Fushigi Yuugi:
Life As It Is
"I see. That is quite the situation." Emperor Seihei commented from his now relaxed pose on his throne.
"So you see, Your Majesty," Chichiri concluded, "We mustn't let people know of their village, you know. It could cause a huge disturbance and frighten the public, you know."
"I agree." Slowly, Hotohori's eyes traveled to meet those of the Water bearer. He could tell just by the shade of her eyes that what she had told him was the truth; they were the same blue hue as the sea. They also gave off the feeling of tranquility when she stared into him.
Fearful, he also looked to the girl of Fire. Jem had held her by the ear at her side ever since the two blue-haired people had begun to explain the Elementals scenario. She wiggled almost like Tasuki would have, which was a bit calming. But still, she held that glint of someone who was trying to 'get something'. He sweat-dropped and turned back to his quieter guest.
"What is it that you would like me to do for your people? I can have my attendants assist you immediately." Said attendants had been asked to leave for the duration of the meeting, but Hotohori was willing to call them in, should it mean aiding the cause of these young ladies.
"We don't want anything, really," Jem shrugged and sighed, seeing that she could relax a bit, now that the serious portion of the conversation was over, "We just need you to keep us a secret."
"But surely you do not expect me to ignore an entire village of young ladies in the middle of the forest." Hotohori stated.
"Sire, if I may?" Chichiri's serious voice called. The sound made Jem's ears ring.
"What is it, Chichiri?"
"I think it would be wise if Tasuki and I continue to make periodic trips to the village. Afterwards, once we consult with Miss Koa, perhaps we can have each of the other Suzaku members visit as well. It would probably be most beneficial if Mitsukake was next, seeing as how they don't have proper medical care there, you know?"
"HEY, WAIT! I'm the leader there!" Enzeru whined and thrashed wildly. She went unnoticed for the time being, seeing as how Hotohori's nerves were still wrecked.
"That sounds fine to me. But why must we ask 'Miss Koa'?"
"She is the leader and main care taker of the village. She is the one who walked out with Tasuki, in the green suit."
"HELLO!"
"Oh, I see. Very good. Ah, Jem, was it?"
"Yes, your majesty?" She suddenly felt like a spy, bowing to the Emperor and dealing in secrets. She responded proudly, a firm and dedicated look on her face.
"Will you speak to your sister Koa about the matter?"
"Yes, sire. I will once I return." 'This is so cool!'
"Alright, I think we are finished for today. Chichiri, I assume you will be returning to the village for the night?"
"Why not? I like it there, you know. And I figure, the more Miss Koa can learn to trust us, so will the other girls, and then Mitsukake will be able to join us sooner, you know?"
"Perfect. Again, if you ladies need anything, please do not hesitate to ask."
"Thank you, your majesty." She bowed once she rose to her feet. But then, as she bowed, her heart constricted. Her breath was cut short, as her heart had affected her entire body. 'What…what's this?' She knew that fearing the random attack would only add complications, but how could she not fear such a strong, sharp pain in her chest?
"Jem? What's wrong?" She heard a child-like voice in the back of her ears slowly becoming louder. Her hand muscles twitched, before her arms fell limply before her. Her back muscles also froze, making it impossible for her to stand upright. In accordance, her jaw also locked up. 'What's…happening to me?!' She was becoming more and more frightened.
Though a few seconds later, her body shot upwards. She was okay again, whatever 'okay' meant exactly. Blinking with surprise, she looked up at the ceiling and adored it.
"Um…Jem?" The blue haired monk tried again. He watched her eyes drift in and out, her color fading and returning. Her sudden intake of breath had worried him more so then he would have guessed.
"Yeah…I'm fine…now…" She whispered her last part as she rose her hands to her eyes and clenched them slowly, making sure the feeling had returned completely. But past her fingers, she saw Enzeru at the Emperor's side again.
"AH! ENZERU!"
"Hoto-kun, let's plaaaaaaay!"
"Chi-Chichiri!"
"I'm on it, sire!"
!oxo! At the village… !oxo!
The four current residents in the village sat quietly inside Koa's hut. The men sat across from each other, as did the women. The only one of the foursome who seemed to show any emotion was the only one without elemental powers.
"…So, how is everyone?" Seiteki asked shyly. It took Koa a moment to reply. She tossed her hair over her shoulder as she waited.
"We are all well. Enzeru returned recently, and is in good health. We had a minor setback a few days ago, but found some unexpected help…"
"We can see that," Hyou said with a bit of a smug attitude. He waved to the Suzaku warrior with such aloofness, "Hey there, mind telling us nobodies your name?"
"Normally, you introduce yourself before asking for someone else's name." Tasuki glared fiercely.
"Koa already said our names. Back when we met on the trail, remember?"
Growling substituted a response.
"His name is Tasuki. He is of the Suzaku seven." The Earth mistress answered with a sigh.
"KOA!"
"Oh, enough. There's no secrets to be kept anymore." Koa hissed soundly while her eyes glared deeply into his, then she turned back to Seiteki with a small. She sounded as if she could have used a drink, but Tasuki wondered if she had even ever heard of drinking alcohol.
"Ah, Tasuki. The 'Mountain'-symbol one."
Everyone was shocked to hear this come from the winter man.
"How did you know that?" Tasuki grilled.
"I know my Universe of the Four Gods knowledge." Hyou smirked proudly.
"…Really?" Seiteki asked.
"Why is she surprised?!" Tasuki whelped and pointed.
"It's important to know your enemies inside out." His reasoning made the 'Mountain'-symbol bearer even more cautious about his presence.
"No, they aren't our enemies. They have not done anything wro—"
"Koa, we saw you leave the palace. But were you there long enough to hear what…" Seiteki looked to Hyou for the name she needed.
"Hotohori, or Seihei."
"Right! So were you there long enough to hear what Emperor Hotohori had to say about your little family here?" It was hard to tell if she was being kind, or envious.
"…No."
"Right. So I think you should considered coming back home now."
"What?" Koa and Tasuki shouted, though with different intentions in mind.
"Your father has agreed to let you all back into the family. That's why we've come here."
'There's…even more?! What, are these people like rabbits or something?'
'TASUKI!' A furious female voice rang in his ears. Shaking, he smiled nervously at the one whom he had a telepathic relation with.
"Now, there is a catch," Hyou waved a finger, "You will have to be separated from the others for a while. Daddy wants to run some tests on you, to make sure." He ended his sentence, but made it sound as if the last word was still hanging, open for more explanation. As if he was going to give any.
"For how long?"
"Six months." Seiteki said, her eye brows tilted upward sympathetically.
"Th-That's unheard of! I have to take care o—"
"You won't have to anymore." Hyou declared.
Time seemed to stop. A life she only imagined was being offered to her. A world where Enzeru wasn't an issue any longer. One where she only had to wait out six months through work for her father, and she would have the life she had always wanted. The pain she had felt for the last half an hour seemed to be melting away.
'Don't do it, Koa.' Growled a voice. Catching the sight of the Suzaku in the room, she almost gasped. He looked so mature and manly, in his position against the wall. His eyes held such strength and wisdom that one would assume was beyond him. Still, he was asking a lot of her.
'Why do you think I will listen to you?'
'You just added me and Chichiri to your group of friends, right? If you leave, what will happen to those Blood Oaths we made? And after all the trouble we all went through the last couple of days too. If you left your family in the first place, why would you wanna go back now?'
Though he was unaware of what his last comment meant, he did make some important points. She decided that if Hyou couldn't clear the air, she would…
"What will happen to the Blood Oaths Jem and I made with the two from Suzaku?"
"You…performed Blood Oaths…with two of them?! And they lived?! WOW!" Seiteki was instantly fascinated by the orange-haired man, and began staring at him with wonder in her eyes. Tasuki was doing his best not to let it get under his skin.
"We'd have to kill them, of course."
Again, the two females and Tasuki stared fiercely at the silver-toned man.
"…Wh-What?" Koa was flabbergasted.
"Heh. What makes you think you could?" Instantly, Tasuki bore his fangs and had his diamond fan drawn.
"Hey, Hyou," Seiteki whined, "Can't we just say that we never knew about this?"
"No, Sei'ki. We would be disowned for it."
"Don't talk as if you could kill me when you don't anything about me!"
"But didn't I just say, moments ago, that I know all about the Universe of the Four Gods?"
"…Shut up and fight me!" Tasuki whined, then leapt over the table, toward the suave and aloof man.
"ENOUGH!" Tasuki tried to freeze, knowing who's call that was, but ended up on his arse. Again, he was whining as he turned to face her, but backed down when he saw her angry eyes, "I will NOT have you two fighting in my house, or in my village! Hyou, Seiteki, tell Father that I will not return to that village to suit his fancy, and neither will my sisters! We will continue living hear, until I decide otherwise, since that was my original task! Now kindly, will the two of you leave?"
"…K-Koa—" Never had she called her Seiteki before.
"Out!" This time, the Earthen maiden pointed to the door without as much as batting an eyelash at them.
"Alright, no need to be so hostile. See ya later sis." Hyou walked briskly to his green eyed sister and kissed her on the cheek. Tasuki almost leapt out of his skin.
Seiteki made a small 'oh' noise, then jumped up to follow her brother. She bowed out the door, then ran only three steps outside before bumping into his back.
"It really is peaceful here, isn't it?" He whispered soothingly. After twitching her nose, she looked up at the back of his head and smiled. Then, she walked to his side and leaned on his shoulder.
"Mmhmm. I wish we had been given these orders."
"Yeah, but they were banished because their acceptance is gonna be harder then ours. By ten fold, I bet."
"Yeah…I don't even want to imagine that…" Sadly, Seiteki gripped onto Hyou sleeve. That was when he knew it was time to go.
"Alright! I wanted to see Enzeru again before leaving, but I guess I can wait around for next time. Let's go, Sei'k—"
"Um, actually," the Thundress piped up, "I think I am going to stay here."
Hyou shot her a cool, surprised expression, "Really now?"
"Yeah. I think I'll stay and watch over them. Sort of like surveillance. If anything strange starts happening, I'll let you know, okay?"
"…Alright, fine. But if you see Enzeru, tell her to head over to the Main Point, okay?" The man who controlled ice patted her on the head gently, and somewhat stroked her hair.
"Okay, I will. Now stop treating me like a kid and go." It was clear she was fighting a giggle by covering it with a frown.
Taking one last chance to show his sister his care for her, Hyou leapt off and headed home. Seiteki watched him fly past the tree tops, then waited until he was out of sight to sigh. With a sad look on her face, she headed into the hut she was sure to be Arashi's.
!oxo! Back in Koa's Hut…!oxo!
"…Koa…"
"What?" She barked harshly. By now, she was sitting on her bed with her hands squeezing her knee caps quite painfully.
"…I wanted…to say thanks…for not…going anywhere."
"Oh, it wasn't just for you, Tasuki. Or Chichiri. I would put the entire Main Point at risk if we suddenly moved there. I would lose my sisters for six months, and all my forest friends. I already have a hard enough time, I don't need to be alone for six months too. And I don't even know when my time is coming, so I am on wits-end about my own physical status too!"
"Your," –a flashback occurred, '…it…it burns! Tasuki, it burns!...I can't…live…onward…'— "time? What does that mean, Koa?" His voice was filled with fright and dominance. He could tell she realized she had said something more then she should have by the tone of his voice, and instantly began locking herself inside.
"No, it's not important—"
"Koa, you better tell me what that means right now." He approached her steadily, his eyes as fierce as a mountain lion hunting. Her stress and feelings began to bubble over; she couldn't take the pressure right now.
"Please! I'll tell you later, but just leave me alone for now!"
Her shrill, craking, overwhelmed voice struck a chord in Tasuki's bandit heart. With fists tightened fiercely at his side, by a quick twist of his heels, he was out the door and off into the woods. His target would be Tsumeato.
!oxo! Back at the Konan Palace, In the Courtyard… !oxo!
Little feet pitter-pattered like the sound of a fly; almost impossible to tell when they fell or rose. A small heart beat profusely, and if not for her good health, she would be having a heart attack. But in a powerful moment, the fast and loud sounds were terminated as the owner of them ran into something and hit the ground. Panicking, she began to scramble away.
"Hey, hey. Mikomi, it's me. Calm down," Eyes as wide as dinner plates, Mikomi looked up to see Arashi. After pausing to soak in the security of the moment, the little one almost tackled the Wind Mistress' legs with a hug, "Whoa! What happened? Mikomi? What's wrong?"
"…I hate this place now!" She sobbed into Arashi's knee.
"Oh, sweetie. Me too. I hate it too." Then, Arashi knelt down and they shared a tender moment, comforting each other over their hatred of the deemed hell hole.
"…What…are you two doing?" A confused voice asked from above. The ones on the ground looked toward the sun, and met the face of Jem. Behind her, she pulled Enzeru by the ear, again.
"We're…sympathizing." Arashi answered with a melodramatic façade. Mikomi nodded in agreement as tears ran down her cheeks like a pair of rivers.
"What's wrong?" Suddenly, the Suzaku monk popped out from behind the two females.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" The crying duo wailed.
"HIS FACE MAKES ME WANNA GO HOME AND HIDE!"
"What?!"
"I DON'T LIKE THIS PLACE! PEOPLE LIKE HIM LIVE HERE!"
"HUH?!"
"Guys, knock it off!" Jem shouted, "C'mon now! Let's--…Ah, let's head home." On a wobble first step, Jem began guiding her family to their village; it was the first time she had taken control.