Mira: Chapter 3!
Myra: Still own nothing.
Pairings: Tasuki/Kagome, Tamahome/Miaka
Chapter 3: The Seven Stars of Suzaku
It was a bright new morning in the land of Konan. When she felt the sun's gentle warmth upon her face, Kagome awakened and then quickly sat up in bed. She looked down at her nightclothes a serving maid had given her and looked around the grandly decorated room that was to be hers while she was in Konan.
'Oh, yeah….' Kagome thought. 'Konan, it really happened. Miaka and I were taken inside that Chinese library book and we've been proclaimed the saviors of the Konan Empire.'
Kagome gazed at the room once more. The large canopy bed had red curtains drawn open while the sheets and pillows, a soft lavender color, were velvet soft and warm. The bed was situated vertically across from the door that led out into the hallway. In one corner of the large room, there was a table with an ornate vase which held a few pretty flowers. Her outfit from yesterday was folded neatly on the table, waiting for her to get dressed. In another corner, there was a wooden dresser with a carving of Suzaku at the top and a large body length mirror a few feet away from the dresser.
I wonder how Miaka's dealing with all this. It must be all so new to her. She doesn't have the experience I have with crazy adventures. That must be why I'm not freaking out, Kagome thought, worried for Miaka.
Much later, the Emperor Hotohori had gathered Kagome, Miaka and Tamahome in his study. Kagome was curious about Miaka and her roles in this strange land so she asked, "Your majesty, how will Miaka receive the power of Suzaku? And how will I help her, as the Priestess of The Shikon Jewel?"
She wanted to understand the prophecy about her better and Kagome was also starting to wonder how the legend of the Shikon Priestess was started in this world.
Hotohori smiled gently at the obsidian-haired priestess, "It's written in this scroll." He held up a bright red scroll within his hands.
Both Kagome and Miaka gasped when they saw it.
"Do you recognize it?" He asked the two priestesses who would save his empire.
Kagome smiled brightly, her blue eyes shining, "Yeah, I think I do!"
"The Universe of The Four Gods," Hotohori stated.
Miaka chimed in loudly, "That's the one!"
Tamahome glanced at Miaka then at Kagome, "The one what?"
"It is a book of prophecies that was given to the first emperor, Taiso, from Taiitsukun and has been handed down to each emperor of Konan ever since." Hotohori explained, "In truth, the four gods are twenty-eight constellations divided into the east, west, north, and south. Each quadrant has seven constellations. The seven southern constellations are called 'The Suzaku Seven'."
Kagome, Miaka and Tamahome listened intently to Hotohori's explanation.
"The names of the seven constellations are Chichiri, Tamahome, Nuriko, Hotohori, Chiriko, Tasuki and Mitsukake.
Each of these are also the names of the Seven Warriors and all have marks on their body to prove that they are one of the seven. I am Hotohori, the sea snake," he said as he revealed the red glowing symbol at the side of his neck and covering it again. Miaka and Kagome gasped and turned to Tamahome who was standing with his arms behind his head. So that's what the symbol was for... Turning to Tamahome, Hotohori continued, "You are Tamahome, which means 'crab'. You are to protect the Suzaku no Miko and bring her strength and power as well as exhibit it. The story is about a girl who gathered the seven Suzaku Warriors. If you find them all then you will be able to make your dreams come true."
As Hotohori finished, Miaka faced him and asked,
"Hoto-I mean, Your Highness, did you know about this?"
"Of course." Turning to Tamahome, she asked the same question and got the same answer. Suddenly, Miaka was in deep thought, So, that's why they've been so nice to me...But what about Kagome?
Miaka lifted her head to meet the Emperor's gaze and asked, "What about Kagome?"
"Kagome does not have her own warriors to protect her. But do not worry Miaka. Now that she has sworn her allegiance to Konan and Suzaku, the Suzaku Seven will protect Kagome as if she were the Priestess of Suzaku herself." Hotohori assured Miaka, while gazing at Kagome.
"Thank you, Hotohori." Kagome was happy to hear that the Suzaku Seven would protect her as they protect Miaka. "I will do my best to save Konan!"
She gave him a sparkling smile and Hotohori was struck once again. Her beauty rivals even mine… she would make a great empress. He then remembered that he had wanted the Priestess of Suzaku for an empress.
"If you don't mind, I would like to look for the other five warriors." Requested Miaka with her face filled with determination. She wanted to be able to do something useful and she also wanted to go home and be normal again. She just wanted to end this dream turned nightmare.
Hotohori nodded and announced;
"Gather all those in the kingdom who excel in martial and literary arts!" In a flash, they were outside with a lot of soldiers waiting for their given task. Hotohori was seated in a fancy chair with people carrying big fans on both sides granted that he's the emperor.
Miaka stood beside him and stepped forward only to shout out to the men, "All right! Those who have red marks on their body, raise your hand!" No one did and Miaka made a puzzled look.
Tamahome, who sat on a stair, explained "The marks don't appear at will, you know. Guess I'll have to fight them to see." Jumping as he stood, he rolled his shoulders and said with a smile, "Personally, I hope that the last five are a bunch of pretty women."
Kagome and Miaka heard him and muttered together, "Personally I hope they'll all be good looking hunks of beefcake!"
After some beatings by Tamahome, it was obvious to Kagome and Miaka that none of the warriors assembled were to be the ones to protect them.
Miaka stepped up once again and said, "Well I guess it's up to me to find out."
Hotohori and Tamahome looked at her curiously, "You?"
Kagome was doubtful of this course of action, "Miaka are you kidding? There has to be another way to find the warriors."
"Yes, as the saying goes, strong dogs never bark. We'll know if they are one of the seven warriors if they don't attack me no matter what." Removing her outer uniform jacket she turned to the men, "All right come on, who wants a piece of me? Give me your best shot!"
"We can't. You are the Priestess of Suzaku, we can't fight you." Said one of them. Irritated, Miaka came up with a plan,
"Oh, I get it you guys are all sissies! Oooh, I'm from another world. What do you think I'll do to you, huh? You are just a bunch of idiots! You're all a big group of stupid, limp Chinese noodles!" The soldiers were already twitching as she started her insults but the last one was definitely the last straw, they chased her around the place.
"I must have insulted their dinner." Said Miaka, running from the soldiers who were raging after her.
"I guess she went a little too far." commented Tamahome.
Miaka called back as she started running, "Well I guess none of them is a Suzaku warrior! Ah!" She managed to duck just in time as a sword swung itself over her head and she ran into a gazebo where a flying hammer hit the pillar and it started to crack.
Tamahome had had enough and beat them all again yelling furiously, "Didn't your mother ever tell you not to fight with girls!"
Hearing a cry from behind him, Tamahome turned and Hotohori rose abruptly from his seat as he saw Kagome running in the gazebo and pushed Miaka out of the way just as it started collapsing due to the broken pillar.
"Kagome!" cried Miaka, Tamahome and Hotohori simultaneously. Miaka who was thrown to the ground looked frantically for any signs of her friend being all right. She ignored the fact that she had a wound on her thigh. Tamahome ran towards the broken down gazebo and tried to shove away rocks and broken roofing but it was no good. Hotohori was about to do the same when his advisers blocked him,
"Sire! Please step away, it's too dangerous!" Annoyed, he pushed them away from him.
"This isn't about me, it's about Kagome! Get her out of there!"
"Sire, it would be a miracle if she survived that!"
"If you won't do it then I will." Kneeling down, he started to remove the debris with Tamahome but none of them were strong enough to lift them any faster.
"Sire, maybe I can be of help." came a voice from behind them. Turning around, Hotohori and Tamahome saw a beautiful woman with long violet, braided hair. She was dressed as one of the royal consorts.
Hotohori and Tamahome made way for the unknown woman that appeared and watched as she tossed every bit of debris, big, huge or enormous with one hand and fling them over her shoulder, not caring where it landed. The royal advisers had to dodge them tons of times. She handled them as if it was nothing but a bunch of feathers.
His Highness and Tamahome looked at her in awe. Miaka was also impressed. Then, the woman spoke again,
"Oh, she's still alive." Hotohori registered it first and rushed towards the injured girl. Kagome's face was dusty and her clothes were bloodied, she was still conscious though. Hotohori knelt down next to her and gently lifted her up and walked slowly towards the doctor.
"You gave us quite a fright, Kagome. We thought you would die." the injured girl smirked,
"You should know that it'll take more than that to kill me. I've been through worse." the young emperor frowned at that. So that means that she has experienced more severe cases than this? Miaka neared them and apologized to Kagome over and over until Tamahome had to knock her head to shut her up.
He looked softly at Kagome and smiled in a relieved way, "Whew! Glad you're still alive even if it would be better to my health if you were gone." He joked lightly. Kagome tried to laugh but it only hurt her more so she settled for a smile.
"Yeah, but you'd miss me." Everyone laughed. It seems like her sense of humor is still intact. Hotohori laid Kagome down next to a doctor and looked at the woman who had helped them and saw a part of a mark on her chest. Nearing her he tried to see more of the mark.
"What do you want, Your Highness?" The woman backed away thinking that the emperor was going to do something to her.
Hotohori lowered his raised hand and said, "Oh, I wasn't- your mark." he pointed to her chest .
Realizing what he meant, "Oh you mean this." she said as she removed a bit of clothing.
Hotohori asked, "Are you not one of the imperial consorts?"
She smiled charmingly, "I am known as Kourin but my given name is Nuriko."
"'Willow'..." whispered Hotohori.
Miaka turned to the woman and smiled, "So you're the third warrior!" Miaka was so happy to have found a warrior. She was getting closer to her dream now.
Tamahome was smiling in the background and Hotohori asked him, "What are you so happy about?"
"Oh, nothing." he said dreamily.
Hotohori neared Kagome and sat beside her.
"Thank you for helping my friend!" Miaka reached out a hand to shake but Nuriko merely passed her and went straight to Tamahome.
"The person that I really wanted to help was this young man. He seemed so worried for the girl, so I thought, I would help." With that and no other warning, Nuriko cupped Tamahome's face and kissed him soundly on the lips.
All of them were shocked. Even Kagome, who was on a stretcher, saw the whole thing. 'Hm,' thought Kagome. 'That girl has a strange aura around her. Almost like a man's.' Hotohori was in the same boat but he merely smiled and was happy for Tamahome before turning his attention back to Kagome and dampened a cloth and placed it on her forehead. He ignored the scenes behind him and tended to the injured female. The doctor was already bandaging her wounds after cleaning them.
"Ouch." The doctor examined her wrist, it was twisted and he had to twist it back. It stung big time and it brought out pained cry from the girl. Hotohori frowned and moved the hair from her face gently as he proceeded to clean her face. Kagome smiled her thanks and tried to relax at his touch. Unknown to them, a certain someone was glaring daggers at the raven-haired priestess.
Just as Kagome's wrist was back in place, her body glowed a soft pink light for a moment before dissipating and leaving her sitting upright. The doctor, Hotohori and everyone else were amazed but she only smiled.
"It's my miko abilities, when I am injured they do this and heal me. It is a gradual process and I will still feel these wounds for awhile but all the worst injuries are fixed. I would try and heal you too Miaka but my power is drained after healing my major wounds and putting up the shield around myself while under those pillars." Miaka disregarded what she said and hugged her friend in relief. Hotohori smiled and so did Tamahome but Nuriko seethed in anger as she eyed the raven-haired girl.
Later on that same day, Kagome and Miaka were both in the auburn haired priestess's room, washing their outfits.
"Why don't we get this all done and change and then go talk to that 'Nuriko'. I have a feeling that I need to straighten things out with her." Miaka nodded enthusiastically, removing her bra just after Kagome removed hers. Then the door suddenly opened to reveal a frantic Tamahome.
"Miaka, I need a place to hi-!" he stopped and looked at the half-naked girls in front of him. Everything seemed to pause and they all just blinked before Kagome and Miaka covered their chests and yelled.
"You PERVERT! Get out!" Tamahome blushed but waved his arms around and stubbornly said,
"You don't understand! I need a place to-" he still didn't get to finish his sentence when something was roping his feet together making him fall. Nuriko appeared and she looked so giddy to be 'playing' with Tamahome. He, however, looked at them with pleading eyes, asking them for their help.
"Oh, there you are Tama-kins! I'm sorry ladies, Tama-kins and I were playing and now it's his turn to get tied up. Right, Tama? Sorry to disturb you priestesses, we'll be going now! Come on, Tama! That's it!" Miaka was fuming and Kagome was trying so hard to control her amusement from showing on her face. She felt pity for Tamahome, sympathy for Miaka and a small amount of hostility towards Nuriko. Earlier, when they were still outside, Nuriko kept eying her dangerously.
"Oooh, I hate her! She even kissed him in front of me!" exclaimed her friend.
Looking at Miaka, she said, "Do you like Tamahome?" Miaka blushed and looked away.
Kagome smiled and shook her head, "Besides, we need to get along with her, eventually. Why not start now?"
Miaka looked at her curiously before nodding. They continued to wash their garments and left them to dry. Miaka put on a robe to temporarily cover her body while Kagome put on a simple yet elegant blue kimono that had a silver obi. Brushing her hair, she looked at Miaka who was sitting on the bed.
"Well? How do I look?" Miaka was grinning widely and clasped her hands together.
"You look beautiful! What are you going to do?"
"I'm going to ask for Nuriko's cooperation. Now, you wait here and behave while I'm out. I'll see you later at night. Hopefully, I won't be too tired. Bye!" Before Miaka could protest, Kagome was out the door. Pouting, she did as she was told.
Kagome found herself standing in front of Nuriko later on.
"You want to be my maid in exchange for something that will not benefit you at all?" asked Nuriko as she was rubbing her hand. Tamahome was bandaged tightly around his whole body and couldn't move because Nuriko was sitting on him. He was trying to protest and get her off but to no avail. Kagome had entered the room and sweat-dropped at the sight. She had made a bargain: she will be Nuriko's personal servant and will do anything she told her to do if, in return, she promised to pledge her allegiance and service to Miaka.
"I don't ask nor do I need you to understand. I just need for you to agree." Kagome stated in a bored tone.
Nuriko smirked and looked up to meet Kagome's sapphire eyes, "All right. But on one condition."
"And that is?" As soon as those words left Kagome's lips, Nuriko grabbed Tamahome from under her and hugged him tightly,
"You will never disturb me for any reason while Tamahome is with me." She grinned and giggled. Tamahome was trying to wriggle himself out of her grip,
"Stop it. Stop it!" both of them ignored him and Kagome looked at Nuriko, fire burning in her eyes, ready to take on any challenge, "I wouldn't dream of it."
Nuriko smirked again and said, "Okay, let's start with you fixing my hair."
"Yes ma'am." Kagome neared Nuriko who sat in front of her mirror and started handling her hair with great care and soft movements. Nuriko couldn't help but compliment her,
"Hm... impressive. But you still have a long way to go before-"
"Yeah, yeah. I know you're going to make me do ridiculous chores and try to make it worse yourself but already know that so shut up and let me do your hair." Surprised by the girl's insight on her, Nuriko was forced to keep quite. Tamahome was knocked unconscious and was in a corner, away from the door.
Kagome learned she was right about Nuriko giving her stupid chores to complete and would make it worse. While she was on her hands and knees cleaning the floor, Nuriko was spilling dirt and leaves on the spotless floor behind her.
"Oh, it's dirtier than ever! I thought I told you to clean it not make it worse! Oh , and look at this table it's so dirty!" Kagome turned behind her and merely sighed and started cleaning it. The table, however, was thrown towards her and she only had the time lessen the impact with her hands before it knocked them both over and she lay there, tired, sore and irritated.
"Hey! Stop your bullying Kagome!" yelled a bandaged from head to toe Tamahome.
"I hate it when you-" Nuriko started tearing up and sobbed,
"You mean you hate me?" she asked, broken-heartedly. Kagome rolled her eyes from under the table. She knew it was fake and she knew Tamahome would get caught,
"I-No...I don't hate you-" Nuriko lunged at him and embraced Tamahome.
"So you do love me! Oh, I'm so happy Tama! You don't hate me, you like me, too." Tamahome was struggling while Kagome's irritation rose,
"Knock it off!" Kagome threw the table at the couple but Nuriko used Tamahome to shield herself, rendering the poo young man unconscious. They left Kagome to do her work. The raven-haired girl flipped her hair over her shoulder and rolled her sore shoulders before going back to work.
Miaka saw the whole thing and went to a gazebo by a pond to think. She hated Nuriko for doing that to Kagome and for hogging Tamahome. But then again, maybe she does love him...
Hearing someone crawl towards her, she saw Tamahome nearing her in bandages. He still hadn't got out of that.
"Tamahome, what're you doing here? I thought you were supposed to be with Nuriko." Miaka said sadly as she helped him get out of those irritating bonds.
When he was free, Tamahome stood up and faced Miaka who was sitting on the floor with her back facing him, "I escaped when she went out."
"I thought you liked her." She replied.
"I can never like a girl like that. She gets on my nerves."
"That's a shame. You make a beautiful couple." she stated downheartedly.
There was a moment of silence before, "Do you know what you're saying? Do you really think that?" Miaka hugged her knees tighter towards her as she heard the hurt in his voice. It was like she offended him.
She replied lowly, but loud enough for him to hear, "You seem like you enjoyed her company..." Miaka heard his footsteps as he started to leave. Miaka panicked, she didn't want him to leave just like that. She wanted him to reassure her that everything will be all right and that he'll be there. For her.
Not thinking clearly, Miaka stood abruptly and aggravated the gash on her thigh, "Tama-!" she fell. Closing her eyes, she thought that he would continue walking and was surprised when she heard him.
"You dope. You know you shouldn't move like that. Come on; let me re-bandage it for you." Helping her sit on the railing and stretch out her injured leg, he fixed the bandages,
"Hold still."
"Okay..." Miaka was mentally thanking whatever gods listened to her and smiled as Tamahome took great care of her leg. Unknown to them, they had an audience, well, two, actually. Nuriko was listening to them behind a tree and Kagome was watching them from the hallway. She felt happy for Miaka and she would continue to endure Nuriko just for them.