Chapter 2 Arrange Marriage
'I want her to suffer...' Yui's cold voice echoed harshly in Miaka's mind. But Yui wasn't there except darkness.
"No..." Miaka shook her head. "Yu-Yui..." her voice shaking and looked around her finding nothing. There is nothing.
'Make her suffer...' Yui's voice echoed again. 'I want her to suffer!' This time much more fiercely causing Miaka to whimper in vain.
"Yui! Please, stop!" Miaka cried.
'Suffer, Miaka!'
With tears streaming down cheeks Miaka covered her ears in attempt to block the voice and closed her eyes but she could still hear it. Feel it. "No!"
'I suffered because of you! Because of you! I almost died!'
"Please stop!"
'DIE!'
"YUI!" Miaka screamed. Then suddenly she felt a sudden pain across her cheek, felt her body jolted from the impact. She groaned in pain and open her eyes only to close it again due to the bright light.
"Ar-are you...alright?" Someone asked worriedly and it was a male's voice.
Heart still pounding against her rib cage and she tried to catch her breath. Gradually, she could feel the cold sweat covering her body. 'Was I...?'
The bright light stung her eyes even though they were closed. Groaning she slowly opened her eyes letting it adjust. '...was it a nightmare?' Miaka thought in relief, yet not far from the truth, and slowly turned to look at the person who spoke.
When she saw blond hair she gasped; her breath caught in her throat. 'Nakago?!' Her mind screamed in panic.
"Hey..." the stranger move closer.
Miaka blinked again and forced her eyes to focus. For some reason the voice didn't sound...like that man's voice.
"Hey, say something..." This time much more clearer. The man did indeed have a blond hair but darker compared to Nakago's, brown eyes, and looked as young as she is. He is definitely not Nakago.
Miaka let out a long breath which she didn't think she was holding in. With a weak voice she asked. "Who-who are...you?"
"My name is Amiboshi and I am one of the Seiryuu warriors. Nakago ordered me to..." he looked thoughtful for a second, trying to choose the right words. "He ordered me...to watch over you and that you do not escape."
Miaka thought that his voice sounded quite gentle and non-warrior like for someone to be under the command of Nakago. Nakago...tall, blonde handsome and dead sexy shogun, alone made her think that all the other warriors might be just as hell be as cruel and ruthless as he is. But maybe that might not be the case or... is it?
Miaka felt bruised and tired. She knew she should be alarmed that she is under surveillance but she couldn't help but feel relax in his presence. Funny, instead he looked at her with wary eyes. Groaning, she slowly pushed herself to sit up. She doesn't need to ask him where they are. It was pretty obvious with all the blue-ish interior designs of the room. She is a hostage. A huge contrast to that of Konan palace.
"Ah, don't!" His voice peaked weirdly when Miaka sat up and he swallowed to control himself. "Don't try anything strange. You are not allowed to leave this room. Please keep in mind that you are now in our territory, Suzaku no miko."
Miaka couldn't help but smile at him, she could tell that he used her title as a miko to intimidate her. "I won't and I know... that I can't."
Amiboshi blinked twice at this then nodded slightly. There was a short awkward pause between them before she spoke again. "Amiboshi, how long was I asleep?"
"Well...about a day." He replied quietly. "Also, just awhile ago you were having a nightmare."
"Seriously...?" Miaka touched her neck and felt cold and sweaty. Then felt a slight sting on her left cheek which was already starting to turn red.
"Did you...slap me?" She demanded, looking hurt.
Amiboshi glared at her. "You were already screaming so I had to do something!" He defended himself.
"Do you really have to slap so hard?!"
Amiboshi blushed hard, embarrassed. This is in fact the very first time he slapped a girl. "Su-suzaku no miko!" He glared.
"Miaka."
"W-what?"
"You can call me Miaka. Actually, im really not used to being called that. I mean... its just too formal and stiff."
"Uh...fine." calming down, Amiboshi observed her quietly. 'So...this is the priestess of Suzaku. She wears exactly the same clothes as our priestess. But...she doesn't look dangerous as I would have expected from an enemy. Still, she is my enemy. An enemy is an enemy.'
Miaka rubbed her cheek gently and silently looked around. She frowned when she noticed her belongings is no where in sight. "Where are my stuffs?"
"Nakago confiscated them. You are our hostage, why would we let you have something that you might use to escape? We are not that careless." Amiboshi replied coldly.
"There is nothing in my bag that would be useful. I want it back!" Miaka pleaded. It's true that there is nothing in her bag that can help her to escape.
"I can't help with that. Just stay put! And you won't be harmed!" Amiboshi replied back, he looked really annoyed. 'What the hell is wrong with her?! For a moment she is calm and then the next thing you know she is angry!'
Miaka snorted in disbelief at what he said and didn't believe him. She glared at him. "I will not be harmed? Do I looked like a person who isn't harmed?!"
"Be quiet or I'll..." He raised his flute to his mouth to emphasize what he meant. Miaka blinked at him and gave him a weird look.
"What...are you going to do with that? That is only a flute." Miaka placed a hand to her mouth trying not to laugh at the sight. Seriously, what is he going to do with that? Aside from the fact that he doesn't look like a soldier or warrior his flute failed to add any military charisma.
"Do not force me to-" Amiboshi stopped abruptly when the door suddenly opened. Both Miaka and Amiboshi were startled and looked over.
Nakago strode inside casually, ignored Amiboshi who quickly bowed to the side, his cold, emotionless eyes never leaving the miko. Miaka trembled in fear, her body remembered the fight back in the Seiryuu shrine, her hands turned to fist on the bed sheets but she refused to back down and glared back at him. 'Nakago...'
"Finally, you are awake, Suzaku no miko. Did you sleep well?" Nakago's voice was completely detached of any kind of emotion. The temperature surrounding them suddenly dropped negative. Even the soldiers and maids behind him couldn't help but cower in fear. Hospitality towards an enemy is out of the question. He is just here to piss her off!
"What the hell do you want from me...?" She stared back equally.
Nakago chuckled at her attempt to be brave in front of him. Eerily, he move closer and Miaka bit back a whimper.
"Don't force yourself Suzaku no miko. At least your body is very honest."
A vein could already be seen popping on the miko's forehead. "Enough! Just answer me! Return my stuff to me this instant! Why does that disgusting emperor want to attack the Konan empire!"
Everyone in the room gasped in horror, others paled and looked about to faint. Amiboshi just simply froze. Did she just call the emperor disgusting? And in front of the shogun?! Does she have a death wish?! But Miaka wasn't done yet.
"This is completely stupid! The people of Konan haven't done anything wrong to this country! You are all horri-"
Suddenly, there was a quick movement in front of her and before she knew what was happening she felt her body pushed roughly on the bed. The impact made her gasped but a large hand covered her mouth and both wrist were pinned above her head, completely immobilizing her. The bed cricked loudly due to their added weight.
Shocked and horrified, Miaka's eyes widen as Nakago, hovering on top of her, forced her to look at him. The look in his eyes froze her to the core. It's not like he wasn't already intimidating but this time he glared at her with such deadly intensity. His terrifying blue eyes became darker, showing no human emotions, leaving only a thin, steely colored line near his iris.
Back in the shrine she didn't know... that he could be this terrifying and for the first time she feared for her life. Just who is this person in front of her?!
The room became deadly quite even Amiboshi couldn't find it in himself to stop the shogun. The rest did their best to shrink their presence as far away as possible from their leader.
"My dear, little miko, I suggest you stop slandering the emperor with that sweet lips of yours. If not I'll find other ways to keep it close for you." When he felt her tremble under his touch he smirked and tightened his grip on her wrist to prove his point. The tone in his voice indicated clearly that he won't hesitate to use any method to shut her up. If voices could kill it would be his.
"The safety of the southern kingdom and it's people should be your least of concerns." With this, he eyed the servants at the corner of his eye and they quickly scrambled on their feet.
Nakago didn't release his hold on her as they placed several carved boxes in different sizes on top of the table. Miaka wouldn't dare move nor look over to see what they were doing until Nakago's voice captured her senses again.
"Now, while we are at it why don't we commemorate this day with a kiss, my little bride-to-be."
"WHAT?!" She screamed against his hand. She turned her head and looked at the boxes in horror. The boxes were filled with jewelries, shoes, dresses, etc. They all looked luxurious. From pure silver to gold with rich blue designs.
Amiboshi dropped his flute in shock. His mouth hanging open as he watched Miaka's face paled at the sight. 'What the hell did I just hear?!' Amiboshi thought, he couldn't believe what was happening. Surely, Nakago was just trying to get under her skin right? This is just one of his cruel joke.
"NO!" She screamed at him, muffled by his large hand.
Miaka struggled to get away from his tight hold. Seeing this Nakago indulge her by removing his hand from her mouth but still didn't release her wrist.
"Over my dead body, Nakago!" Her voice trembled, how could he think of marriage? Not to mention she is the priestess of Suzaku. "Why in the world would I marry you?! Are you insane?! I'm the priestess of Suzaku-"
"And that is precisely why we are going to marry. If you were any less ordinary I would have cared less and kill you, priestess."
"Enough!" Miaka gasped as Nakago lowered down and whispered in her ear. What he said didn't make any sense at all. She blushed as she felt his lips against her ear.
"You will not escape me. As your future husband, by law, you will remain by my side...and never return to Konan."
"I'd rather die than marry you, jerk! I will summon Suzaku and defeat all of you!" She shouted.
"It seems you are completely oblivious to your situation."
Suddenly she felt his lips on her neck. 'He- why is he kissing me there?!'
"NO! Enough! Stop it!" Desperation consume her, kicking him was futile as his large body caged her small form, and she let out a small scream when she felt a sharp pain on her neck.
Amiboshi blushed several shades at the sight along with the others. 'Just where the hell am I suppose to look?! How shameless!'
Miaka, defeated, felt her body surrender and trembled from all the emotions. She turned her face away from him, disgusted and felt completely toyed and humiliated. Her eyes brimmed with tears.
Satisfied, Nakago released her lightly bruised wrist, got up and preparep
to leave.
"Enjoy your last days of being single, priestess."
...
...
Back in Konan Empire:
"You're the priestess of seiryuu?" Hotohori, the young emperor of Konan, asked.
Yui bowed respectfully and nodded. "I believe so. It would explain the blue light that brought me here."
Chichiri, Tamahome, and Nuriko stood behind her.
"You're highness, I beg your forgiveness. We weren't able to save Miaka." Chichiri bowed low, regretful.
Hotohori slowly shook his head. "It's no one's fault, Chichiri. Don't blame yourself. However, we must find a way to save Miaka as soon as possible."
Chichiri, Tamahome, and Nuriko bowed at the same. "Yes, your highness."
Nuriko eyed Yui suspiciously. "I don't understand. Why did you fight with Miaka? Aren't you her best friend?
"Well..." Yui frowned at this. "It's...complicated."
"Yui,what happened?" Tamahome asked. Yui looked down.
"Even if you are the priestess of seiryuu, she is your best friend! Why would you fight over nothing?" Nuriko continued.
Yui looked at Tamahome for a moment. "I was... angry because she betrayed me."
"What?!" They all looked shocked.
"Betrayed you? H-how is that possible?" Tamahome and the rest looked confused. Have they missed something?
"You all have no idea what I went through. I'm angry because all she cared about was her own happiness, she never cared about me! When I came to this world I was raped!" Yui almost yelled in frustration and humiliation.
Everyone paled at this and Yui continued. "I kept calling for her but she never came to help me! I wanted to kill myself but Nakago was always by my side. He helped me when no one can! For three months I waited for her, it's all her fault!"
Yui glared and wiped away a tear. For a moment the court went silent, letting the information sink in.
"Yui..." Tamahome wasn't sure what to say. Of course, he felt really sorry for her and never thought that a girl like her would go through a horrifying experience like that. And Miaka... he couldn't imagine her betraying Yui.
"Lady Yui..." Hotohori, finally spoke. Something is really off. "Is it true, what you speak?"
Yui frowned. "Yes. And I understand if you don't believe me. I am after all the priestess of seiryuu."
"Its not that I don't believe you, lady Yui. It's just that something doesn't make any sense." He replied as gentle as possible.
"What do you mean, your highness?" Nuriko asked.
Hotohori continued. "If what you said is that truth then you are not the priestess of Seiryuu. Only a pure maiden from another world can be a priestess, otherwise she won't be able to summon the beast god."
"Eh?!"
"What?!"
Yui looked at the emperor with eyes widen. 'What...? I was raped... I know it, but... wha-why did Nakago...'
From the way the emperor was looking at her, she could tell that he wasn't lying. Chichiri even nodded to confirm this information.
"Then, Yui is...?"
Slowly, Yui felt her heart's rate started to increase. The meaning behind his highness words dawning upon her. 'No...no...no! Does this mean that Nakago lied to me?! If I was really raped why would he...ask me to become the priestess?'
"Nakago..." Yui started to shake in disbelief. "Nakago...told me that Miaka never cared for me..." her words trailing off, barely a whisper.
"When Miaka returned to this world, her first intention was to look for you, Lady Yui." The Emperor replied.
"Then that means Miaka never betrayed her!" Nuriko exclaimed.
With that said, horrified, Yui fainted.
End of Chapter 2
Author's note: Thank you so much for reading :) I hope you liked it. I know my grammar may not be good but I hope you enjoyed. Please don't forget to comment :)