Mira: Chapter 4, woot!
Myra: Now owning; nothing
Pairings: Tasuki/Kagome, Tamahome/Miaka
Chapter 4: Missing Love
Night had completely fallen in Konan, and an infinite number of stars shown down onto Suzaku's Third Warrior. The woman was leaning over the railing outside her second story room, lost in the multitude of her own contemplative thoughts.
She sensed the girl's approach. "Kagome," Nuriko softly acknowledged when the black-haired girl stood next to her.
"What's wrong?" Kagome asked with concern, prompted by the other's dull voice.
Nuriko stared down into the courtyard, arms crossed inside their layers of robes. "When I was walking around the pond, west of the court, I lost one of these earrings." She opened her right hand to show a glimmering stone that was surrounded by a band of gold.
Kagome stepped closer for a better look at the bit of jewelry. "Ah, it's so pretty!"
"It's a Night Glow gem. When I began serving at court, my mother presented these family treasures to me."
Impressed, Kagome softly agreed.
"The stones emit a light in the dark. The best time to find a lost one is at night. My maids are afraid of the dark, so they refuse to go."
Kagome saw her chance to try to make peace with Nuriko, though she still had her suspicions about Nuriko. "How about if I try to find it?" she offered brightly. Hopefully this will work and Nuriko will cooperate with Miaka and I, so we can find the other warriors of Suzaku.
Nuriko's fist closed about the gem, and she looked at the girl. "But-"
"It was given to you by your mother, and it's an important earring, isn't it? Don't worry! Leave it to me!" Kagome's eyes closed with her smile.
Nuriko returned her cheer. "Then, as a reward, in my small way as one of Suzaku's Seven Warriors, I will protect you and Miaka."
Kagome beamed with delight. "Oh, you really will?" Fists clenched with determination, she took a step back. "Wait here! I'll find it for sure!" With a wave, she turned and sped away.
"Oh, please do!" Nuriko called after her, a victorious smirk upon her face.
Insects and frogs raised their voices in an intricate symphony of night that surrounded the palace from the vast ponds. Hotohori and two of his retainers were standing at the very place Tamahome and Miaka had been only a brief time before.
"What?"
"Yes, Emperor, that's correct. You're eighteen years old now. Will you kindly receive an Empress?"
"Why did we assemble beautiful ladies from all over the country here at court?" the other demanded.
The first one addressed him again, speaking to Hotohori's back. "For what reason do you ignore them?"
"Because..."
"Because...?"
Hotohori turned with a sly smile. "Because I am more beautiful than they are." He inwardly chuckled at the pair's strangled reaction. "Just joking."
"Oh, you are?" The retainer forced out a laugh.
The Emperor tilted back his head and gazed up at the shimmering stars. "It is more important to govern the country and think about the people. I cannot concentrate on finding an Empress at this time."
He turned and stately walked down the stone path towards the palace, both retainers respectfully behind him.
"But-" one protested.
"What about Nuriko?" the other continued.
"Let's stop kidding," Hotohori almost laughed. "She is one of the Seven Warriors. I could never be involved romantically with a fellowwarrior." His eyes closed and he lifted his face to the cool caress of starlight. "And ever since I was little, I have imagined the ideal woman." He thought of Miaka, the Priestess of Suzaku.
"The ideal woman?" They questioned, curious.
"Hello!" Kagome popped up next to the three men with a wide, cheerful smile, sending the two retainers leaping backwards with screams of terror. The girl crossed her arms and leaned her chin on the walkway's rail.
Hotohori knelt down to her. "Kagome, what are you doing out so late?"
"Nuriko asked me to do something for her. I'm on my way there."
"Are you and Miaka getting along with her? I heard of her behavior from my servants."
Kagome softly gasped, embarrassed that he knew of the friction between Miaka and her and the newest Suzaku Warrior.
Her sound was his answer. " I will tell her to treat you two with the respect you are due. No one ignores the Emperor's orders."
Kagome inwardly smiled and held up one finger to slowly waved it back and forth in front of Hotohori's astonished face. "Tsk tsk tsk!" she told him.
He blinked twice.
"Orders can't change people's minds. Besides, I want to get along with her all by myself. I'm sure Miaka feels the same way that I do."
They both straightened, and Kagome continued, "So I'm going to learn to compromise with her." She turned and lightly ran away. "Bye! Gotta go!"
Hotohori watched her disappear with amazement in his eyes.
Kagome slowly picked her way through the shallow marsh at the side of the pond, mud close to oozing over the tops of her black slouch boots. "It has to be around here somewhere." She took another step forward and screamed when a flock of birds exploded into the air, wings beating the night around her. Kagome dodged low to avoid them, but moved just in time to avoid falling into the pond. She breathed deeply, thankful for the close save.
Meanwhile, Miaka was wandering the halls of the palace looking for Kagome. Where could she have gone?
While, lost in thought, she bumped into Tamahome. She looked up at him. "Oh, hi Tamahome. What brings you out here at night?"
He sighed. "Oh I just couldn't sleep. What about you?"
Miaka replied, "I'm looking for Kagome. She went for a walk awhile ago and hasn't returned. Have you seen her?"
Tamahome's face showed concern. "No, I haven't. I'll help you look for her."
The pair walked the halls and then they soon passed by Nuriko's chambers, and heard laughter from within.
Victorious laughter echoing out of her room, Nuriko gaily admired herself in her mirror. "That girl is a fool! She went to find a nonexistent earring in the dark. How stupid of her not to realize that I've never been able to leave the court until now, so I could never have been to the pond."
She moved her fingers on the stem of her crystal glass. "So that's how she really is. She should be a drenched rat by now." Her voice grew condescending. "It may be proper for a girl of another world to muck about in the mud, but not for the etiquette of this court."
A slam resounded through the room. Nuriko slowly turned to stare into a pair of cold, iron-gray eyes, and a pair of shocked green eyes. "Tamahome," she paused shakily, then addressing the other, "Miaka."
His voice was low. "Is it true, what you just said?" A vision of Kagome sinking in deep water flashed through his mind. He was supposed to protect her, just as he protects Miaka. Tamahome didn't want to imagine this happening to Miaka either. Kagome's a good person, she doesn't deserve this! He whirled about and ran, only to be jerked to a sudden halt. Tamahome whipped his head about and shouted, "Let go!"
Miaka watched with trepidation as all this unfolded, thinking about Kagome in the pond at this very moment. "Kagome's in trouble! We have to help her!"
With only one hand clamped around his wrist, Nuriko held Tamahome captive.
"You're extremely strong!" Tamahome snarled into her lavender eyes.
"I won't let you go to that little bitch! Not Miaka either!" Nuriko snarled back.
Amazement flitted across his face before Tamahome stepped close to the woman. "Miaka and Kagome just want to get along with you! Why don't you try to understand them?"
"I don't like Kagome or her! They monopolize both the Emperor and you! After I came to the court, the Emperor ignored me for almost a year!" Nuriko paused for breath and tried not to think of how easily Kagome and Miaka intruded upon her life. It did not work. "Suddenly they show up and is puffed up and hailed by everyone. The Emperor can't help himself! Even I can see how attractive Kagome is and I'm a woman, but what does he see that's so attractive in that small little nothing from another world?" She pointed sharply to Miaka who had a hurt look pass over her face at the insult to her.
She bared her teeth. "For revenge, I deliberately went after you."
"What?" A voice spoke, slightly annoyed and shocked, from behind them.
Tamahome, Miaka and Nuriko turned to see Kagome, though it would seem she did not fall into the pond, for her clothing and hair were dry.
"You love Hotohori-I mean, the Emperor?" Kagome walked past Tamahome, ignoring his question if she was all right. She stared up into Nuriko's eyes. Miaka trailed alongside with Kagome, feeling she was needed by her friend right now.
"What?" Nuriko challenged with hauteur. "I'll never apologize to you. You were the one who was deceived, so that makes you the loser."
"Maybe."
"You guys puffed up by everyone."
"Yes."
Nuriko clenched a powerful fist. "Don't make a fool of me!" she growled, her voice rising. "Why don't you get angry? Don't you care about others?" Nuriko ended her sentence with a powerful slap to Kagome's cheek.
"Back at you!" Kagome snapped, her own hand connecting with the other woman's cheek. Miaka gasped at her friend's powerful slap.
Tamahome stared at the pair in shock.
After a pause, Kagome lifted her hand and in it was a smooth pink stone laying within her palm. Her voice was soft. "I couldn't find the earring. But this is a pretty stone, isn't it?" She held the pebble in her open palm and offered it up to Nuriko, who gazed down upon it with a face devoid of emotion.
Miaka, who was silent until now, added with a smile, "It's really pretty Nuriko. You should take it!" she then talked a second time. "Don't be jealous. There is nothing between Hotohori and me. We're just friends."
Nuriko then looked into Kagome's clear blue eyes.
The girl then smiled and said, "Nuriko, it's true that Hotohori is a very beautiful man. But that's all I don't have any of the feelings you feel towards him. To be perfectly honest, I'd prefer a ruggedly handsome man over a pretty boy! I only feel friendship to Hotohori so you don't have to worry! Besides, he reminds me of my adopted older brother and thinking of me and him in a romantic relationship seems a little weird." Kagome assured the purple-haired Warrior. She placed the stone in Nuriko's hand.
Nuriko's eyes began to slowly tremble.
"Can I help you? I'll give a hint to Hotohori." Miaka proposed, with a hint of a smile.
The Suzaku Warrior clenched her fist around the stone and closes her eyes. She turned about to stand with her back to the two girls, body quivering with the effort of holding in tears. A soft, painful sob escaped her lips.
Miaka watched her with a gentle face, relieved to learn the truth. She is not in love with Tamahome. The thought made her very happy in a way she was afraid to admit.
Kagome watched Nuriko's shoulders shaking with sobs then looked over to Miaka to see the small smile on her friends face. This means Nuriko doesn't love Tamahome and Miaka has a chance. She was glad Miaka had another shot.
The man in question pointed a finger at himself, the women's interlude lost upon him. "How did I fit into this?" he asked with wide, confused eyes.
Miaka stood in her robe before the Emperor, also robed, who was sitting on the edge of his bed. She had just finished talking to him about Nuriko's feelings.
"So then..."
"So then, I wanted you to notice a girl who loves you, and is nearby in your life." Miaka's voice was warm and earnest.
Hotohori paused for a long moment before he finally spoke. "Miaka, do you love someone?"
"Me?" Miaka asked in astonishment. In her mind, Tamahome slowly turned and smiled at her over his shoulder. She fought down a blush and laughed, "Let's not talk about me!"
"I've loved someone for a very long time. And only that one person..." The Emperor of Konan lifted his face, his voice strong and determined. "...I've longed for since."
Miaka returned his gaze, eyes wide, and heart pounding.
Back in the National Library, Yui continued to read from the Universe of the Four Gods.
"The Emperor confessed his love to the Priestess of Suzaku."
Hotohori gently pushed Miaka backwards. The girl fell on her back on his bed, limp and wide-eyed with shock. With one hand on either side of her body, Hotohori filled Miaka's vision. His gaze was compelling and unavoidable.
"Ever since I was a boy and first head the story of the Priestess of Suzaku, the girl from another world, I have tried to imagine what she would be like, Miaka. You are the one I envisioned."
Miaka's eyes trembled.
"I'm not interested in other women, only in knowing you. Everything about you." Hotohori leaned even closer and closed his eyes.
Inside her breast, Miaka's heart pounded. Her own eyes drifted closed, and behind their thin lids, Tamahome smiled at her. They opened again. Hotohori's face hovered just above her own, their lips only inches apart. The girl clenched her eyes closed again and braced herself.
Hotohori suddenly froze. He pulled away from the girl and took his sheathed sword from within his robes.
"What?" Miaka asked him with relief.
The Emperor stepped to a wall of his room and drew his sword.
What's going on? She thought, though glad they were interrupted.
Done so quickly Miaka could not see it happen, Hotohori slashed the wall three times with his blade. The mortar fell apart in clumps to reveal three eavesdroppers in the next room, hands cupped around their ears to catch every word.
"Kagome! Tamahome! Nuriko!" Miaka cried with dismay, her blood running cold.
Busted, the two tried to play nonchalant.
"What are you doing out here?" Hotohori demanded, his voice hard with anger.
They stepped through the hole in the wall, all pretense forgotten. "I came to take Miaka back," Tamahome replied.
"You have been given permission to enter my quarters. But in this case...you should have known better."
Tamahome looked beyond Hotohori to where Miaka was still sitting, perched on the bed. The girl averted her gaze and stared at the floor. "You're right," he answered.
"Hotohori-I think it's time I returned to my room."
The Emperor turned away from the intruders. "Miaka, I was serious. You said you wanted to return to your world. But instead, after Suzaku appears and all is done...I will make you my Empress."
Miaka started. She quickly sat up and stared into Hotohori's eyes. "That's selfish!"
"Of course, it's not an order. 'Orders don't change people's minds.' Isn't that what you said?" He spoke with utter confidence. "I will make sure you fall in love with me."
Miaka gasped, eyes quivering. Beyond the Emperor, Tamahome, Kagome and Nuriko stood in shocked silence.
"You can sleep there." He offered, then turned and left the room.
A traitorous blush across her cheeks, Miaka could scarcely breathe. I don't believe it. That was a proposal, wasn't it?
Chirping birds and warm sunlight heralded in the new morning. Miaka looked like hell. "I couldn't sleep at all." The girl tiredly pulled on her clothes, thoughts racing. "Could such a handsome man really have confessed his love to me?" She studied her reflection in the mirror. "Is my face more attractive to men in this world?"
She left the rooms with a sigh and walked down the length of the building. She stretched and deeply breathed in the sweet scent of the cherry blossoms that overhung the sides of the walkway. Tamahome overhead everything, didn't he? I wonder what he's thinking. "Oof!" The girl quickly turned and started to apologize to the person she had bumped into. "Excuse-" Her words were cut off with a gasp.
Tamahome's face was devoid of emotion and almost as dull as his voice. "Hi." He continued walking away.
Miaka stared after him in dismay. That's it? Just 'Hi?' Because of what happened yesterday?
She quickly moved after him. "What are you going?"
"To town on business. I came to the city to find work, but I haven't gotten much done."
"Wait! I'll come with you!" She scurried after Tamahome, who had stopped.
He turned to suggest, "Why don't you go with Nuriko and find the other four Warriors?" The man resumed walking away.
"Tamahome..." Miaka softly replied, sadness in her voice. She suffered a sudden chill, flinched, and turned about in fear to see an infuriated Nuriko looming up behind her, eyes flaming and teeth bared.
"MIAKA!"
"Nuriko!" the girl squeaked.
"You said you have no interest in Hotohori! You stayed the night in his room! I'LL NEVER FORGIVE YOU!"
"But...I didn't really..."
Nuriko paused in her snarling, glanced over Miaka's head, and ran off with a smile. "Tama-kins! Wait!" she pleaded most becomingly.
Miaka watched her depart with tired frustration. "I thought we'd get along now. But things aren't any better."
Nuriko caught up with Tamahome and latched onto his arm to lean into him.
Miaka asked herself the question foremost on her mind. In any case, what does Tamahome feel towards me? He's being so abrupt. Why doesn't he talk to me? Her face hardened. Doesn't he care about me? The girl straightened with sudden determination. "I have a plan! Better get Kagome in on it!"
The marketplace was filled to the brim with bustling shoppers and peasants. Walking behind the pair of celestial warriors, Kagome and Miaka were "disguised" in sheets purloined from the palace linen closets. Kagome had suggested that they just get real Chineese outfits, but Miakins sister they leave right a way.
'I don't want to chase after him, and I want things to go more smoothly with Nuriko, but I have to know Tamahome's true feelings!' Miaka's eyes focused on her third guardian, who still had her hands clamped around the other's arm. 'Damn Nuriko! She loves Hotohori-but she's hanging all over Tamahome!' Evil thoughts raced through Miaka's mind.
"Tama-kins, they think they're disguised." Nuriko commented with laughing scorn.
"Leave them alone." Tamahome stoically defended.
Nuriko's voice turned petulant. "Oh, you're so cold!"
The pair and their shadows had reached a building that sat on a large, raised stone dais. Tamahome ran up the steps, turned to spread his arms wide, and addressed the crowd in a loud, confident voice. "Hey hey, listen to me, everyone! You know of the Priestess of Suzaku and the Priestess of the Shikon Jewel?"
"What of them?" one man shouted from the sidelines.
"They didn't come from a bordering country, or even a far-distant country! They came from a completely different world!"
Totally in his element, Tamahome continued his rising sales pitch. "Her clothes and belongings are very different from ours. The Priestess's incredible stuff will be sold at a discount! So stick around!" He finished with a big grin.
"What? Show us!" the man demanded again.
Still wrapped in their sheets, Miaka and Kagome watched Tamahome with amazement as he whipped out his first item. "Would that be...?"
"It's this!" Tamahome brandished the three sticks of gum Miaka had given him in their first day inside the palace.
Ooohs and aaahs echoed from the crowd.
"He's still carting the chewing gum around!" Miaka was slightly shocked, and Kagome glanced away from the spectacle to look at Miaka.
"For one piece—two pieces of silver!" Tamahome proclaimed.
"Ehhh? Too expensive!" a voice cried.
Leaning forward, Tamahome held up one finger. "It's discounted! It's not expensive, but affordable!" He continued to sing praises of his wares.
I wonder if Tamahome only thinks that I'm useful for his business. Miaka thought morosely.
One of the bystanders grew suspicious. "Oi! It's weird that you should have one of the Priestess's stuff! The Priestesses are in the company of the Emperor!"
Tamahome's eager face frowned at the discord. Nuriko jumped next to the disgruntled man and snagged his shirt in one fist. "What's with you?" she yelled in his face. "Are you saying Tama-kins is lying!"
The man's eyes narrowed. "I'm saying this guy may not be honest!"
"He's lying just to sell the stuff!" another commented.
Nuriko snatched the new malcontent up in her other hand, close to growling.
"Yes, just to steal from us-" the man continued in a strangled voice.
"Prove it!" someone called.
"It's fake, isn't it!"
The crowd's displeasure grew. Tamahome watched his customers start to turn against him with apprehension.
From within the depths of the masses, a voice yelled out, "Tamahome's telling the truth!"
Tamahome, Nuriko, and everyone else turned to find the source of the shout, who had shed her makeshift cloak with determination. "I gave the gum to him!"
Kagome also whipped off her cloak, revealing herself to the crowd forming around Tamahome and Nuriko.
"Miaka! Kagome!" Tamahome said, astonished.
The people stared at the defiant girl. "It's really her! And the Shikon Jewel Priestess as well!"
Seeing his chance, Tamahome dashed off the steps and stood before Kagome and Miaka. He whipped out a pair of sunglasses and held them to his face. "Yes, Yes! Form a line! If you want their signatures, you gotta go through me! To shake their hand: one gold piece!"
Miaka jumped up and shouted in his ear, "Don't suddenly decide to be my manager!"
"That's right." one man commented to his friend,"That guy was with the Priestesses a while ago."
"He's for real?"
The crowd fixated on the pair and charged, yelling offers of gold pieces. They buried a protesting Tamahome and Miaka in a deluge of warm bodies. Kagome was stuck behind with Nuriko, who didn't mind really. Kagome had proven to her that she wasn't interested in the Emperor's love but Miaka she was mad at again, for what happened earlier in Hotohori's chambers.
Taking the classic escape, Tamahome and Miaka squeezed out between the pulsating legs and grabbing hands. They broke for an empty, dim alley, where they leaned, panting, against the side of a building.
"It's safe here," Tamahome said with relief.
"Ehh," Miaka gasped in agreement, her hands on her knees.
"Why did you do that?" he unexpectedly asked.
The girl straightened and stared out in front of her. "Because you think I'm a nuisance."
"I didn't say that."
Miaka looked at him and finally asked him outright. "So what do you think of me?"
He returned her gaze, but was interrupted before he could even begin to think of a reply.
"Excuse me," a pair of men stood before them, appearing out of the coming gloom. "Will you come with us?" Thunder softly rumbled in the sky above.
"What do you want to chat about?" Tamahome demanded of the two thugs.
The larger of the two tapped the flat of his knife in his open palm. "If you want to do business here, you got to pay us for the privilege."
"The mafia exist everywhere," Miaka scathingly remarked to no one. The reference would be lost on Tamahome and the thugs, if they actually paying attention to her.
"I have no money for that," Tamahome replied to them, his voice flat.
The darker of the two men glowered. "Then you'll get beaten."
Miaka gasped when she was jerked from behind by a third man. He held her captive, her arm twisted behind her back, the crook of his elbow around her neck. More scruffy men appeared from the rising shadows.
"Ohh, she is just soooo cute," one older man leered.
"Boss!" the first two greeted.
Tamahome's eyes darkened. "You bastard. Let her go."
The gang's leader dismissed Tamahome's demand with utter confidence. "Don't fight us. This territory is under my control. I can ruin your business here. Whether I do or not depends on your paying up." He held out one hand and waggled his fingers in Tamahome's favorite greedy gesture.
"Boss, that girl is the Priestess of Suzaku," the first thug informed.
He eyed Miaka with an evil glint. "Oh, even better. Too bad that sexy Priestess of the Shikon Jewel ain't here! That would be even better!" The leader's gaze returned to Tamahome. "Hey fella. You're a businessman. Let's negotiate." He lofted a fat purse in one hand. "Thirty gold pieces if you sell us the girl."
Peeking around the corner of the building, Nuriko and Kagome watched the events with real fear. "Miaka and Tama-kins are in a pinch!" she whispered to Kagome. The black-haired girl nodded, wanting to go and help her friends but knew if she charged in on the situation she would make it worse.
I don't even have my bow with me. It's at home in my room. Though I am sure my powers might work on the thugs if I target my purification at the evil within their hearts. Kagome thought, wondering whether or not her power could work like that. It would be great if Miaka and I could go back home real quick for more clothes and supplies for our stay in this world. I could bring Kirara back with me too, I promised Sango that I'd take Kirara so she could help protect me and the Jewel in Sango's place. Oh, and those sutras Miroku gave me.
FLASHBACK
Everyone in Kaede's village was celebrating the defeat of Naraku. As well as Sango and Miroku's wedding, who were just married not even one hour ago. Kagome had been Sango's bridesmaid, and was very happy for her two friends. All but Inuyasha were at the wedding celebration.
Though, Inuyasha was still on her mind. It had been a week since Naraku's demise and the half-demon and the undead priestess Kikyo had disappeared without a trace shortly after the battle. Kagome looked everywhere but could not find them. Eventually she believed that Kikyo and Inuyasha had gone to hell together. She was distraught with grief for three days after that. The thing that pulled her out of her grieving for the time being was her desire to see Sango and Miroku happy.
With a heavy heart, she gave up praying for Inuyasha's return, believing it to be too late.
Kagome knew that it was time for her to return to her time for good. She stood with her trusty yellow backpack on her shoulders, the well behind her as she turned to say her good byes to her friends of three years. She had already said goodbye to Kouga and his pack in the village and Sesshomaru, who had promised he'd see her again, in the present.
Miroku, Sango and Shippo were crying as Kagome turned to them. Kirara was perched on Sango's shoulder, also looking quite disheartened.
Miroku went first. His mouth curved into a sad smile as he looked at his traveling companion of three years. "Lady Kagome, please take care of yourself in your time. Never forget that we'll always be with you in spirit. You are like a sister to me." He pulled out a hand carved box and handed it to her. She took the box and opened it to reveal three stacks of sutras. The first stack of sutras had the kanji on it for 'paralization', the second stack had the kanji for 'sleep', and the third stack had the kanji for 'poison'.
"Miroku...thank you." Said Kagome putting the lid back on and looking up. Once she had, Miroku pulled her into a hug and didn't even attempt to caress her bottom.
Kagome pulled herself away after a moment, wiping her eyes. "I'll always keep you guys with me, wherever I may be." She smiled at him then Shippo propelled his small body into her arms.
"Momma! I don't want you to leave!" He wailed, tears bountiful in his green eyes.
Kagome cried harder at her adoptive son's cries. With a watery smile she told him, "I want you to train hard for me, okay Shippo? Go to Sesshomaru and have him train you. I'm sure I'll see you again in the future okay?"
"Yes, Momma. I train hard and make you proud!" He leapt out of her arms to the ground.
Sango looked at Kagome, who she thought of as a sister. She embraced Kagome in a tight hug and cried at the loss of Kagome from her life. "K-Kagome! I'm going to miss you so much!"
Kagome's blue eyes were rimmed with tears. "Me, too Sango!"
"Take Kirara with you. You're going to need someone to help protect the Jewel and Kirara can help you in my place. I have Miroku to protect me now that we're married but you don't have anyone now. She'll help keep you safe!" Sango took Kirara in her arms and said her goodbyes to the two-tailed feline demon. Kirara mewed her goodbyes to her owner and then jumped into Kagome's arms.
Kagome nodded her consent, "I will Sango. I'll miss you guys!" Then Kagome jumped into the well, Kirara with her.
END FLASHBACK
She then turned back to the scene in front of her.
"Thirty gold pieces!" Tamahome scorned. "I'm no fool!" He held up one hand, fingers splayed. "Make it forty!"
The thugs fell to the ground in shock.
"Thirty-five pieces!" their boss proclaimed.
"Forty pieces!" Tamahome yelled back in his face.
"Thirty-seven! You stubborn bastard!"
"I said forty damn pieces, you cunning old fart!"
With one of the men's hands clamped over her mouth, Miaka could only watch and yell with her mind. Tamahome, you're so cruel! She turned limp and softly began to cry.
"Oh, you falling apart?" her captor asked, a cruel smile plastered over his unsightly face.
Miaka jerked upright to glare at him. "I'm pissed off!" Her fist appeared from out of nowhere and connected with the man's jaw, flinging him backwards. At the same moment, Tamahome exploded and powerfully knocked the first two thugs away. Lighting and thunder crashed through the sky. It began to rain.
He slowly turned to watch the remaining toughs, his Ogre symbol gleaming red from his forehead in the dim light.
The boss drew his sword. "Bastard! You were faking us out! If you won't sell her-" He turned and charged Miaka, screaming.
Tamahome leaped and snatched the girl out of the way just as the blade sliced through the air. They fell to the ground, and the thugs charged. Jumping upright, Tamahome laid into them, but turned when he heard Miaka's scream. He grasped a loose chunk of wall and flung it into the man's head who had cornered Miaka against the wall. The man collapsed.
Sword still in hand, the gang's leader rushed Tamahome, who stopped him with one solid punch to the gut. The boss slowly collapsed into the mud. Tamahome looked over his shoulder at the trembling Miaka. "Some things are too important to be sold."
"Shit," Nuriko commented from the two observers hiding place, suffering a change of heart for the worse. "Too bad it ended this way." She sneezed.
"Come, let's go," Tamahome stepped forward and held out a hand to Miaka. She slapped it away, eyes flashing.
"Idiot! Now you can't do business around here anymore! But even worse, you could have been hurt!" Miaka clenched her fists in anger. "Why? Why did you go that far for me?" The girl's voice was on the verge of cracking.
Tamahome started silently at her, blood from a cut on his cheek slowly moving down his skin. He turned his back. "Let's go."
"Answer me!" Miaka screamed.
The rain increased and surrounded Tamahome with a pale, translucent halo. "It's not important."
"It is to me! Because I...I...I love you Tamahome!" Miaka's eyes flew open in shock, and she covered her mouth with both her hands.
Tamahome did not move. "Sorry. I don't anything like that. I protect you only because you are the Priestess of Suzaku." He paused for a second. "Let's go home. The Emperor will be worried about you."
Miaka's hands slowly fell from her lips, pain in her eyes. Tamahome... She reached out one trembling hand. T-Ta... The world blacked out before the girl, and Miaka collapsed onto the alley's mud.
"What's wrong, Miaka?" Tamahome ran to her and knelt beside her prone figure. "Answer me! Miaka! Oi, Miaka!"
"The Priestess of Suzaku, after being saved, came down with a fever, and fell." Yui's voice read, sitting against a bookshelf in the Important Documents Room in the National Library and also found herself with a fever.