Edge 6: A Linking Emergence: Light and Darkness

The snake-woman hissed. "I'm going to fight you, fairly..." She walks a few steps and stretched her right arm. "Whether I win or I lose, I must bring you to your respectful catacombs." Her pet cobra slowly crawled until it reaches its tail on her hand, and becomes a snake halberd. She holds it tightly.

Empress Ying turned to Hikarou, "Don't be foolish, Lady Hikarou! You're just only a mere mortal. You'll be killed if you continue to behave like that! Leave this to me!" The empress stood up and all of the sudden, Hikarou stops her by blocking the empress with her stretched left arm.

"Even though I'm a mortal, I'm ready to sacrifice my life for the people of this land… I owe you and the others."

"But… Lady Hikarou…" The fired-up priestess looked back seriously at her, with a facial expression, "don't-say-it".

She winked back at the empress. "Your Highness, I'm sorry if I'm going to be rude this time. I tend to be mischievous… sometimes. Don't worry, I'm not afraid to get bruised or to die. I'm always entwined with danger." She points the enemy "I wouldn't let this hideous-looking reptile to get what she wants. Just back me up, your Grace." and she faces the enemy bravely.

"Who're you calling hideous? Didn't your mother teach you manners and good conduct? Mortals are really dirtier than us!" The snake-woman got pissed.

"Look at the mirror, you bitch! Yeah, my mom taught me manners but I'm not looking up on obnoxious creatures like you. So, beware of my wrath you FUCKING MUTANT REPTILE!" Hikarou charged first and the enemy blocked the attack. Both of them are now on an intense battle, and the empress had nothing to do but to watch.

"Be careful…" The empress silently prayed. But during the intense, sword clashing combat, one danger is coming on the list… and that is behind the empress… as another cobra silently crawls towards her.

Min You sighs as she turn off the lanterns around the palace. "Damn… I'm an artisan-in-the-making, not an ordinary palace maid… Argh…" She frustratingly says as she turns off the last lantern.

"If Hikarou knew this, I'm sure she's gonna teach that woman MANNERS." She sighed again as she walks through out the palace hallway and passes by at Hikarou's chamber.

"Maybe she's already asleep. Better finish these or else, that stingy old hag will pop out any minute." She thought and heard footsteps. She quietly panicked, with poise and pretends to turn off the remaining lighted lanterns. "Madam Kou, I'm almost finished!!" She pretends to wipe off her sweat and puts her hands on her waist. "Ready to doze..." She turns around and suddenly sees Emperor Yang, still on his imperial robes. Her eyes widen with shock. She quickly bows down.

"I'm sorry, Your Majesty… I thought you're Madam Kou. I deserve punishment." She nervously apologizes as she repeatedly bows down. The emperor chuckled. "Child, it's alright. You did nothing wrong." The confused maid stops and sighs with relief by fanning herself with her hand while pouting.

"Majesty, may I ask why are you wandering around?"

"I'm looking for the empress. She has been away from the chamber for quite a while. Have you seen her walking around here?"

The young maid shakes her head. "No. I haven't seen her, unlike to our young lady here." She points Hikarou's chamber and quietly opens the chamber. Unfortunately, she found out that the miko isn't there and approaches Emperor Yang.

"She's not inside." Suddenly, she sees the Nu Kwa's sword lying on the floor. She slowly picks it up. "How careless of her to let her put this thing here! This is an important treasure of our country! Oh… that girl's going to get some of my words of wisdom!" She said annoyingly. "Majesty, do you think she accompanied the empress on her nightly routine walk?"

"I don't know..." All of a sudden, he feels an odd presence.

"Min You, did you feel that?"

The maid nodded and concentrates to give emphasis on the presence. "It's coming from the Main Temple. I felt that barrier has been destroyed." Emperor Yang's eyes widen.

"It couldn't be… Min You, we must go to there, NOW!" Min You looked back and firmly nodded.

Miaka, wearing her miko clothes, watches the awed night sky of Konan. She has been left puzzled on how she and Taka are strangely transported back, though they didn't use the Universe of the Four Gods as a medium.

"What's the purpose of having us back here? This is really odd…" She thought of this on her mind while thinking. A voice was then heard that disturbed her from her deep thinking.

"Miaka, is there something bothering you? I've been observing you for hours no da. You look so serious. It doesn't seem like you." She turned around and saw Chichiri. "How long have you been there?" She asked with a dumbfounded expression.

"Who knows." The monk replied and looked at the sky with his hands behind him. Miaka sweatdropped and sighed. "Where's Taka and Tasuki?"

"Tasuki accompanied him to the imperial throne room. Houki-sama and His Highness wanted to talk to him. They haven't had a conversation for quite a time. Also, they'll discuss the mysterious disasters happening in Konan, no da."

"I see. I've noticed the sudden changes. Konan isn't like this when I was the priestess, Chichiri. I want to save this nation again; even if my role has finished for a very long time."

Silence surrounded them. Chichiri took off his mask and looked at Miaka. Before, he knew her to be a naïve, immature teenager during her miko days. Now, she has changed a lot and has become a courageous and dignified woman. Yet, her caring side still remains.

"You're still the same even after everything has changed. You still care for everyone back here even after the time has passed by so fast." The monk asked Miaka to accompany him walking onto the hallway. She listens attentively while Chichiri is talking.

"Houki-sama became the Queen Mother when the emperor got married. He's overjoyed that he has now a prince and a princess few years later. Mitsukake and Shoka have become the famous doctors of the country. Tasuki left the bandit business for a while and accompanies me traveling. Chiriko now holds one of the top officials here in the palace. Lastly, as for Nuriko and Hotohori no da…" he paused for a while and then resumed. "They have been good friends."

"Good friends? Taka told me that Nuriko got reincarnated as a girl. Why they didn't end up together just like Mitsukake and Shoka?"

"Well…" he scratched his temple. "Their other personality sides, Eian and Reishun have feelings for each other… " He sighs desperately. "It's so complicated no da. I can't understand them." Miaka giggled for her reply.

Chichiri then got his serious look again. "But even so, we're not happy ever since these mysterious disasters appeared; the essence of bliss is already gone. What I'm afraid of most is that, even my magic won't be a match to them. I don't know where we could get help from now..." The monk sighed in despair while Miaka is looking at him, sincerely. Then, she looked up to the sky and spoke,

"One person told me that we should keep this passion of hope always burning in our hearts through the darkest and happiest times, and not igniting the flame only when it is needed." She looked at him again.

"There are many ways, Chichiri. You could say that we're not as strong as the other countries, but we know several ways to survive, that's our true power and that's why, up till now, Konan is still standing tall."

Chichiri shows his amazement, at the same time, admiration on what Miaka has said. Little he knows… Tasuki is staring at him for a while. "This is the first time I've seen your eyes widen like that. Honestly, it doesn't suit you." He told him with pouting lips. The monk annoyingly pushed him away and rapidly exclaimed "Cut it out!" A loud chuckle was heard behind Miaka. She turned back. It was Taka, dressed in ancient robes. (A/N Hint: Eikouden, anyone?)

"Taka, you're back. Why didn't you tell me you had a conversation with Houki-sama?"

"Well, you were sleeping peacefully in our room, so I didn't wake you up. I didn't know you're fond of sleeping too, just like Hikarou, besides being a glutton." Before Miaka reacted on Taka's joke, Tasuki entered the scene.

"Hikarou? Who's Hikarou? Taka, don't tell me you have a mistress?! Oh geez, I thought you've changed. First your wife, and then her best friend..." The bandit looked at the dumbfounded miko.

"Forgive me Miaka, if I forgot her name." He quickly looked back at Taka. "Then all of our enemy women, then Mayo, and who's this new girl, Hikarou…? My, I didn't know your sex appeal is that strong, even when you're aged, and you are still good looking." He immediately got whacked on the head. His face got buried on the ground.

"Oh dear…" Chichiri exclaimed.

"She's my youngest daughter for your information, whacko."

"Taka, I think you hit him too hard." Miaka told him. Tasuki barely stands up.

"I thought you two only have one child?" Chichiri asked.

"We followed it with a daughter four years after. Though those siblings give me a headache sometimes, I still manage to keep my good looks… No wonder, my students are still fond of me." Taka proudly says.

"Not until Hikarou would go and threaten them to keep away from you, 'coz you're committed to me. You know her; she blows up like a volcano and attacks if someone tries to flirt with her dad." Miaka said while Tasuki gulped.

"Man, by the way you describe her she's really scary."

"Well, she can be, if she doesn't think it is right. But when you got to know her, she's a really sweet girl. Besides, she whacks more painfully than me." Taka sarcastically told Tasuki. The bandit replied with a weak laugh. Miaka silently smiled as she watches them and thought.

"I wish I could see you all laugh like that always, also the others' smile also, to ease the loneliness I feel for a while. I still hope I could see my children as soon as possible, but the only thing I could only do is wait… Hikarou… Hikari… I'm sorry if mom suddenly disappeared back there. I know you'll be worried if you didn't see us around in the house… Please be patient. We'll be back soon…"

But behind the trees at the gardens of the palace, lies a hidden danger. A shadow stands behind the tree's trunk as it watches the group. Its red serpent-eyes glimmer as it stares at Miaka…

"Let's see if your flame of hope can save you, Priestess of Suzaku, once I lock you up in the darkness… forever."

The cobra is now near Empress Ying. She is carefully watching the extreme fight of the two, not caring of her own safety. In the battle, Hikarou is blocking all the attack movements of the enemy. The snake-woman leaped backwards, panting while holding her halberd

"Not bad… Looks like I've underestimated you."

"I told you, I'm not your ordinary miko! Take this!!" She runs and jumps high as she is ready to swish her sword. Her enemy smirked at her stance. She jumped much higher than Hikarou. When she got near onto Rou's ear, she whispered,

"Just a friendly reminder, I can attack two weak birds simultaneously." The priestess doubted on what she'd said. She turned her head quickly. From the distance, she saw a cobra coming forth Empress Ying. She tried to warn her, but the enemy knocked her down by aiming the halberd's staff on her shoulder. With its harsh blow, Hikarou extremely crashed on the ground. Dust covers up the air and stones rolled over on its result. Her enemy landed safely with poise. She stands up proudly and looks at the defeated miko, suffering now grave pain.

"Hikarou!" As Empress Ying shrieked, the cobra showed up its fangs. The helpless miko tries to stand up. She saw the creature make its attack, she yelled.

"Your Grace, watch out!!"

Empress Ying looked back and saw the cobra. The creature attacks her, directly to her heart. With its instant thinking, she used her right hand for defense. She bears the pain, grabs the snake's neck and throws it away. As it floats, she immediately uses her left hand. A bright beam surrounds her palm and blasted it on the direction of the reptile. The snake disappeared without a trace. She fell on her knees and realized her right hand is severely bleeding. Hikarou, despite on the grave pain she's feeling rushed on the injured Empress. Empress Ying touched the young girl's fair hands.

"I'm alright. Thanks for the warning. I owe you one." The pain strikes back but Empress Ying bears it. Hikarou quickly tears off a cloth from her white skirt and ties it around the Empress' wound. "This should stop the bleeding…" she said as she finishes making the last knot. A clap sound echoed in the whole catacomb.

"I'm impressed. Even when you're aged; you still manage to read my attacks."

"As far as I know, you always don't fight fairly, Xue Fu. Even I'm old, my memory doesn't seem to fail me."

"You know her?" Hikarou asked the Empress.

"She is Xue Fu of the Du Sect. She's one of the Eight Dark Immortals. She's bestowed to control anything that has to do with poison and venom. She's a deadly enemy, Hikarou, you're no match for her. Let me handle this." Empress Ying stands up, not minding her wounded hand.

"But you're hurt, your Grace…You…" The Empress lost her patience and her temper blows off as she looks at Hikarou.

"SILENCE! HOW CAN YOU BE A PRIESTESS IF YOU ALWAYS THINK YOU CAN'T? EVEN YOU ARE INJURED; YOU MUST ALWAYS THINK OF OTHERS INSTEAD OF YOURSELF! THAT'S THE ESSENCE OF BEING A MIKO! KEEP THAT IN MIND." Empress Ying sighed and touched her wounded hand. "This is nothing compared to the pain I felt when I lost my daughter." She looks away at her and walks forward. She angrily shouted. Punishment

"I devoted my life protecting this shrine and you have the nerve to barge in without my permission… You'll pay for this!" Suddenly her right hand feels again the great pain and gets numb. "What the?"

Fu just raised a brow and sarcastically chuckled. "Oh, I'm scared… I forgot to tell you that poison makes the affected veins go numb. I'm deeply saddened that you can't use your right hand now. As far as I know, your left isn't as strong as your right. Besides…" she begins to raise her hand… "Do you think I'll be threatened with that speech?..." and then she chants a spell.

"Poisonous predator underneath... let your fatal prowess shall now be unleashed!"

The ground suddenly shaken, creating an enormous crack and immediately comes out a gigantic centipede about the size of an anaconda. It hissed in front of them, showing its scary prowess.

"Wha… what the hell is that?" Hikarou terrifyingly (in a comical way) points the hideous monster. The pain that she feels has been entirely erased.

Fu stands beside the centipede. "Oh, this thing is my long-time friend, Wu-gong. Wu-gong, I entrust this job to you… You know what to do right?" She points Empress Ying and Hikarou. The hideous, large centipede swiftly crawls going to the said direction. Empress Ying pushes Hikarou away from her, and stumbles a feet away from her.

"I will risk my life protecting this temple, and the bodies lying here! I can't let you kill the priestess! You have to cross over me first!" She faces the centipede which is now inches away, readies herself in battle. Hikarou stands up and turns back, seeing the Empress is now face to face with the centipede.

"EMPRESS YING!!" She cried. The Empress closes her eyes as she hears Hikarou's wail and prepares for her doom…

"I'm delighted that I've met you, Hikarou. You're just like my daughter. Please awaken Nu Kwa… as soon as possible. I'm terribly sorry if I can't guide you all the while…"

Unexpectedly, an animal's shriek was heard. Empress Ying opened her eyes and sees the centipede, howling in pain. A spear has been struck at its head, resulting to lose its focus. Suddenly, someone swiftly carries her and landed few meters away from the centipede's spot.

"I couldn't imagine I would throw as far as that after several years of doing nothing on the throne." The aged, but gallant man panted. He puts his hands on his waist and looks at his empress.

"Majesty…" She mumbled and embraced the emperor tightly. He embraced back.

"If I didn't sense that the barrier is broken, you might be eaten alive. Are you alright?" Emperor Yang sees the empress' right hand, badly injured. Empress Ying quickly hides it behind. "Fear not, it's just only a scratch." She sees Min You beside her, examining the wound as she eyes bulges out in a very comical way.

"Oh dear, you've been wounded severely, Highness! How could say this is bad? Look! There's blood all over the cloth!"

Emperor Yang gives off an angered look and faces off the centipede. Fu appears, with a disgusted face but she remains her sarcastic manner.

"So there are two uninvited pests who came in to my victory party, eh?" Then, she sees Hikarou, unarmed and helpless. She smirked. "But before I give you guys a welcoming bash… Wu-gong… please give her a helping hand, would ya?" Hikarou, not minding the pain, tries to stand up and bravely faces the gigantic enemy.

Emperor Yang gets a disturbed feeling. "This is not good. The priestess now is in serious danger!" He prepares to save her until…

"You got the limelight a while ago, Majesty. This time, it's mine!" Min You said as she rubs her hands and claps once. She gets Nu Kwa's sword, breaths heavily and runs. When she reaches a foot away from Ah Rou, she yelled.

"Hey, sleepy head! CATCH!!" She threw the mythical sword onto Rou's direction. She luckily catches it proudly with her hand. She gently strokes the sword as its jewels glowed.

"THANKS A LOT!" She replied. Fu watches in despair. "How… how did she manage to get that thing off?" Hikarou draws the sword off from its scabbard. She admired the sword's luster flashing on her. She thought while the centipede starts crawling,

"If there's a spirit living on this sword, please believe me. Help me protect the people in this land. Bestow me supreme power to defeat my adversaries."

She abruptly kneels and strikes the sword, burying it deeply on the ground. She keeps her position, kneeling with her head down. The sword releases a bright, yellow light, but it slowly disappears. It then creates a long, thin crack, from the sword's position to the end of the centipede's tail. Fu erased her anxiousness and shouted from afar.

"Enough with the magic show, Priestess! I'll send you off to hell! Wu-gong… EAT HER ALIVE!!" The centipede doubled its speed and nearly reaches Hikarou. "We must help her Majesty! She's gonna be eaten alive!" Min You screamed in horror. As the two tries to prepare to help her, Empress Ying stopped them by blocking her arm.

"Don't interfere. She's determined to finish this show all by herself. Look…" All of the sudden, they hear her chanting…

"I summon thee, spirits underneath. Come forth and obey thy decree. Send this beast…" she quickly raises her head. This time, her eyes have turned from calm purple to fierce gold, glaring at the centipede.

"TO ITS INFERNAL DAMNMATION!"

She twists the sword a bit and the crack it created started to open wide. Vicious yellow earth spirits came out and starts pull the monster back beneath. All of the people can't believe on what they have witnessed the true power of the mythical sword of Nu Kwa, which is now owned by the renowned Houseiki no Miko, Hikarou. Fu rushes to save her pet using her powers but it were of no avail. The monster wails in pain as it was slowly being eaten by the earth.

"WU GONG!!" she stretches her hand but her pet centipede has been successfully eaten by the earth spirits. The crack slowly closes. As the ends enjoined together, the crack disappears without a trace as Hikarou draw out the sword from the ground. She sees the defeated Fu, lying on the ground and crying…

"My precious pet…" She closes her eyes and stops weeping. She stands up and looks angrily at her. She gets her halberd and throws it directly on Hikarou. While it was quickly approaching her in the air, it changes to a cruel snake. "WATCH OUT!" Emperor Yang shouted. Hikarou stands there still, not minding the warning and keeps her seriousness. As the snake draws near and ready to bite her, she quickly slices the snake into half, showing no mercy at all. Blood smeared out on the ground. She got also smeared but she didn't get disgusted. She carefully wipes off the blood on her face with her hand. Fu went terrified as Hikarou returns the sword to its scabbard.

"Your pet centipede deserves that for defiling a sacred shrine. But as for you…" She picked up a small, sharp stone. She played it for seconds by tossing and catching it. After the final catch, she threw it directly and forcefully on Fu's face, creating a large scar on her left cheek. The snake woman didn't block it because she was out of focus. She screams in pain as the wound started to bleed.

"That's the payment for hurting Empress Ying and of course, at your service, so you won't forget me. I wouldn't waste my power for such a loser like you. Return to your master and tell him I'm ready to face his forces. Is that clear… Fu? Now, BEGONE FROM THIS TEMPLE AT ONCE IF YOUR LIFE SEEMS PRECIOUS TO YOU!" Hikarou mocks the defeated adversary. She stands up; glaring at Hikarou. She uses her cape to disappear without a trace. Her voice echoed in the whole catacomb…

"I'LL REMEMBER THIS DAY YOU DESTROYED MY FACE, PRIESTESS. BUT THE NEXT TIME WE MEET, I'M SURE I'LL KILL YOU WITH MY OWN BARE HANDS!"

Hikarou blinked once and her eyes returned to normal state. She sighed and her purple-colored eyes searched for Min You and the imperial couple. Silence ruled the whole catacomb and realizes nobody is in there. She comically gulped and cried.

"Okay guys, I know you're scared on what I've acted a while ago, but please, DON'T EVEN LEAVE ME ALL ALONE IN HERE! I'M NOW HARMLESS!"

While Hikarou is worrying where they went, the three are hiding behind a huge rock, frightened that Ah Rou remains under the spell of the sword. Emperor Yang takes a peek.

"Do you think we should go out and see her?"

"Not me! I won't go there, your Majesty. I know having her as the priestess is good of our country, but seeing her pissed off like that will give me shakes for weeks! She's really scary…" Min You terrifyingly replied, in a funny way.

Empress Ying just smiled.

Miaka is sleeping peacefully, not until she hears a familiar voice… that she hasn't heard for many years.

"My miko… come forth to the shrine… I need to speak with you." The voice faded and silence ruled inside the whole room. She slowly opens her eyes and blinks, signifying that she's already awake. She places her hand on top of her forehead, stares at the ceiling and sighs. Suddenly, a man's hand landed on her stomach. She slightly gets shocked, but gets relieved when she looks at the other side of the bed. Taka is quietly dozing off. She returns back staring at the ceiling and thought,

"Did I really hear Suzaku's voice or just only my imagination? But, I really did hear his voice." She slowly puts away Taka's hand and rises up from bed, without making any nose. She gets a coat and wears it. She takes a glimpse of her sleeping husband… not knowing that it would be her last glimpse of him.

"Sorry if I had to leave you alone for a while, darling. Hope you would understand. I'll be back soon at your side and be able to greet you morning by sunrise."

Miaka walks at the palace hallway, carrying a lighted lantern while heading to the Suzaku shrine, to guide her from tracking the pitch black path. "I wonder why did he call me in the middle of the night…?" She looks up in the sky and sweatdropped. "Oops… It's almost dawn"

She finally arrives at the shrine and opens the shrine door gradually. She entered and the lights incense. She starts praying as she kneels before the golden statue of Suzaku.

"My miko, it has been a while since you hath summon me. I call you here to help me save our country." The voice came from the Suzaku statue.

"I would do anything, Suzaku. I would search the seven celestial warriors and have you summoned again."

"That wouldn't be necessary." Miaka's expression went puzzled as the voice continued. "I haven't been summoned for a long time and my power hasn't been used. I shall bestow you my power, so that you could help this ailing country."

The Suzaku no Miko's becomes delighted. "Thank you so much, Suzaku… what shall I do then?"

"Look closely into the red jeweled eyes of my statue. It would serve a bridge to transport my power to you." Miaka suddenly doubted on Suzaku's intentions but she never minded her hunches. She follows the orders of the god she had been serving since she entered to this mythical world. Unknown to her, a human-shadowed figure with bloody, crimson eyes is watching her behind the pillars. As she goes nearer at the golden phoenix statue, and tries to stare at the ruby eyes, the red eyes glowed to its brightest, and covered the whole shrine with its dazzling, pale… red light.

The sunrise rays had reached in and peeked in on Hikarou's chamber. The rays gently touch her sleepy yet angelic face, which wakes her from her slumber. She rises from her bed, gives herself a good arm stretch and lies down again. She closes her eyes and recalls what happened last night.

All of them are now outside the main temple. Min You is helping Emperor Yang to build a stronger barrier to protect the shrine from unknown foes. Meanwhile, Hikarou and Empress Ying are seated beside each other on the rocks while watching the two.

"You displayed great courage back there, Lady Rou. Thank you for protecting the imperial shrine and all of us."

Hikarou embarrassingly replied as she scratches her nape. "That's nothing, your Grace. It's my duty to protect this since I am this shrine's main priestess." She looks up at the sky.

"I owe everyone in here a lot. Though I'm a stranger coming from a different world, you still welcomed me with your warm hospitality and showed me that I'm a part of this country. Through that, all of you and this country have been close to my heart." She sighed and looks at the shrine from afar.

"I decided to become the miko not because I'm the last resort or ride on to the prophecies… but because I wanted to repay for the kindness they've done to me as I temporarily stay here. I want to protect the people who cared for me in this nation at the time when I first arrived here, which I've been down, physically, mentally and emotionally." Hikarou takes a glimpse on her empress' wounded hand and shows a worried expression. Empress Ying smiled back.

"Min You has already applied the antidote. The numbness would soon disappear in less than an hour." Then, she searches something on her sleeves. She finally finds it and shows it to her, a double folded scroll. She takes Rou's hand and hands it to her. Hikarou quickly gives a 'what's this-look'.

"This is the 'xiang jing'. It is the same as the four books of the Universe of the Four Gods that Taiitsukun gave to the first emperors of Konan, Kutou, Sailo and Hokkan empires. But this scroll has been favored by Nu Kwa most, due that it contains the mysterious whereabouts on the gem fragments that had been scattered a long time ago, in the eight corners of the four kingdoms. Before the Heaven Kingdom had been destroyed, she decoded the hint for the first gem warrior… and she showed it me."

"Which means… that…" Hikarou continued.

Empress Ying nodded. "It is really you, Hikarou, no doubt." She touched the miko's hand, together with the scroll, "The gem warrior priestess. By the time when I first saw you, I know you're the fabled one. You possess the quality of being good, the ability of being brilliant and lastly, you are found beside a stone shrine

She annoyingly sighs. "Good? Brilliant? Stone shrine…? What the heck does she mean by that? Argh! She's driving my nuts!" Out of the blues, a pillow whacks her face. She frustratingly takes it off and bellows,

"Now, who the hell disturbs me at this early in the morning?" She looks back and sees an expressionless Min You, staring at her, with arms folded. She combs her hair by stroking her hands on it and behaves in a lady-like manner.

"Well, a pleasant morning to you, Min You." She greeted but she gets an instant reply as her maid throws a top, skirt, undergarments, and a sash at her face. She makes faces and sternly looks at her naughty maid.

"When I entered your room, I saw you talking to yourself. I've realized throwing things directly at the face is a great remedy to bring back a person to reality. Hope your mind is now settled on earth, Lady Hikarou." She mischievously grinned.

She sighs desperately. "My mind is already in place. What's with these?" She asked as her holds the clothes.

"Just get dressed already. You're the only one who's been sleeping. You don't want to eat your breakfast cold, ne?." As Min You opens the door, Hikarou said,

"Thanks for yesterday. If it wouldn't have been for you, I would have been that insect's main course." Min You smiled back and replied,

"The pleasure's mine. Starting from this day forward, I'm gonna be your trusty sidekick." She winked and left, without closing the door. The rays of the suns slowly enter her room.

Taka slowly opens his eyes as the sunrise rays hits his face. He suddenly feels that no one is lying beside him, realizing Miaka isn't there. His heart starts to beat fast. Before he goes into panic, someone bustled into the room. An orange-red headed guy with a worried face.

"TAKA! SOMETHING HAPPENED TO MIAKA AT THE SHRINE!"

They hurriedly went to the shrine. Taka doesn't mind that he still wearing his night shirts and pants. He now cares about his wife's condition at this critical moment. As they arrived, they see Emperor Reiteizei, Youtaikou, Chichiri and Moomin (Miaka's lady-in-waiting during her miko days) gathered together in front of Suzaku's altar, still the lighted incense is still burning. As they moved back to give way to the two, they find out Miaka, lying unconscious on the ground. He rushes on her and picks her up. Taka tries to wake her by gently tapping her soft cheeks.

"Miaka…. Miaka… can you hear me? Wake up dear… don't scare me like this!" He said in a very troubled voice and looks at them. "What really happened?"

"I was going to put out the lighted candles inside when I found her here unconscious. I tried to wake her but she didn't. When I saw Tasuki-sama passing by, I told him to urgently call you, Tamahome-sama and tell you about this." Moomin worriedly replied. Suddenly, Miaka slowly opens her eyes and regains her consciousness as she sees her husband's face. Taka and the others are delighted, and he embraces her tightly. At the same time, a breeze takes place and blows out the lighted incense.

"Thank God, you're alright! I was worried that you might not open your eyes." He broke off the embrace and lovingly gazes at her. But, Miaka's head has been turning from side to side, as if it was seeking for something. Her expression unexpectedly turns crestfallen as tears slowly fills up her eyes. She tightly grips her husband's arm.

"What's wrong?" Taka asked her.

"Taka, are… are you really there? Are you really there beside me?"

"Of course, dear. I'm right here… I'm here beside you, together with Tasuki, Chichiri, Youtaikou-sama and His Highness…" He gently strokes her cheeks. She gropes and then feels his. Tears starts to stream down and wails.

"I can hear your voice, but where are you… and the others? No matter how I search, I still can't find you! Why is everything black?! What's happening with me, Taka? Tell me! I'm not yet blind, right?! Answer me… Taka… please… I'm not yet… blind."

Everyone gets shocked and terrified, but Taka could only do is to embrace his grief-stricken… and finally, blind wife.

However at Liu Guo, and at that time, Hikarou goes near of her door and gazes at the golden sunrise. She thought,

"I've never realized that the sunrise can be this beautiful, just like a newborn seeing its first glimpse to the world. Maybe, there's a purpose why I was being sent here… and be separated from my brother. I still can't understand… but I know he is somewhere and I'm sure I'm going to see him soon… I can't let the nation that I protect… neither the four kingdoms… suffer in Seimitsu's hands… because…"

She slowly walks out from her room. She puts her hands tightly on the palace railings and shouts proudly and smiles,

"I AM THE HOUSEIKI NO MIKO AND I'LL DEFINITELY SUCCEED, I CAN ASSURE THAT!!"

Hikarou is happy and proud that she can be the hope of Liu Guo and be able to help the country, but unknown to her, her mother, the fabled Suzaku no Miko, is now suffering eternal darkness as she loses permanently… her sight.

Guidelines:

Du – mandarin for "venom"

Wu-gong – mandarin for "centipede"

Liu Guo – literally means "Golden Land"; The name of the country Hikarou is protecting. The palace where she's been temporarily living is called "Palace of the Golden Gardens". (hope I cleared already the confusion)

Xiang jing – literally means "sacred scroll".

Scabbard – a sword's covering

Explanation about this chapter's title: Hanging by the threads literally is an idiom which means any person that is being in danger. The connection of it in the story is where the girl which Hikarou saw being rushed to the palace is definitely in the brink of danger. Hope that clarifies everything.