Mira: Chapter 2, yeah!
Myra: We do not own anything.
Pairings: Tasuki/Kagome, Tamahome/Kagome
Chapter 2: The Priestess of Suzaku and the Priestess of the Shikon Jewel
The two foreign girls made their way into the city that greatly resembled Ancient China. All the buildings were oriental in theme and seemed to all have reddish-brown roofs that were ancient looking as well.
As Miaka and Kagome got off the hay wagon that they hitched a ride on to the city, the residents began to stare at the strange clothing they wore.
Miaka was wearing a raw umber brown colored uniform that was a one piece, with a white long sleeved top that went beneath it and a raw umber brown overcoat that stopped at her midriff. A royal blue bow was at her neck and a pair of white knee high socks and black silver buckle shoes were worn on her feet.
Kagome was wearing a plain short sleeved, pale yellow dress that went down to her knees. Over top of that, she had on a sky blue, short sleeved sweater jacket that complimented her blue eyes. The sweater had one button in the front, so it came together at her chest, then split apart again going down her sweater ended a few inches above her dress. Around her neck was a sting with three red oval beads. Since it was a hot day in Japan, she had tied her hair up in a ponytail to keep the back of her neck cool and had on a pair of simple white sandals.
Kagome's eye began to twitch when she noticed all the staring and alerted Miaka.
Miaka glared and muttered, "Stop staring. Weirdoes…"
"Miaka never mind them, we should find that boy. I'm not too sure that he took Yui but even if he didn't he's the only one we know here." Kagome reasoned with her impulsive friend.
After talking to many people who knew next to nothing and Miaka stealing a tasty meat bun from a vender, Kagome and Miaka were indeed tired and almost out of hope.
Warm hands appeared on their shoulders. "Ladies…"
"I've been watching you two," a friendly face told her. He was a clean-looking young man, and not unattractive. "Would you like me to show you around Konan country?"
"Konan?" They questioned, still not sure of their location.
"Yes."
"So that's what this place is called. We didn't know." Miaka suddenly blushed when she realized what had approached her. Could this guy be girl-hunting? She clasped her hands together in front of her bosom. Ohhhhhhhh…he must be! I haven't had a boyfriend yet. I'm mature enough that he's looking at meeee!
Kagome rolled her eyes at her antics, wondering why Miaka was getting side-tracked. Oh yeah, she's Miaka. That's reason enough.
The man stood behind them, smiling.
Miaka's face grew resolute. I shouldn't say 'yes' immediately. Must hold out! Gotta play hard to get! I'll let him try once or twice more.
He leaned forward, wondering where her answer was. "Um…"
She held up a hand to stop him. "I'm sorry, but we're looking for someone," Miaka told him breathlessly, her eyes cast demurely to the side.
"Oh, is that so?" He turned and stepped away with a confident air.
Realizing her prey was escaping, Miaka reached out and snatched his blue shirt to drag him down to her level. "Wait a minute!"
He looked at her with a smile. "The guy with the sign for Ogre on his forehead, right?"
Miaka brightly returned his grin, hope shining in her eyes. Though Kagome watched him with slightly suspicious blue eyes. "Oh? You know him?"
"He's a friend of mine."
"Really?" Miaka squealed.
"I'll arrange for you to meet him."
"Great!"
The cool wind blew through the alley, sending a few leaves swirling past the pair. They were alone.
Across town, in a bar…
"Did you hear?" a man asked another as he finished his dinner at their restaurant table.
"What?"
"It's goin' around that there are these two strangely dressed girls roaming about the town."
"Ah, I know I know!" The other replied. "Their looking for a guy with the sign for Ogre on his forehead, right?"
Near them, leaning on a pillar and picking his teeth with a twig, a certain man with bright, steel-gray eyes was absently listening.
"Yeah, I hear one of 'em used foreign coins to pay, ate, and ran away."
"And their alone, too. Where could they be from?"
"Um, excuse me. May I interrupt?"
"What do you want, young man?"
"I overheard you talking about the strange girls. Weren't there three of them?"
"Um….I don't know any more than that. I only heard that one weird girl skipped out on paying for her dinner and there was a pretty black-haired girl with her."
"Two?" He grew thoughtful, then shrugged. "Then they're not the girls I met. Though, I'm sure there was a black-haired girl with pretty blue eyes with them. Hmm?"
"Um….where's your friend?" Miaka uncertainly asked the guy she and Kagome was following. He had lead them through the city, passing the marketplace and homes, into the dark slums of the city's outer reaches. Miaka was finally becoming nervous. Kagome, too, was nervous about the guy. I'm sensing bad vibes from this guy.
He stopped and looked back at the two girls, a feral grin upon his face. "He's right here."
Miaka took a step back from his evil gaze, her mind buzzing with alarms.
"Oooooh. These girls are dressed weird."
With a gasp, Miaka's gaze snapped over to where three scruffy men appeared, walking out of a crumbling hole in the side of the alley's walls. They joined the man they had followed to leer down at Kagome and her.
"You don't get an opportunity like this every day," he stated to his revealed friends. "We'll get good money for their clothes, as well."
The one on the right grinned. "Is it true that foreign women taste different?"
Miaka's heart pounded in her chest. She took another step back. "You tricked us?"
One of the men lifted up the hem of Kagome's dress and peered up her legs. "It was your own fault for following him."
"Stop that!" Kagome yelled punched him on the head with her fist.
"That huuuurt…" he remarked softly, his hands on the place where she had hit him. "I think she likes me!" He cackled.
Miaka backed up against the alley wall, trying to stay behind Kagome as the men laughed with evil anticipation. Her thoughts raced. 'This is ancient China. They're street thugs. I was deceived by these guys! She straightened. Wait a sec! This is ancient China! No matter what I do, it won't affect my school record!' Her eyes narrowed and she bared her teeth.
Miaka flung her uniform's jacket into the air and bared her left upper arm, dotted with six scars, arranged like the six-side on a die. "Hey! You see these injection scars? They'll witness your bad deeds!"
The thugs stared, saucer-eyed, at the suddenly ferocious girl. Kagome was also staring at Miaka like she had suddenly gone crazy. "Miaka what are you doing!"
"Although the sun forgives you, Miaka Yuuki will not! Instead of the sky, I'll punish you! And I'll do it using a deadly attack I saw on a satellite pro-wrestling show!"
"Western lariat!" Miaka flung herself off the wall at the first thug, catching him completely by surprise.
"Hip attack!"
"What is this girl!" The man who had tricked them cried in disbelief as she knocked down each man with one incredibly forceful attack each.
"I've never seen this kind of martial arts!" his cohort gasped.
"Back drop!" Miaka landed backwards on a thug, then snatched up the leader and hurled him over her head. "Splash Mountain at ninety-five degrees!" Screaming in terror, he skidded down the rough stones of the street.
Panting, Miaka grinned in triumph at the dilapidated thugs. "I did it. If I try, I can do anything!" She giggled. Miaka, busy gloating, failed to notice the leader had recovered until his iron grip fastened around her ankle. With a powerful yank, he sent the girl sprawling backwards onto her rear.
He snarled at her, "Don't think you can make a fool of me!"
Petrified at their quick recovery, Miaka could only stare in shock as the thugs climbed to their feet. Another thug had Kagome pinned and thrashing on the ground with her friend. Her mind frozen and her bravado vanished; she could not believe what was happening. "N-no! Noooooooo!" Eyes clenched tightly shut, Miaka's mind screamed with a quiet whisper. 'Help me!'
Kagome was just about to use her miko powers to create a shield to push the man away from her (after all, she wasn't helpless) and get up to save Miaka when suddenly a powerfully thrown rock came sailing down from the rooftop across the alley to smack into the leader's head. With a snarl, he glared over his shoulder. "Who did that?"
A strong figure stood above them on the close rooftop, silhouetted against the intense sun. He tossed another stone in the air again and again with a slow, supremely confident motion. Only his eyes shone brightly in the contrasting darkness of his shadow.
"For two girls? You need four men?" He snatched the stone out of the air with an angry snap of his fist. "What REAL man needs to do that?" The breeze caught his bangs, and the red light of a kanji burned upon his forehead.
"When the girls were in danger the the young man with the sign of the Oni….appeared. He punished the street thugs."
Yui's eyes shone down upon the simple ink illustration of the strong man, fighting to save the innocent girls.
The stranger pummeled each thug without pause, soundly knocking down the leader with a powerful kick to the face. Miaka silently watched from the ground where she knelt, her jacket in her arms. The men scrambled away, and she could only blink at their retreating forms. A second time, this man had saved them. Kagome was also in awe of his bravery to come and save them a second time.
He stopped in front of them and quietly looked down at Miaka's upturned face. Lips apart, eyes quivering, she stared back.
Kagome noticed the chemistry that was clearly buzzing between them and smiled at her friends awed face. Not only that, but their auras were complimentary, meaning they belonged together. Infact, this was the best mach she had ever seen.
Miaka gazed up into the strange man's face, trembling, still in shock from her close rescue. A chill breeze blew through the alley, rustling the dead leaves that had lain at their feet and sending them spinning away.
The man silently looked down at her, then walked forward to stand before the girl. "So it was you guys," he stated. "What are you doing here? This area is rather dangerous."
Heart pounding, Miaka flung herself at him and buried her face in his chest. He started backwards in surprise and stared down at her in shock. Her friend was shocked at her forwardness, "Miaka what are you ….?"
"I-I was terrified." A single tear escaped her eyes and trickled down Miaka's cheek. She tried not to think about just how close she had come.
The man's eyes closed; his expression softened in reaction to the girl's terror. "It's safe now, I disposed of them. You're going to be fine." He smiled down at her. "Cheer up."
Miaka slowly pulled back from him and attempted to stifle her tears.
"Oh, you were looking for me, weren't you?" he asked the girl in a friendly, unthreatening tone.
Miaka tried to compose herself, remembering her mission. "Yes. Do you know where Yui-chan is?"
"Yui-chan?" His puzzled tone was Miaka's answer.
Looking up at him earnestly, tears forgotten, she asked, "You know, the girl that was with us. She followed you, didn't she?"
He blankly returned her gaze, then suddenly grinned and leaned forward to point a finger at her. "Ah!"
Miaka and Kagome, bent backwards from him, waited for his answer with hopeful smiles.
"I don't know."
Their faces froze.
"Okay! Bye!" he cheerfully said and spun about on one heel to walk away.
"Hey!" Miaka threw herself after him and tackled him by the legs. He fell face-down in the dirt, the girl's arms clamped tightly about his legs. "I asked you a serious question and you dodged it! I'm not letting go until you tell me!" she declared with iron.
He waved a white flag in the air and spoke, voice muffled in the dirt. "I understand, I understand."
Miaka eyed him for a moment, then released his legs and knelt beside his prone body. "You'll honestly tell us?" she asked with infinite hopefulness. Kagome stood to the side watching.
He nodded his face in the dirt. "Yes."
She leaned forward and looked down at the back of his head. "Then say it. Where is Yui-chan?"
He pulled his face out of the dirt, his nose scratched red by the sharp rocks. "I have no idea," he sourly answered.
Caught off-guard by his answer and foul expression, Miaka stared at him.
He grinned and took his chance, lightly jumping to his feet and speeding away.
"Ohhhhhhh! Wait!" Miaka yelled after him, fists clenched. She ran and chased him about the street, shouting the whole time and waving her fists in the air. "Don't run away!"
Miaka and Kagome finally caught up with him in the busy marketplace. She closely followed, dodging shoppers and carts of wares to keep up with his hurried pace. "Wait, will you?" She decided to ply for sympathy and a bit of guilt. "Don't you have any compassion at all? Two girls are separated from their friend!"
He sped up.
Miaka did, too, dodging people and carts right and left, determined not to let him out of her sight a second time. "I'm roaming around an unknown place!" she shouted after him, this time hoping to invoke more protective instincts.
He kept going.
"Hey! Don't you hear me?" Abosolutely certain she did not want to be alone on her search, Miaka stubbornly tried a third tactic. She deepened her voice. "'Leave it to me!' Can't you say that? I'm begging you!"
It didn't work.
Stymied, Miaka finally stopped in frustration, eyes clenched tightly shut. In a last desperate attempt, her mind leaped, and she shouted at him, "Are you a MAN?"
Kagome tensed, knowing her friend said the wrong thing. Ooh bad thing to say Miaka…
He stopped short, shoulders tense.
Miaka halted and looked at him in amazement, surprised her tactic worked.
"Shit, what a rotten thing to say," he dourly remarked, eyes staring down at the brown dirt of the road. He spat out his opinion of them , "You're not important because you have no money. If you ask someone, expect to pay," he snapped, glaring at the girls from behind, over one broad shoulder.
The man turned to face them, leaned forward, and held out his empty hand. "So give it to me in advance."
Miaka's eyes narrowed at his greedy face. "Money, money, money is all you ever talk about. Is it such a big deal to you?"
He straightened and crossed his arms behind his head with a haughty expression. "Yes, as a matter of fact, it is," he lightly answered.
His determined statement sent a lance of fear whipping through Miaka's body as her mind suddenly realized the import of his words. Money...! "Then surely...surely you sold Yui-chan!" She gestured wildly, nearly shouting in horror.
"Huh?" He raised one eyebrow in disbelief.
Miaka pulled back in disgust. "I can't believe it! Trading in girls!"
His own eyes narrowed. "What?"
"You're the worst, you beast!"
"Who's the beast?" he shouted back in her face.
Miaka's arms wind-milled and she yelled in fear at him, seemingly oblivious to the passing crowd, "Stay away, y-you slave trader!"
Kagome hid her giggles behind her hand, finding the spectacle Miaka was making funny.
"What!" he nearly snarled in anger.
"Oi! Did you hear that?" One man in the masses asked another in surprise. Everyone around the three started talking in low voices.
"He's dangerous!"
"Don't get near him!"
Miaka and Kagome's unwilling escort looked from side to side with increasing nervousness.
"How shameful!" a bystander spat out.
Miaka took advantage of the moment. "Everyone! Listen to me!" she yelled at the top of her lungs, waving at the crowds. Her next words were cut off when the man clamped his hand over her mouth and clutched her tightly to him.
"Hahahaha! She doesn't know what she's saying!" he quickly assured everyone in a hurried, falsely jocular voice. "She's a hopeless girl!"
The hopeless girl continued to struggle, kicking arms and feet. He scooped her up and ran before the crowds decided to do more than just talk. Kagome ran beside them to keep up.
Bouncing about in his arms, Miaka cheerfully asked him, "Well, do you feel like finding Yui-chan now?"
"No more of your nonsense!" he clamored, sweat drops on his face, still running.
"Okay then, I'll tell people you're slave trader," Miaka smugly informed. She finally had an angle!
"Are you threatening me! I've never been a slave trader."
Miaka closed her eyes. "I know."
""What?"
He skidded to a stop in an empty side street, stood for a moment, glaring at her, then dumped the girl most ungracefully on the ground. She landed with a painful thunk. Kagome was immediately at Miaka's side, glaring at the young man.
"Are you trying to hurt me?" she cried up at him petulantly.
He turned his back on her, hands arrogantly on hips, extremely annoyed that her manipulation had worked. "No."
"That was mean!" she climbed to her feet, massaging her bruised rear. "I'm only asking because I don't know this city. We have nothing and no one to count on." At the thought of being forced to continue searching alone, her mind grew heavy with fear, and her voice became tremulous. "I need to hurry and find Yui-chan. I feel sorry for her." She put her hand to her face to wipe away an unshed tear. If street thugs came after Kagome and I, then who knows what has happened to poor Yui-chan!
He looked at the girl over his shoulder and listened to her quietly cry, her tears finally reaching him. "Hey..." He tentatively reached out a hand to touch her back. She stepped away before he could connect, face buried in her hands, openly crying in frustration and fear.
He wearily sighed, watched the girl for a moment, and then stared out at the street. "Shit, I'm not fooling around. Finding someone isn't easy in a city this size."
His words echoing her emotions, Miaka again tried to compose herself, only to be distracted by the sounds of voices that had been slowly rising from the street they had left behind. The noise climaxed as ranks of armored soldiers marched down the street, carrying spears and fluttering banners on long poles. Twelve men in the center of the procession held a glittering palanquin aloft by the poles on their shoulders. The palanquin gently bobbed to their steady, unfaltering beat, the litter's rich lavender curtains swayed in the breeze, and the outlines of a dark silhouette could barely be seen through the gaps in the thick material.
Kagome, Miaka and the man joined the gathered crowd on the side of the street to watch, the rhythm of the marching soldiers and men throbbing up from the ground.
"What's that?" The foreign girl asked, wonder shining on their faces.
"It's an imperial procession."
"Imperial?" Kagome questioned.
"The one in the colorful palanquin is the Emperor of Konan."
The light glinted off the litter's gold to shine in Miaka's eyes. "It's beautiful," she breathed, worries momentarily forgotten in the splendor.
He agreed with a quiet, short laugh. "The Emperor's crown...if I had just one gem from it..." he wistfully trailed off, his mind luxuriating at the infinite possibilities.
Miaka turned to him. "Hey, is the Emperor rich?"
"Well, look for yourself."
She pulled closer to him. "Is he nice?"
Her unusual question caught him off guard. "Oh...well...I haven't heard anything bad."
Miaka quickly looked back at the procession and could barely make out a shoulder covered in rich, scarlet cloth through the scant gap in the curtains. She slowly smiled. "Hey, I'll ask the Emperor!" Miaka brightly offered.
"Huh?" Disbelief was evident in his voice.
"I'll get the gem for you! If I do, then will you help me find Yui-chan?"
With an easy smile, he crossed his arms behind his head, confident that she would fail miserably, and be quite amusing in the process. "Sure."
Miaka waved as she skipped away. "You said yes!" she verified.
Kagome gasped at her friend's impulsive dangerous behavior, "Miaka! Are you crazy! Get back here!" She ran off to stop Miaka from doing anything foolish. "Miaka!"
His grin vanished when he jerked forward with a gasp of shock. The young man watched the first girl run to the emperor's palanquin.
Miaka ran right up to the golden litter and trotted alongside, ignoring the heavily armed guards around her, and one walking close behind. "Hey, Emperor! You are the Emperor right, aren't you?" she called up to the high palanquin with spirit.
The shady figure inside moved to look down at her and the girl behind her. "Who are you?" a deep, smooth voice asked.
Waving her hand, Miaka laughed and dismissed herself, not wanting to waste any more precious time. "Oh, I'm just a nobody." She pressed her hands together and said with vibrant eyes, "I have a request!"
Still in the crowds, the young man stepped forward in disbelief. "They can't be!"
"Would you give me..." Miaka demurely regarded the ground as she jogged, then thrust her open hands out to the figure above her with confidence. "...one of the gems from your crown?"
"Idiot!" her rescuer cried, dumfounded and growing afraid for the innocent little optimist.
Still jauntily skipping along, Miaka missed the appalled reaction of the guard behind her. "It's no big deal, because you're rich right! Please let me have one!"
Eyes closed with her sweet and hopeful smile, the girl did not see the small stone in her path. She tripped over it, arms flailing wildly. Her hands latched onto one of the palanquin's decorative sashes, and the thin material ripped loudly in half.
Back in the disbelieving crowds, the man's heart pounded. "This is bad!"
She fell backwards onto her already bruised bottom. "Ouch.."
The guard behind her drew his sword with a shout. " You were disrespectful to His Majesty!" He pointed his blade at her. "You will be punished! I'll cut your head off!"
Miaka flinched backward from the sword pointed in her face, completely shocked. "Nani? Why? Why behead me?" she fearfully asked through clenched teeth.
Kagome tried to get to her friend but she was surrounded by guards.
"Talking is no use!" the man bellowed as he swung his blade back.
"Aaaaahhhh!" Miaka screamed.
Three small smoking bags sailed out from the crowd into the middle of the guards. The sacks hit the ground and exploded into thick clouds of roiling, opaque smoke. The guards bent double with heavy coughs as the noxious fumes acted.
The man leaped unseen from the sidelines and scooped Miaka in his arms to run her clear of the smoke. He finally paused in a side street a short ways away from the interrupted procession.
"Are you stupid? Do you want to get yourself killed?"
Miaka's face quivered at her failure and third close escape. "But..."
He grimaced. "I know! Don't cry. I'll look for your friend out of respect for your bravery."
Eyes shining, Miaka uncertainly smiled up at him. "Really?"
His face softened. "Yeah. I'm Sōu Kishuku. Everyone calls me Tamahome though."
"Tamahome? I'm...Miaka Yuuki and my friend over there is Kagome Higurashi. But I have no reward for you now." She looked down, crestfallen at her failure to glean a jewel from the kind-and very rich-Emperor.
Tamahome held Miaka closer to his chest, enjoying the situation for some reason, in spite his financial objections. "Don't worry, I'll take one now."
Miaka's eyes widened at the touch of his warm, firm lips on her forehead in a gentle kiss. Her heart stopped.
The moment was shattered by a loud shout from behind, "There they are!"
"Foolish man! Prepare yourself!" The guard standing in the street's entrance swung his sword in the air. He charged them and was knocked backwards by a rising surge of red light that burst forth from Miaka. The blinding rays pummeled the terrified guards and lit the day like a second sun. In the center of the blaze, Tamahome knelt with Miaka, still held tightly in his arms.
A great wind blew from the air around her, and their eyes were clamped shut, faces straining from the force of the gale. Miaka cracked open one eye against the searing pressure. Her heart pounded at the sight of Tamahome. She could see him through the palm of her hand!
"You-" he strained out against the windstorm.
Back in the street, the guards were trying to control spooked horses and urgently waving their arms. "Retreat with the Emperor's palanquin! Hurry!"
"Wait!" the deep, commanding voice ordered from inside. "What's causing this disturbance?" he demanded of them.
"The girl!" One of the guards cried. "One of the girls is surrounded by blazing red light!"
"Red light?"
"She's disappearing!"
Powerless to stop it, Miaka watched herself slowly vanish in horror. The daylight light from Konan dimmed into murkey gray, and she only saw a glimpse Tamahome's empty arms before darkness surrounded her. "What's happening?" she whispered.
Red light sucked her down in a long spiral to climax in a bright flash. She gasped at the sight of the stolid National Library, and she quailed when the dark interior revealed a room filled with books. Oh! It's the Important Documents Reference Room! And kneeling on the floor-
"The girl was surrounded by red light. The figure of the girl..."
Yui-chan! Yui-chan is here! This is the library! Her thoughts joyfully echoed through the gray void around her, singing with relief at the safety of her friend. I'm so glad you've returned here!
Trying to focus her thoughts, Miaka called out to Yui. Yui-chan! Please notice me!
Yui continued reading, never looking up from the book.
Miaka reached out one spectral hand to her friend, her call going unheard. Behind the desperate girl, the great red bird she had seen in the stairwell appeared a second time. It soared through the air, the force of its wake sucking Miaka away from the library, and returning her to the grip of the searing red light.
Yui! She yelled, one hand outstretched in futile appeal.
Yui and the library vanished.
Miaka saw and felt nothing until a single, glittering red feather slowly appeared through the void. She watched it's unhurried, swaying descent towards her with strange detachment. It gently alighted on top of her head, then disappeared into nothingness.
She blinked once, turned, and found herself again in Tamahome's arms. He stared down at her in silence, amazed.
"Guys, this isn't the time for you to get all acquainted with each other." Kagome was standing in front of them and started fighting off the guards that came near her friends. She will not allow them to get hurt. Suddenly, the Shikon jewel glowed and she released a powerful pink light, more powerful than the red light that shot forth from Miaka who was still in Tamahome's arms.
The emperor called out a second time. "What is happening now?"
"The second female is omitting a strange pink light!"
"Soldier," the voice from the palanquin's depths commanded.
"Yes sir!"
"Arrest all three of them now!"
Tamahome leaned over the girl in his arms, still in shock. "Miaka...you..."
They both gasped when spears clanked about them, preventing any escape. Tamahome set Miaka on the ground. They stood together, the man holding Miaka protectively against his chest and Kagome close by.
Thrown forward, Miaka and Kagome tumbled into the dim cell with a cry. The guards unceremoniously tossed Tamahome in after them. The man turned about to glare at soldiers, who impassively slammed the heavy wooden bar door shut in his face.
Sprawled on her side on the dank stone, Miaka's heart pounded with fear. Why have we been taken prisoner?
"By the Emperor's orders, the girls and the young man were imprisoned."
Yui gazed down at the page in Universe of the Four Gods, her mind ablaze with worry as she studied the elegant line drawing that depicted the terrified girls, sprawled upon on the cold stone.
"Are you all right?" Tamahome looked at Miaka with annoyance. The girl had her arms clamped about his neck, her eyes wide and trembling with fear.
Miaka blinked and turned to gaze at the source of the voice. She started and gasped when she met his irked eyes, so very close to her own. With a scream, she leaped away, shoving Tamahome backwards. "You pervert!" She hollered, waving her arms about in the air.
"You held me first!" he yelled back from his place on the cold stone.
Her wild motions stopped, and Miaka put a hand to her mouth, remembering their current predicament. "Oh, yeah...we were caught by Konan soldiers."
"Are you still asleep?" He asked her in a voice dripping with sarcasm. "We're in a dungeon. What an optimist you are! 'We were caught by Konan soldiers.'" He closely examined her, and his voice grew serious. "Who are you guys, anyway? What was that light coming from your bodies?"
Miaka leaned back with a quiet gasp, realizing that she had no answer. Kagome also held the same look on her face.
Tamahome waited for a moment, then turned away when they said nothing. "If you guys don't want to tell me, you don't have to." The words he spoke held all the respect his tone lacked.
Miaka swallowed once, then stared at the floor. The sight of her friend in the library echoed through her. "Yui-chan..."
"Hmmm?"
"Yui has returned."
"What? Miaka are you certain?" Kagome asked her friend, concerned.
"Yui, the other girl?"
Her voice trembled out, "But I couldn't go back."
The sight of her nearly crying again made his voice soften. "Don't cry. Don't worry, I'll help you return."
Miaka raised her gaze from the floor to look up at him. "Really?"
"I already got my payment from you in advance," he reminded her, and tapped her on the forehead with a lazily outstretched index finger. Kagome rolled her eyes.
Miaka's eyes turned into saucers, and she quickly looked down at the ground to hide her blush at the remembered kiss. "Idiot."
"Your Majesty, we should sentence the man and girls to death."
The second Imperial advisor continued, "The girl gave off a magical light and tried to disappear. The black-haired girl was shining with pink light though."
"They might be some kind of witches," the first concluded. The two advisors were standing on the rich red carpet, heads bowed to the Emperor, who sat on the extravagant raised dais above them.
"Your majesty, please!" the second implored.
Hidden by veils, the Emperor spoke, his calm voice sounding out in the large room with complete authority. "Wait. Their clothes are foreign. There must be a reasonable explanation for what happened."
"But-" The advisor was cut off before he could continue.
"I might be seeing too much into this, but the girl...could be the Priestess of Suzaku and the other I have a theory about."
"The Priestess! She can't be! The girl of the legend?"
The Emperor dismissed their refusal to even consider the possibility with a short humph. Something was whispering in his ear, telling him that this girl was more than what she seemed. Yet even more importantly, the timing was just right. The Priestess of Suzaku would be revealed soon, he was certain of it. The other girl, also was important to Konan.
Back in the dungeon, Miaka's stomach rumbled.
"Really, Miaka, you're hungry in a situation like this?" asked Kagome, exasperated that her friend could be hungry now.
Grumbling, Miaka stuck her hands in her uniform's pockets. Her hand brushed agenced something so she reached in and pulled what ever it is out. It was a pack of gum!
Takeing a piece out she poped it into her mouth. A gard had seen her put something in her mouth and came over to the cell bars.
"You there, girl, what did you put in your mouth?" he demanded. Miaka went up to the bars and started to blow a bubble. The man started to freak out and once the bubble poped, the guard promptly fainted.
When the man fainted, Tamahome reached out through the bars and grabbed the man's keys.
"Great job ! DEMON!" Screamed Tamahome, seeing Miaka's face with the gum still on it. Then, he to, fainted.
Later, Miaka and Tamahome's faces peered around the edge of the wall. Kagome was right behind them. The way was clear. They darted across the wide hallway, hid behind a column, peeked out again, and scurried forward to the other side. With nervous faces, they ran down the length of the hall.
Cautiously looking around another wide column, Tamahome suddenly grinned, holding a few sticks of Miaka's gum in his hands like precious jewels. "Is it okay?" He greedily smiled at Miaka. "I mean, you gave these incredible things to me!" He suddenly leaned back, clutching the gum close. "I won't return 'em even if you ask me to!"
Miaka squeezed her eyes shut in disbelief. "Listen to what you're saying! Sheesh! It's just gum! You're soooo stingy!"
They stiffened as the sound of approaching footsteps echoed their way to the pair's ears. "We're in trouble! Someone's coming!" Miaka hissed in fear, both looking side to side for a hiding place. She and Kagome darted left, Tamahome to the right. They both turned and ran back, slamming into each other in panic.
"What are you doing?" Miaka whispered in consternation.
"What about you?" he softly snapped back.
They both ran to the right and ducked into a large, dark room. Miaka pulled the door closed behind them as quietly as possible. She peeked out through the crack, not noticing Tamahome behind her. Her confidence in her escort had faded somewhat. "Ohhh, I'm counting on the wrong person to get me through this," she muttered to herself, watching a maid flutter past them.
"Miaka. Kagome." He spoke with solemnity, not attempting to hush his voice.
"What?" she tiredly whispered back.
"Take a look."
"Huh?" Kagome and Miaka moved around Tamahome and gasped at the sight of the room's contents. An immense, glittering gold statue filled the back wall. A beautiful, stately phoenix perched, surrounded by spires of clouds and beautiful gold ribbons of wind. they stared at it in shock, recognition spearing through them.
"Th-that's...that's the bird in the book!"
"Suzaku," Tamahome spoke the great bird's name with infinite respect.
Miaka gazed upon the gold sculpture of the rampant bird, eyes quivering. What does this mean?
"Suzaku?" she finally asked.
"It's a guardian," Tamahome answered. "One of the four Deities." He stepped forward. "The protector of the east is Seiryu. The protector of the north...Genbu. The one for the west is Byakko, and for the south...Suzaku. Konan country has Suzaku as its guardian." He quietly watched the statue with reverence for a moment, then continued. "Of course, the other three deities are worshipped in their own countries as well."
His words fell on deaf ears. Still standing close to the door, Miaka turned to the side, an enticing scent upon the air caressing her nostrils. She leaned forward to better sample the smell. Eyes closed in rapture, she pivoted about and trotted out the door. Kagome followed her, thinking it was better if she was with Miaka to keep her out of trouble.
Unaware of his pupils' escape, Tamahome kept talking. "But for now, we've got to get out of here. Right, Miaka? Kagome?" He turned around and realized he was alone.
"Oi, Miaka. Kagome." No answer. "Where are you, Miaka? Kagome!" he demanded, his voice urgent. "Miaka! Kagome!"
Miaka left the kitchen, stepping out into a wide courtyard. "Ahhhh, I'm stuffed. What complete bliss!" She clutched her hands together and giggled up at the sky. "Real Chinese food is soooo good." Her first priority taken care of, Miaka addressed her escort.
"Miaka was that necessary!" Kagome scolded her.
"So, Tamahome-" Miaka stopped mid-sentence when she realized she was alone. "We lost Tamahome!" she cried, arms waving. She looked in panic from side to side. "What do we DO? I don't know!" The girl ran in desperate circles about the courtyard. "Which way did we come from?" Finally stopping in the center, arms still gesturing wildly, Miaka wailed, "We're loooooost!"
A gentle laugh from behind her quieted their voices.
"Eh?" Miaka turned to look over her shoulder. A beautiful vision met her eyes. The figure was perched on the short wall that ran down the length of the next building's exterior walkway. Pale lavender cloth, artfully draped, flowed down to accentuate the svelte, smiling form. Long, dark brown hair cascaded around the refined face.
The person raised one graceful hand to point to Kagome and Miaka's left.
The girls could only stare, transfixed, at the pure beauty before them. Well, Miaka was, Kagome howeve was bombarded with memories of her adopted older brother, Sesshomaru, who held feminin beauty like the man befor her.
The vision's smile widened. "What's wrong? You're lost, aren't you?" The silky, cultured voice continued, "There's a gate. You can escape through it."
Jolted out of her reverie, Miaka gave a short bow. "Thanks." She said uncertainly, then quickly scurried away, still staring.
"Are you the ones who were arrested?"
"Eep!" Kagome and Miaka froze, uncertain.
"You are, aren't you guys?" The hypnotic eyes blinked once. "I heard you were impolite in front of the Emperor."
Miaka laughed, trying to sound innocent and completely failing. "What are you saying? I'm just a Junior High student who's passing through is all." She held up one hand in farewell, ripped her gaze away from amber, and walked towards the beckoning gate. "So see ya!"
Kagome was right behind her.
"It's okay. I'm on your side," the cultured voice called after them. "I won't turn you over to the soldiers. Don't worry."
Kagome and Miaka stopped their steady flight and turned to watch the quiet speaker. "R-really?" she whispered.
A graceful nod was her reply.
Tamahome ran up a short flight of stairs and paused at an intersection of three walkways. He peered down each. "Shoot, those girls are so stupid!" He chose a direction and ran. "Where'd they go?"
He skidded to a stop when two guards appeared in front of him. "Not good!" He whirled about and ran back.
"Hey, wait!" the guards shouted, then pounded after him.
"Get him!"
Back in the intersection, Tamahome leaped down the stairs when more soldiers appeared to cut off his escape. The guards joined forces and pursued him as a pointy, angry mob.
"You want to find your friend?" the elegant vision asked Kagome and Miaka.
The girls looked at the ground in guilt and answered. "It's our fault he's involved. Unless We help him escape, we can't return to our own world."
"Your world?" Surprise was evident in the smooth voice. "Then, that means you are not from this world? You say you're from another, separate one?"
"Yes." Miaka sharply looked up into the beautiful face. Oops. She probably won't believe us. Miaka cast her worried gaze back down, ears straining for the first signs of disbelief. She very much wanted this lovely woman to like her! I've said something suspicious. What'll I do now?
"That's wonderful!"
Miaka blinked. "Huh?"
"Oh, it is so interesting!" With one hand resting on a sculptured chin, the vision eagerly smiled. "Is that right, you two are from another world? That is wonderful!"
Miaka blinked, then gasped when warm hands gently held her face.
"Don't worry." The sparkling, golden eyes were so close to her own. "Normally, people call me by a different name. But to you, I am Hotohori."
Staring into Hotohori's eyes, completely captivated, she replied, "I'm Miaka Yuuki. Please, call me Miaka."
Kagome followed her friends example and introduced herself, "My name is Kagome Higurashi. It's wonderful to meet you."
"Good, I am glad we have been introduced."
Blushing, Miaka looked down, unable to maintain the intense gaze.
"Is something wrong?"
"N-no, not really," she hesitantly replied. "I think you're beautiful, Hotohori."
"Many people say that." The voice was not ashamed. The beauty turned at the sound of approaching guards, then turned to firmly push Miaka and Kagome away. "Hurry! Hide!"
"Where's the girls?" one of the soldiers demanded of Tamahome, who was securely bound with thick ropes. The guard sank his heavy hand into Tamahome's blue hair and yanked the captive's head up. "Where are they? Tell us now!"
Tamahome turned his face away from the guard's with a jerk. "I don't know."
The soldier gripped Tamahome's throat and leaned into his face. "Are you still resisting?"
"I said 'I don't know' because I don't know! While you were chasing me, they might have slipped away!"
"You bastard!" the guard snarled.
She was unable to bear it any longer, Miaka left her hiding place. "Wait!" she insistently called.
Kagome ran out with her, wanting to help Miaka
Tamahome stared in horror at the girl, his eyes fearfully shining over one of the guard's drawn swords. She was standing, defenseless, a short distance away. "Miaka! Kagome!"
"Please don't hurt him!" she pleaded and ran towards them.
"Idiots! Don't come here!"
She stopped at Tamahome's shout.
"Miaka, Kagome, what are you doing here?"
"Because-"
One of the soldiers stepped forward.
"Because, I can't leave you behind!" She turned to run, but was quickly snagged from behind. Kagome was also snatched by a guard
"Miaka! Kagome!" Tamahome shouted, straining.
"Tamahome!" she futilely struggled to escape the soldier's iron grasp.
His voice rising in an infuriated growl, Tamahome's kanji appeared to burn in the center of his forehead in a blazing flash of red light.
Beautiful amber eyes widened in shock.
Tamahome split the ropes that had been holding him captive moments before. With a shout, he slammed away the guards surrounding him and charged the line soldier holding Miaka and Kagome. His fist impacted the man's chest and sent him flying backwards.
Tamahome crouched protectively in front of Miaka and Kagome, teeth bared. "You-if even one finger touches them...I'll finish you!"
"Quiet!" the cultured voice rang out through the courtyard with unquestioning authority. "Quiet down!" The elegant figure stood imposingly before them. "Without my order, I will not permit you to hurt them!"
Tamahome backed up a step and pointed an astonished finger at their sudden rescuer. "Who are you?"
The guard behind him stuttered out, "M-Majesty!" before all the soldiers kneeled and bowed low on the ground. Tamahome looked back and forth at their prostrate forms, then back at the person before him.
"The real one?"
A smile and cordial nod was his answer.
With a strangled noise, Tamahome dove for the ground and joined the soldiers.
Miaka stared uncertainly at the figure, one hand at her mouth. "Hotohori-san is the Emperor? She's so young and beautiful."
"Idiot! The Emperor is a man!" Tamahome yelled up from his bow.
"Miaka can't you tell that's a man?" Kagome was amazed at her friend's ignorance.
Hands behind her head, Miaka scoffed him. "No way."
"Shut up! You need to bow before him!" Tamahome cracked open his eyes and looked for Miaka, to once again find her not there. He whipped his head from side to side and finally found her.
The girl was standing in front of her lovely young woman, hands pressing against the enrobed chest. "Oh...flat!" Miaka debated her findings for a moment, eyes closed with concentration. She looked down at the enrobed hips. "That means there's a mysterious thing on his lower body."
The Emperor smiled.
Tamahome and Kagome appeared behind her and they both socked the girl on top of her head. "Don't think that far!" he admonished with an embarassed shout.
Kagome, Miaka and Tamahome knelt side-by-side on the red carpet within the throne room of Konan, ranks of soldiers a respectful distance behind them.
"Forgive me, Miaka, Kagome," Hotohori's voice asked from his seat on the raised dais. "I didn't want to deceive you. I wanted to get to know you, so I hid my true identity. But I now know that you are not a monster, nor an enemy!"
Hotohori's long hair had been piled on top of his head, and was covered by his imperial red cap. Only his bangs dangled over his perfect skin and beautiful golden eyes.
At his encouraging words, Miaka looked up. "Then that means we..."
"Yes. We won't hurt you," the Emperor finished her sentence for her.
Hotohori rotated to Miaka and asked,
"Are you the one who emanated the red light?" Miaka nodded mutely as Hotohori smiled.
Turning to Kagome, Hotohori asked,
"And did you produce the pink light that my men saw?" She answered simply, "Yes."
Hotohori eyed her in wonder. His eyes held a question that he was not sure if he should ask but Kagome beat him to it. Smirking, she said, "I'm the Shikon no Tama Miko. Nice to meet you!"
This'll be interesting…thought the said miko as she watched surprise pass the faces of two of her three companions and some, disbelief.
"What does that mean?" Hotohori had regained his poise and explained, not removing his eyes from the wonder that is this raven-haired woman who was just as curious. It seems that even she does not know the hugeness of her status...
"There was another legend in the four kingdoms. Besides our four gods' priestesses, there was another legendary priestess foretold to arrive from another world. She would bring with her another god to help save the land. But that god was unlike the other four for it had four souls. And unlike the other gods, it was trapped in the jewel to forever wage the battle between demons. Many had tried to purify it completely but only two were able to succeed. The first had died, for an evil half-demon tricked her and her half-demon lover into harming the other.
The second was the strongest of them all, she was the girl that after 50 years, appeared and found the jewel within her. She was said to be the reincarnation of the first priestess. She had broken the jewel into hundreds of shards and set out on a quest to piece it back together. In that process, she had defeated the evil half-demon but at a terrible cost. The girl was destined to have hardships and trials that surpass those of her incarnation, the previous priestess. She is only granted one wish whereas the others have three. She had vanished and was never seen again. Suzaku was said to have vowed to find that god and bring her here along with her chosen priestess to help save his people. Suzaku had promised to protect the priestess of the Shikon has if she were his own." Hotohori saw Miaka try to process the information from the corner of his eye. But his full attention was on Kagome who was deep in thought as her face held a blank look.
"Kagome! That must be you! You told me about your adventure's in 500 years in the past in Feudal Japan!" Miaka was excited that her friend was this legendary girl here, too.
Tamahome thought for a while, "Where's the proof?" he asked, still doubting that this girl is a priestess of that legend. It was just too unbelievable. That legend was said to be lost and only passed down the royal family, but then again, he did know about it. Still... he was tentative to accept it. Kagome was hesitant for a while but sighed and answered just the same,
"Alright. Here's your proof." Kagome pulled out the Jewel hanging from her neck and it glowed a gentle, pink light at her touch. She even let her other hand glow the same pink and showed them her miko energy. Tamahome's eye's widened. So it was true...
Hotohori smiled, then turned to Miaka. "Miaka will you save Konan?"
Miaka looked confused.
Befrore she could think of a way to phrase her questions, he continued.
"According to ancient tradition, when the country is in risk of extinction, a girl will appear from another world. The girl will possess the power of Suzaku and save the country. And if the Priestess of the Shikon also appears, she will have the power to help the girl of legend in her journey."
Miaka jumped to her feet when she realized what he implied, heart pounding. "I'm not the girl! I'm just a Junior High student! I have an entrance exam to take! My coming here was just an accident!"
"Then you do not want the power of Suzaku?" Hotohori asked in astonishment. "You have no wish for that?" He leaned forward, his gold and red imperial robes rustling quietly in the silent room.
His words struck a chord within her. "Wish?" Miaka paused uncertainly as Yui's remembered voice rang out in her mind.
This is a story of a girl who obtained the Seven stars of Suzaku. She obtained omnipotent powers and made her wishes come true. The story itself is an incantation. Those who finish reading it shall receive the power. As soon as the page is turned, the story will become the truth and begin."
The vision of the red, gleaming phoenix burned through her memory.
"That means if I read the book and become the heroine...I can wear cool clothes!" Miaka envisioned herself with a lovely curved figure, clad in a skin-tight pink dress. "I could become the most popular girl in school!" Love letters and party invitations shoved the voluptuous woman out of the way. "Be strong enough to defeat anyone!" Miaka held out her arms and made victory signs with both hands at the imagined sight of herself shaped like Miss Universe, complete with tiny bikini. "I can have my favorite foods any time!" She drooled over the sight of all her favorite dishes.
When her imagination took the next step, her eyes glazed over. "That's right! I'll be absolutely able to pass ANY entrance exam!"
The priestess of the Shikon sweat-dropped at her friends silly ramblings.
Hotohori laughed. "Then what's holding you back? The world is yours, if you wish it."
Miaka stood and looked at him with determination. "I'll do it! I'll do it! I'll do it!" She leaned forward. "Become Priestess of Suzaku! I'll do it! I've been waiting for this kind of chance!"
Kagome smiled up at the beautiful emperor, "Hotohori? As the guardian of the Shikon Jewel and the Priestess of The Shikon, I would be honored to help Miaka save Konan."
Hotohori quietly smiled his triumph, then suddenly leaped to his feet. He shouted to all those present, "Let it be known that the Priestess of Suzaku and the priestess of the Shikon no Tama, the saviors of our empire, have appeared! They have already pledged themselves to us and now the courtiers and the members of the council must do the same!" A curtain opened behind them to reveal numerous people bowing down to the two girls. Kagome and Miaka were both nervous and flabbergasted as the men said in unison,
"We pledge our allegiance and service to the priestess Suzaku and the priestess of the Shikon no Tama! Please bestow on us your wise council and save our great nation!" The two girls glanced at each other before looking out amazed at the people bowing before them.