and something clicks in her brain. Her "competitor's spirit," maybe, and she hunkers down.
"He's close! But it was really quick and really weak, I don't think his character is back if that's how it works. Do you think we should split up and comb the area? It doesn't look too nasty and thuggish," Tia suggests, glancing around. She's seen worse back home and gone walking through that, so really, what's stopping her now?
"No way! It's not like those types traipse around in the open, and even when they do it's not obvious. At the very least the two of us should stick together," Nuriko argues, and the decision comes down to Chichiri. His catlike face scrunches in thought. Then, he twists and nonchalantly reaches into his cloak as if it were some giant magical pocket. Tia and Nuriko watch on in wide-eyed fascination, the former still unused to the existence of his many tricks and powers. After fifteen seconds or so of rifling around, he pulls out a conical straw hat.
"Tia, if you take this you should be safe no da. We can split up and search the area, and should any of us find him, I can find you two easily, Nuriko can flare her chi, and Tia, you can call me through this hat. That should make this work no da," he explains, his voice triumphant as he hands the item over. She turns it over in her hands, biting her tongue to keep from asking how the hell it's supposed to work. He's a wizard, let it slide.
"So we're all going off on our own? But what if I get in trouble?!" Nuriko squeaks.
"I'm pretty sure you can handle yourself in that situation, no da…"
"Right!"
Tia snaps her fingers to attract their attention again. She ties the hat around her neck and grins.
"Have fun on your search, I'll call if I find him."
With that, she turns and power walks in the last known direction. She figures it's best if she finds him first, and what better way than to start from where she felt his presence last? Chichiri and Nuriko can figure out their own thing, she's got this!
Surprisingly, people step aside from her path. She's not entirely sure why, but she's grateful all the same. The shops along the river range from fresh produce to restaurants, and Tia would bet that the more dangerous side that Chichiri mentioned is a line of taverns and bars.
She stops short. People grumble as they walk around her but her brain has hit its stride. She shuffles to the side to keep out of the way while she reviews her logic.
"Chiriko, whether he has his symbol or not, is supposed to be smart. Kids catch on to more than anyone ever gives them credit. He'd either go somewhere with a bunch of kids where he'd get lost in a crowd, or…" She turns around with a gasp, heading back the way she came. Downriver.
"He's hiding down there, I just know it!"
Uptown becomes downtown, and she doesn't run into either of her warrior friends along the way. Tia doesn't look at anyone in particular and uses her peripherals, and listens hard. Her heart rate is up, but it can't be helped. Chiriko is around here.
"Besides," she thinks, allowing herself a minor moment of relaxed guard as her hand drifts to the hat's ties around her neck, "I'm perfectly safe right now."
Still, it would help if she felt comfortable enough to attempt searching for Chiriko on her own (not that she thinks she can do so anyway.) But there's men dotted in every nook and cranny, and they don't mind eyeing her as she passes. They don't disappear randomly like the gang that attacked her and Chichiri in the capital when she first arrived, but she's pressing her luck. With instincts screaming at her to both run away and to keep pressing onward, her ears finally pick up on an interesting tidbit as a couple of rowdy-looking types stumble from a small bar. They're not too quiet with their displeasure at leaving.
"Some lil kid just walks in and screws me outta all my money! It ain't right, he already looks rich!" One howls, stamping his feet. His companion holds him back, though he is also miffed.
"He's up to summat, but that's our bad luck. C'mon, let's go."
Tia doesn't listen beyond that, instead heading past them. She fails to notice that the two most definitely saw her react to their words as they continue on their way.
She opens the doors and immediately shivers. It's a shady old watering hole, with a bunch of men, a couple of women who are sitting on arms of certain men, and of course, a table in the back that her eyes beeline to. She can't really see him because he's small compared to the others around the table, but she knows she's found him.
"Hey miss, you gonna stand there blocking my door or order somethin'?"
Tia jumps at the bar keeper's short quip, which earns her numerous muffled murmurs and chuckles. She flushes and steps inside, rubbing her palms over with her fingers.
"I probably look both extremely out of place and like a terrified deer. Damn me," she thinks, resisting the urge to call Chichiri through the hat. She can do this herself for now. Getting bailed out all the time when she's a perfectly capable adult leaves a bad taste in her mouth. She's the Priestess, and according to Hori-sama and the legend, she has to gather the warriors herself.
Just as she gathers herself properly to move to the gaming table in the back, as is typical, two ruffians block her path with what they think are swaggering grins.
"Not often we see a lady of your caliber gracing the dive," one simpers, elbowing his buddy. His breath reeks and Tia wrinkles her nose as she narrows her eyes.
"Yeah, yeah! Allow us to show you the charming side of this place. We promise we'll be on our best behavior," his buddy replies, and she turns her eyes up in disgust.
"Sorry chuds, I'm here on business. You'll have to wait for the next dame who traipses through," she chides, steeling herself for inevitable resistance. They both stand straight with mocking hands held up.
"Weeellll, excuse us! Must be here for the kid, then."
"He's been swindling for a couple hours, we don't buy into the dumb act. If you're his older sister come to drag him home, we don't mind lettin' you loose."
Tia doesn't have time to be perplexed, as she's forcefully walked to the table, disrupting the current game. She sucks in a breath when she sees that the entire table is focused on a match between only two people: a dazed Doukun and the man he appears to be defeating.
"Hey kid, your sister is here to take you home! Think you've had your fun for now," one ruffian calls, and Tia pulls her arm from his grasp with a grunt. She picks off the other's arm from around her waist. Oh, how much she really wants Chichiri here right now! But she keeps her mouth shut, because so far, this can be handled without violence.
Doukun's eyes drift up and up until they meet hers, where he blinks long lashes. He's smaller than normal thirteen-year-olds, and his lighter brown hair is much different than his older brother's. He seems to recognize her and becomes visibly upset.
"You're the woman who visited yesterday. You can't make me go with you," he whimpers, though he does manage to glare at her through his oncoming tears. She remains stoic.
"I have no intention of doing so. The only thing I'm here to do is take you home, your mom is super worried. You should let these people have their money back, too."
There are interested and agreeing mutters at her response, and Doukun glances around in a panic. Tia feels sporadic chi, and furrows her brows.
"If he can't control when his character comes and goes, maybe it's flashing in between right now. No wonder he's terrified!" she thinks, and finally the young teenager stands in an attempt to draw dramatic attention. It fails to have the proper impact due to his height, but his words get through well enough:
"Play me, and if you win I'll go with you!"
Tia feels her core freeze and heat up in alternate patterns as she glances down at the game board.
"I can't back down because I don't want a brawl to break out, but… I have no idea what this game even is!"
If you think Tia is being obstinate for not calling Chichiri like she probably should, raise your hand! Chiriko is getting the discovery arc he deserved all along!
Thanks to everyone who has followed/favorited so far, and leave a review if the desire so takes you. I love writing this.
Til Next Time,
-A
