Hey everyone! I'm back. I've had this story on the brain for a couple months now, and it's been a mega comfort for me (both my personal life and the state of the world are... less than ideal, haha.) But we carry on!
Enjoy!
-Strategy Over a Rumor-
It's evening, and Chichiri has a busy mind. Busy because, he realized too late, that Tia masterfully avoided speaking to him about any of her specific anxieties. While he's certain that she was relieved to hear that he wasn't angry with her, he's cursing her a bit. There was no talk about the tensions of war, or even what really upset her: the Priestess of Seiryu rumor.
"She's crafty, I forgot how distracting she is!" he thinks, pacing toward the dining room for dinner. Maybe he could try and catch her again before she goes to sleep.
When he enters the room, he's the last of the four warriors to arrive. Immediately, there's a curious atmosphere, a crucial detail to the room that's missing.
"Hey everyone. Where's Tia no da?"
He posed the question to everyone, but he expects an answer from Nuriko. She's the one Tia was going to recoup with that afternoon.
"I haven't seen her, Chichiri-san. Admittedly I've been busy with His Imperial Highness," Chiriko answers, drawing up his sleeve-covered arms before his face in worry. Nuriko shakes her head.
"I haven't seen her at all, I was with a friend of mine all day and she never came along. Half expected her to…"
The four stand in silent thought, a pondering of the facts, of the conundrum…
"... No da! What are we doing? Tia is missing!"
The temperature rises quickly in the room.
"I will send out for anyone who has seen her at once!" Hotohori, after jumping at being caught inactive, turns and calls for an attendant. Chichiri immediately concentrates, looking for her chi, and praying. The amount of people within the palace make it difficult, and within seconds he can already tell she's immediately not close by. Nuriko and Chiriko gather around him, Hotohori joining them once he is done.
"Please let her be inside this palace, oh gods above!"
When he feels her, or the small hint he could receive, he drops his hand from his prayer beads in astonishment.
"Chichiri? Uh, you okay?"
He ignores Nuriko and turns his head slowly to the emperor. "She's… Hotohori-sama, all the soldiers know who Tia is, right no da?"
Hotohori, stunned and perplexed, thinks over the question a few moments before answering. "They must… They would have to, especially after the declaration."
"We should go to the palace's military complex immediately then, no da. That's the feeling I got while searching," he directs, and the group wastes no time rushing from the room. The dungeons reside in the military complex, after all.
The rain is plinking on the roof tiles above them, the dark clouds blocking out the last of the setting sun and entrusting their sight to colorful lanterns dutifully lit along the hallways. Soon the pounding rain drowns out their footsteps, but the roar can't deafen their rushing thoughts. They're close to her now!
Rounding the corner, they should've expected the rousing call to formation and consequent pandemonium that breaks out. After all, the emperor is in the group, and the soldiers aren't slouches. The barracks come alive… or rather, they notice, a group pulls away from an awning near the barracks to march to them, dutiful as can be. A shorter figure in a bright red top and blue pants leads them.
The entire legion of soldiers, harried from the sudden call to muster before Hotohori (who never realized it was an automatic order upon his appearance), all kneel in the rain before him. The legion's commander stands after a deep bow.
"Your Imperial Highness, Honored Warriors of Suzaku, we are at your command! What do you require of us?"
Hotohori opens his mouth to answer, ready with a slew of questions about Tia, only for the priestess herself to step forward, hood over her head.
"Hey everyone. Guess I got lost longer than I thought I would," she answers to all, already certain that she's the reason they've appeared. She taps the commander's shoulder lightly, and the two exchange a smile. The celestial warriors watch on, deflated of their panic.
Nuriko crosses her arms, flicking her braid over her shoulder. "Got lost? Sounds about right, I'd believe it. What were you trying to do coming all the way here, visit a prisoner or something?"
"I was going to visit you, thank you very much! I just didn't know where you were!"
Nuriko raises an eyebrow, slowly smirking.
"Diiiid you ask anyone, like my maids?"
Tia frowns comically, looking askance and scuffing her shoes on the paved stones she stands on, which causes her warriors to sigh at her obvious oversight.
"But, but! I found these guys! They're all pretty cool, and they were showing me different ways of escaping an assault, just in case. You know, like grabbing a pinky finger or how to tell when someone is carrying a weapon!" she defends quickly, finger up as the knowledge comes forefront in her mind.
"You don't have confidence in us as your protectors?" Hotohori asks, almost sounding a little insulted but he eases up when she immediately flounders a little, verbally stumbling for words.
Chiriko clears his throat, his character popping up on his foot clearly. "Oh, that's not it at all, I believe her decision to take responsibility for her own defense is smart. After all, we can't always be around Her Eminence, and the enemy will take plenty of measures to separate us from her," he interjects, concise and confident even in front of so many important faces. Tia immediately stretches her arms out toward him in praising gratitude.
"Yes! Also, y'know. Good to know people around here anyway, if I'm gonna get lost," she adds, giving in to the urge to hug her young warrior and pulling Chiriko close, ruffling his hair. His face glows while mumbling incoherent words of humble protest.
"... You have done our priestess a great service, then. All our palace soldiers are commendable, please continue your fine order and return to your duties swiftly," Hotohori orders, graceful in the face of the awkward turnabout. Tia releases her young cohort and waves at the soldiers as they rise and salute, none of them desiring to chance irking their emperor.
Except one. Hotohori vaguely recognizes him, and they must have met somehow: The sword the young man carries is a prize presented to champion swordsmen who could best anyone. Anyone but himself of course, but his talent is still of note.
"Excuse my impertinence in addressing Her Eminence once more after an order given by Your Imperial Majesty, but I wish to thank her for her earlier advice. It was most illuminating. With that, I am off!" the young man chirps, saluting smartly with his special sword before trotting off. Tia waves, giggling at the gesture. Her friends are instantly mystified. What advice could she possibly be giving out that's so amazing?
Back at the dining hall, with food miraculously still hot, it's been quiet. Tia puffs her cheeks out sighs at the tense awkwardness. She got to stop by her room to pick up a trusty fork. But no one was really in the mood for her moment of triumph in that department.
"So… did everyone have a good afternoon? Any idea when we're going to head out to find the final three? Is there news I should know?" she asks meekly, taking a bite of food afterward and relishing in the ease of her meal. Her questions hang in the air as eating continues. Finally, after delicately finishing his plate, Hotohori sets aside his chopsticks.
"Given the dire situation, your departure must happen soon. The announcement of your arrival seems to have quelled any further encroachment by the Kutou army, but becoming complacent will be our downfall should the rumors be true about the Priestess of Seiryu," he says, making Tia's mind and stomach flip once again. The very idea of another priestess, another girl from presumably her world getting placed against her, is atrocious. If only she could get some solid intelligence, some confirmation! If the Priestess of Seiryu exists, then… she doesn't know, exactly, but maybe they can talk, and figure out a peaceful solution!
She places her fork to the side, breathing to calm herself. "It's time to stop being all dumb and anxious. I came back, this is my way of doing things!"
"We need to gather intelligence, and we need to be careful with our information. Being hesitant and acting with caution because we have the smaller military is all well and good but that's never the singular deciding factor in any war. Do we have allies? What about the other two empires?"
Her questions, which are far more serious than her earlier ones, cut through the awkward air. It turns the room around as the warriors straighten in their seats, gaping a bit.
"Tia, you–"
"Chichiri, we have to move forward, and I can't do that if everything is weighing on me. I saw it while I was with the palace soldiers. They might not have the same conquering experience as Kutou's military, but they're bright and they're capable, and they have the desire to fight back. If we can inspire Konan's people to stand in the same way, they don't have to be soldiers to fight back."
Her passionate response yet again has her warriors a bit gobsmacked. After all, she was her normal, clumsy self just a bit ago. She got lost in the palace! They were ready to berate her a little for it and then ease her anxieties about starting their journey up again.
Chichiri smiles, and the rest follow suit.
"You've put a lot of thought into this, haven't you no da?"
Tia sighs in a bit of relief, smiling in return.
"I meditated on a few things, yeah."
Her remark makes him scratch the back of his neck bashfully, shrinking in size.
"Heehee, if it was that much help already, I'm glad I taught you no da!"
"Your Eminence, ah-" Chiriko starts, unsure about interrupting. Tia turns to him and nods for him to go ahead. With everyone's attention on him, he clears his throat nervously but continues. "I wonder about your inquiry into possible allies and the other empires. What did you have in mind?"
Tia blinks, then turns her eyes up in thought. She hums.
"Konan has an economy, and trades with everyone, right?"
Hotohori confirms.
"Well, why can't the northern or western empires send help? Or some other smaller nation join? Kutou won't stop with Konan, they'll probably desire for enough conquering force to take all the empires. It's like Rome, or the British Empire back home: They want everything."
While the others don't know the specifics of "Rome" or "British empire", they understand what she means and nod.
"Hokkan and Sairou have both summoned their beast deities, however. They would likely think themselves untouchable," Chiriko points out, and Tia shrugs.
"All it would take is one wish from the Priestess of Seiryu to undo all that."
Silence follows, one where Hotohori looks troubled at the idea of Kutou devouring his empire, only to decide it's not enough.
"Attendant!"
His sudden snappy order for a servant makes Tia jolt in her seat. A man bustles into the room and Hotohori stands, looking down on him.
"Gather the advisors and our generals. We must send out a message with the next delegations to Sairou and Hokkan, immediately!"
"At once, Your Imperial Majesty!"
Once the servant is gone, Hotohori turns a serious expression to his friends, mostly to Tia.
"I believe you are correct, and even if they scoff at our messages it could not hurt to try. For now, please rest Tia. Once the delegations have left, you must also leave the palace on your search," he states evenly, and she nods.
"Thank you Hori-sama. I'm ready."
Her heart thuds in her chest as she says so, but she believes it enough.
...
After dinner, she sits in her room packing her bag for a quick getaway when, for the second time that day, she receives a knock at the door. Blowing her hair out of her face and standing, she calls for permission to enter.
This time, it's Nuriko.
"You were pretty impressive back there, being all serious and focused. Hardly seemed like you," she says, her smile only briefly staying before sliding off to show that she's here for something resolute.
"I'll probably break down at later dates, you know me. What's up?"
"Tia… When you left, you refused His Majesty's proposal. Did you really mean it?"
Tia takes a deep breath through her nose, thoughts reeling. It's been months for Nuriko and the rest. It was last night for her.
"I meant it. He's too intense for me, being honest. Being an empress just isn't all that… empressive," Tia responds, lips pursing as she tries not to grin at her stupid pun. Nuriko stares her down hard, but can't help it. The tension melts and she breaks down, traipsing over.
"That was horrible! Never ever say that again. But ugh, I was so mad at you." Nuriko slings an arm around Tia's shoulders, to which Tia snakes an arm around her waist. "I hated hearing that I was an ineligible candidate for empress, and then to see you as you were in his chambers that night! Tia, I was ready to tear down some of the palace walls," she explains, turning her face up and away from the Priestess briefly because, for some reason, her face is turning red.
"I mean, it's a shock. I don't blame you. I wasn't very good about communicating, I guess."
"No, Tia, you were right. I do love His Majesty, but I cannot be his empress. In the time you were gone I came to realize that, and there are a few reasons why. So… well, you know…" Nuriko trails off, once again turning her face up so Tia won't see her blush.
Fortunately, Tia thinks she's just being prideful (which she is, but.)
"Hey, are you trying to apologize? For real? Aww!"
"Sh-shut up! Now I'm not going to say it!"
Tia throws her head back a bit to laugh, squeezing Nuriko's waist. She's glad that the air is cleared for this, and just in time!
"So, where were you today anyway? I did originally go out looking for you to talk," she asks, pulling away when she remembers the necklace she got. While turned away, she doesn't notice her friend's face grow somber.
"Tia, you know how Kutou has 'informally' razed a few villages along the border?"
"Yep. Rather rude of them, isn't it?"
"Houki's home village was one of them. I've been with her, just trying to help her through."
Tia stops rifling, though the necklace sits in her hand now. She stands back up, chills running up her back.
"Do you think she's still awake?"
Nuriko offers a weak smile, and nods. Both leave, Tia feeling that same guilt wash over her. But this time, she's got determination on her side. She's going to stop Kutou. She's going to save Konan!
Lana Redfield angrily fields off yet another call from Tia's former place of work, going so far as to use an expletive with her former manager. Tia always said he was a jackass anyway. With the computer in the passenger's seat of the car and multiple stops to check in on the story and rest, she was making the trip to her grandmother's.
It's been a few hours since Tia left, and she didn't want to waste time moping when her daughter could use all the help she could get. Her husband has to stay and work, and already knows what happened.
She's at a rest stop now, catching up on the reading while partaking in a watery cup of coffee.
The Priestess of Suzaku followed the celestial warrior to the pavilion that housed the imperial harem once again. This time, the young lady was filled with a fierce desire to make things right with all her friends, especially the kind lady who stood up to the emperor so bravely.
"Hmmm… and it said she had feelings for this Chichiri character, didn't it? Dammit…" she mutters, shaking her head. Tia gets crushes like any other normal kid, but the way this is writing it sounds different. Not to mention the way Tia shouted earlier. "'They aren't dangerous, Chichiri isn't dangerous!'"
She'd mentioned him specifically.
"At the very least she's not acting on them for now."
Lana's monologue is interrupted by her phone ringing again, and she growls in annoyance. She's never eating at McDonald's again.
Her expression changes when she sees it's the number from Carly's home. Upon answering, Carly's mother's voice nervously squeaks through.
"Ah, Mrs. Redfield? Have you seen Carly around your house, with Tia at all today? It's getting late and she's not answering her phone and no one has seen her," she says, not panicking outright but sounding tired.
"I haven't. I'm currently out of town, visiting family with Tia, due to a sudden emergency, so we haven't seen her. My husband is still at home though so he'll keep an eye out."
"Oh, okay. Thanks very much."
After hanging up, the pit in Lana's stomach worsens. Now Carly is missing. There haven't been any words about her in the book yet, but there have been mentions of a Priestess of Seiryu.
"If the worst has happened, then… Tia needs to get to Kutou and help Carly as soon as she can!"
I ain't sayin' that Tia is suddenly a strategy genius, because hoo boy, I know what's in the cards (as I am, in fact... the author.) She just paid attention in history class, and the internet (because the internet NEVER lies!)
Thanks for reading, and should anything pop out to you, review! If you're content to just read, that's all good too.
Til Next Time,
-A
