Ten-Faced Paladin
Fushigi Yugi: Dansei Tsure
By Ten-Faced Paladin
Chapter 4: The Preistess of Suzaku
Under the emperors palace, Tamahome, the young lady, and the young man were imprisoned in the basement dungeon of the palace.
Matthew sat against the cold clammy walls of stone and silently came to the conclusion that today was probably one of the worst days of his life. True, not everyone could say they could see a variant of ancient China inside a book, but seeing how criminals were treated was not one of those things he really needed to know.
He looked to the opposite wall and saw Tamahome still brooding about the situation. He hadn't said anything since they were brought in. Matthew figured that he was freaked out about the light that they had generated which was why they were probably in the dungeon and not on the executioner's block right now.
Miaka seemed to be taking it best at the moment. Shortly after they were brought in, she fell asleep while leaning on Tamahome's shoulder. Matthew figured that Tamahome was going to charge her for a pillow fee when she woke up. A while after she fell asleep, Miaka began mumbling and tossing while she slept. It seemed she was having a bad dream of sorts. All of a sudden, she glomped onto Tamahome in what seemed to be a comforting hug.
"So don't look so sad," she mumbled in her half-awake stupor.
"But we are so sad!" both males spoke at the same time.
Miaka shrieked and leaped backwards when reality finally caight up to her. She almost crashed into Matthew. The taller boy sighed as he watched her catch her breath.
"There you are," Tamahome sighed. "Snoozing like a baby while we're locked in the palace dungeon!"
"The girl can fall asleep anywhere," Matthew remarked sarcastically. "She's done it enough times in class."
"Tamahome!" Miaka shriekd while ignoring Matthew's comment. "You scared me!"
"You're scared?" Tamahome sighed. "I'm terrified!"
Tamahome huffed as he leaned against the wall again. He eyed the two in front of him, trying to figure them out. Miaka looked normal enough except for her clothes. Matthew on the other hand was obviously from outside the country. Tamahome just couldn't tell from where. The light that he saw both of them generate was also nagging on his mind. Granted, he'd seen some weird things before but that was the newest one for him. Deciding to just go for the hell of it, he finally asked.
"Where are you two from anyway?" he asked. "What was that light anyway?"
Miaka scratched the back of her neck nervously while Matthew just sighed and looked Tamahome straight in the eye.
"Well, to be brief," he began. "Miaka comes from a land to the far east. It's across the ocean. My home is way faroff to the north-west. I was visiting Miaka's country when the two of us and Yui found a way here. That's where you found us. That light you saw was probably how we got here."
Tamahome nodded, "Okay, I'll buy that." he then looked to Miaka. "What's up with your mom? You whispered her name while you were tossing in your sleep."
"Um...ah," Miaka sputtered while a gloom of depression seemed to fall over her features.
"I have no idea what your problem is about," Tamahome continued. "but you shouldn't be too stubborn." A kind expression took over his face as he looked into Miaka's eyes. "See, all kids care about their parents, and all parents care about their kids."
Miaka blinked as understanding went on like a light bulb, "Y-your'e right. I gotta go home and apologize. That's such a nice thing to say. I'm impressed."
"Good," Tamahome smirked as he held out his hand. "'Cause that'll be a five Mon counselling fee."
A stress vein popped onto Miaka's head as she slapped his hand away. Matthew snorted some laughter. He was quickly changing his opinion of Tamahome, but he didn't see him breaking his business character anytime soon.
Inside the Palace
The emperor sat in contemplation upon his throne. He had many things on his mind and he believed that two of the three prisoners may hold the answers for many of the country's problems. His thoughts were interrupted as two of his advisors walked to the throne.
"Why haven't you had them executed yet?!" the first one shouted.
"Especially the young man and woman! They gave off that strange light and attempted to vanish!" the second spoke. "They might be evil spirits come to do you harm your majesty! With your permission..."
"One moment," the emperor interrupted. "We have cause to believe that one of those two may be the youth spoken of in our legends."
Both of the advisors gasped in disbelief. They couldn't believe that their own emperor could suggest that eithe rof the street urchins could even be the one that everyone of their kingdom hoped to appear and save them all.
"Impossible!" they both shouted.
Dungeons
Matthew scratched the side of his head in confusion. He thought he heard someeoe shouting. After a moment he decided to shrug it off and get back to the problem at hand. Getting the hell out of the dungeons and hopefully back to where the sun shone. He and Miaka could probably leave anytiome they wanted to with the book, but that would leave Tamahome stuck here and he wasn't about to do that to the poor guy.
"You have anything that can help?" Matthew asked Miaka.
"I might," she replied as she began digging in her pockets. All that she pulled out was a few sticks of gum. She was at first disappointed but she then got an idea. Who said these people had seen anyone chew gum before?
"All right!" Miaka smiled. "Snacks!"
She then unwrapped the gum and threw it in her mouth. The guard looked at her sternly as she did so, "Hey, what did you just put in your mouth? Out with it!"
"This?" Miaka aske innocently as she chewed. "If you say so."
She then proceeded to blow a large bubble. Tamahome and the guard immediately began to freak out, "What the hell is that?!" both of them shouted in surprise. Miaka stepped closer to the guard as Matthew began to laugh at his fear over something harmless.
"Get it away from me!" the gaurd cried as Miaka stepped even closer. Tamahome seemed he was going to go into shock or something.
The bubble finally couldn't take anymore and popped loudly. The shock was too much for the hapless guard and he passed out cold on the floor. Matthew was rolling on the floor because he was laughing so hard and Tamahome was finally catching his breath. Miaka cad pink gum all over her face.
"He passed out! Way to go!" Tamahome cheered as he clasped Miaka's hand victoriously.
"Fnnk ouu," Miaka mumbled through the mess on her face.
"Sure, just cleam your face would you?" Matthew smiled as he stood up.
Later, the threee companions were making their way out of the main dungeons. Tamahome was freaking out with the extra strips of gum that Miaka had given him. Matthew even tossed him some that he had brought along.
"Are you serious?!" Tamahome gasped. "You're givng this to me? It's too good to be true!"
"It's true," Miaka replied. "It's just gum though. Why don't you try it?"
"Are you nuts?!" Tamahome shouted as he cluitched the candy. "I can't eat something this precious! I could sell this for one Ryo! Do you hear me? ONE RYO!!"
"Sure," Matthew sighed. "Whatever."
Miaka had lost interest in the conversation and was actually paying more attention to a shrine that was dedicted to a great red bird.
"Tamahome," Miaka called. "What's this bird?"
"That's Suzaku. Everyone knows that," Tamahome sighed. "You definitely aren't from around here."
"Suzaku, Genbu, Byakko, and Seiryu," Matthew spoke. "The four gods, right?"
"Right," Tamahome nodded. "Each of the four empires worship a different god."
While Tamahome and Matthew were comparing notes on the four gods, Miaka had her intersts elsewhere. SHe had caught wiff of a delicious smell and she wanted to find just what that smell belonged to. Following her nose and releasing a bit of drool, she began her quest.
Tamahome and Matthew had just noticed that the female of the group was missing. Tamahome sweatdropped while Matthew put a hand to his face in agitation. He then caught a wiff of what had stolen Miaka from them.
"Food," Matthew sighed. "She caught a wiff of food. That's the only thing that can make her move this fast."
"So what do we do now?" Tamahome groaned.
"What else?" Matthew asked. "We have to find her. "Her brother will kill me if he finds out I let something happen to her. COme to think of it, he might kill me if he finds out I was with her for this long at all."
"She your girlfriend?" Tamahome smirked as they made for the door.
"No!" Matthew snapped. "But her brother will assume that she is and give me the whole overprotective brother bit before I can even tell him otherwise."
Tamahome just continued to smirk. He had a feeling that he could tease Mattheww about this in the future. To aleviate boredom anyway.
While the boys were trying to find her, Miaka had managed to wander into the kitchen. It was amzing how accute a person's senses are when they concentrate. She foundherself looking at a gorgeous meal that made her drool even more as she gazed on it. Needless to say, she pounced on it like a hungry predator. The cooking staff didn't even notice until she was gone. They never knew what hit them to say the least.
"Now that I'm fed," Miaka smiled. "It's time for me and Matt to head home."
She then gasped when she realised that she was in somplace unfamiliar. Everything looked the same and she couldn't even figure out where the door was. She just had to help Tamahome escape and she also had to bring Matt back with her. No telling what his guardians would do to her if he didn't come back with her.
"The door is that way," a new voice laughed.
Miaka turned around and saw one of the most beautiful people even sitting on a railing, wrapped in a cloak talking to her. Their voice was just so gentle she instantly assumed the person to be a woman.
"Oh, hello," Miaka greeted.
"Say, aren't you the girl that they brought in yesterday?" the person asked.
Miaka instantly stiffened, "Nopenopenope. I'm just the usual passerby. Well, I must be going. Nice meeting you!"
"Don't worry," the person laughed. "The guards won't hear about you from me. Since neither of us are doing anything, why don't I give you the grand tour of the palace?"
Miaka was just stunned by the kindness that ths person exuded towards her.
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Tamohome and Matthew were sneaking aroundd the corners of the palace buildings, trying to find Miaka. Suffice to say that they weren't having much luck.
"Where did she go?" Tamahome growled to herself.
"Hell if I know," Matthew grumbled. "We already checked the kitchen so she could be anywhere by now."
The two of them crept around the corner of yet another building to see if they could find their wayward friend. Instead, they appeared in front of a servants face as he stood by the stairs of the palace.
"Shit," Matthew growled.
"Get the guards!" the man shouted. "I found two of the prisoners!"
"Run for it!" Tamahome ordered sharply. "We can be a distraction while Miaka escapes."
"That's rather generous of you Tamahome," Matthew smirked as they ran. "You're just fulll of surprises."
"Don't get used to it kid," Tamahome snorted, a grin on his face.
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"So you need to find your companions?" Miaka's guide asked her.
"Yes," Miak nodded. "We wouldn't even be here if it weren't for me. We can't even go back to our own world until he's safe."
Miak gasped sharply and covered her mouth. She was wishing to any kind of power out there that her guide hadn't heard her. Those powers weren't in the mood to listen at the moment.
"You and one of the young men...came from another world?" her guide gasped.
Miaka looked at the ground sadly, "You probably don't believe me. I don't blame you. You probably think I'm crazy."
"Not at all!" the guide smiled. "I just love stuff like that!"
The guide then began to examine everything about her, commenting about how incredible she was. Her clothes, hair, and even her eyes were all examined with a curious gaze. Miaka couldn't help but think she was like a freakshow or something at the moment.
"Oh, I forgot to tell you my name, didn't I?" the guide gasped. "I'm Hotohori. People call me by another name though."
"Um, I'm Miaka Yuki," Miaka introduced. "Just call me Miaka."
"Please stop talking about leaving and please stay," Hotohori said geently, a new gaze overcoming 'her' face. "I know for a fact that the emperor would never have you killed."
Miaka couldn't help but feel flustered as Hotohori touched her face and spoke so gently. She quietly asked herself just why she was getting so excited by a 'woman.'
"So, how about it?" Hotohori smiled.
"Oh...um..well,I" Miaka sputtered.
Hotohori suddenly seemed to grow more serious as 'she' heard someone coming. 'she' instantly hustled Miaka over to the bushes near the building.
"Hide here!" Hotohori whispered as 'she' hid next to her.
Miaka watched some guards turn around the corner and gasped when she saw who was with them. Matthew and Tamahome.
"Spill it!" one guard snapped. "Where is the girl!"
"Beats me," Matthew remarked casually.
"She got away while you were too busy chasing us.Isn't that funny?" Tamahome added with a smirk.
"So you were just some decoy?" a guard barked while he clocked Tamahome on the head.
"Tamahome! Matthew!" Miaka cried as she stepped into view.
"Oh my God," Matthew sighed. "What is the point of us being decoys if you're still here?!"
"I can't just leave you two!" Miaka shouted back.
A guard lunged to grab Miaka, but he met a face full of Tamahome's shoe. Another tried but Matthew tripped him, feeding him dirt when he hit the ground.
"You bastards!" one of the downed guards growled.
"Lay one finger on her," Tamahome warned.
"We'll kill you," Matthew finished.
The guards looked ready to try again before they were interrupted.
"Enough!" a commanding voicce shouted. Everyone tunred to see Hotohori removing 'her' cloak. "You are not permitted to touch any of those three without my direct order!"
"Hotohori?" Miaka gasped in surprise.
"Your majesty!" the guards gasped as they bowed. Tamahome seemed to be going into shock again while Miaka and Matthew seemed confused.
"How can such a beautiful woman be the emperor?" Miaka asked quietly.
"How dense are you?!" Tamahome snapped. "His majesty is all man!"
"Wasn't the voice enough of a tip-off!?" Matthew added.
Miaka seemed to be in shock as realisation hit her. She then walked up calmly top Hotohori and placed her hands on his chest.She seemed so intent on examining him.
"It's flat!" she gasped. "Nothing above and there's a mysterious object below that I know nothing about."
"Were you repressed when you were younger?!" Matthew roared in annoyance.
Later
Everyone was seated before Hotohori who was now donned in his imperial robes. He seemed lie a totally different person with his hair donne up and dressed more manly.
"Our apologies," Hotohori said humbly. "Trickery was not our intention. We merely wished to understand you better."
Matthew withheld the urge to remark on the treat ment but instead internally ranted on how sitting on his knees was killing him. Little did he know that Tamahome was thinking along the same lines.
"At least we have disproved the theory that you and Matthew are not demons," Hotohori smiled.
"So, you're going to let us go?" Miaka smiled.
"Of course, you will not be executed," he smiled
"I'm liking this guy," Matthew smiled.
"However, we only ask request one thing," Hotohori continued. "Will either you or Matthew protect our empire asthe priest of Suzaku?"
"Huh?" both Matthew and Miaka grunted.
"We only need one of you," Hotohori continued. "There is a legend in our land. When the empire is in danger, then a youth from another world will appear seeking the power of Suzaku. With that power, the youth will lead the empire into glory."
Hotohori looked down at the ground before him in contemplation, "This youth, called the priest, or preistess, of Suzaku, whichever you prefer, has finally arrived. They sit before us now."
"You've got it all wrong!" Miaka cried, earning stares from everyone. "I'm just a junior high student cramming for my exams! I'm here by mistake!"
"Yet I assume both of you are here with a wish, correct?" Hotohori asked. "You both came here seeking the power of Suzaku so your wish can be granted, yes?"
Miaka gasped as reality came at her with a two-ton brick again. She was in a world where she coulld become a hero ofthe world. Where a god could grant her wish. She could be getting anything she wanted. She could be a hottie or get any guy she wanted like Yui! She was going to so do this!
Tamahome just stared at her like she was something weird again. Matthew just smiled. He figured that Miaka would make a better priestess than he would be as a priest. Besides, her wishes were far more important than his.
"I-I could get into whatever school I want to," Miaka gasped.
"So modest," Hotohori smiled. "Have you ever considered ruling the world?"
Miaka didn't even seem to hear them as she leaped forward, "I am so there! I'll do it!I'll be the preistess of Suzaku! I have been waiting this for so long!"
"Everyone stand back!" Hotohori said seriously. "This young lady will obtain the power of Suzaku! This is the preistess of Suzaku that will protect our empire!"
Miaka rubbed the back of her neck as she looked at everyone staring at her. Matthew only had a smile on his face. He was the onlly person who wasn't staring at her like she was a goddess oof some sort.
"I hope I don't disappoint," she muttered shyly.
She then looked back to Hotohori while wearing a sweet smile, "Well, I think I'd better get home."
"What do you mean?" asked Hotohori. "You just said-"
"I know, I know," Miaka sighed. "But I have to apologize to my mom. I have school too."
Hey, what's this book doing on the floor?
Miaka snapped around, trying to find the voice. She couldn't see anyone who seemed to have heard it, but Matthew was reacting to it.
Looks like the door lock is broken.
"Is that the librarian?" Matthew asked urgently.
"Don't close the book!" Miaka cried.
A deep slamming sound that echoed in Miaka and Matthew's minds. That sealed their fate. Their only way home was now blocked. With the exit cut off, there was no way for them to get back home.
"Ain't life just grand," Matthew groaned while holding his head.
To Be Continued
A/N: Hello everyone! Are you happy to see me again? I hope you enjoy this newest update. If you have any questions or comments then feel free to review. No flames though. I don't respond to flames.