Author Fangirling: Hi ho, Appa here. Enough build up, now the plot gets to go haywire!
The next morning, Chiriko presented the stack of papers to Boushin. "What's this?" the young emperor asked.
"I've written about Miaka and each of the Suzaku warriors, as well as other warriors we had encountered. I've written everything I could recall about their backgrounds here. Once you know them well, it will be easier to tell you what happened."
"That's a good idea! I can't wait to read…" Boushin looked closer at the paper and noticed how small Chiriko's writing was. "How much did you write!?"
"I'm sure I'm forgetting things, and I was up late writing about the others, so they might not be as complete." Nonetheless, he looked proud of himself.
There was a knock at the door, followed by Shouka and Juan poking their heads in.
"Can Boushin play today?"
"We promise we won't go so far…"
"No, Boushin must get some reading done today," he gave them a soft smile. "I could go with you, though."
"No, that's okay. We'll just play with Boushin tomorrow."
Boushin got the distinct impression that Chiriko was sulking. He wanted to sulk a little too when he saw Shouka and Juan out the window entertaining each other, but he turned his attention to the writings.
They were thorough, and included everything about the Suzaku warriors from where they were from, to what their families were like, to what their powers were. They even included his father's traits that no one had ever told him before. He did have to ask Shouka's parents what a few of the words he did not understand meant, and even though they could not understand all the characters themselves, they could still tell him what "narcissist" meant.
He had no idea his father had such a flaw, but with all the posthumous praise the officials still showered him with, he found it amusing—so much so that he could not help but laugh. Maybe his mythical being of a father was a real person after all.
Taking a moment to rest his eyes, he sighed and wondered if his father would take as much pride in him. With a glance at the sword, his mind wandered to his encounter with the wolves the night before. His stomach welled up with shame, and he pressed on reading.
The descriptions became sparser as the pages went on to describe the Seiryuu warriors, but they still provided lots of details about powers and abilities, as well as Emperor Nakago's humble background. Surprised though Boushin was to read about the treatment of the Hin tribe living in Kutou long before he was born, he was not sympathetic.
Boushin also found Chiriko's description of Miboshi interesting. There was nothing written about Chiriko's encounter with him, but he noted that his current whereabouts were unknown.
Boushin's eyes hurt by the time he was asked to join everyone for dinner, but he felt content. Surprising though some details Chiriko had included were, such as Nuriko's participation in the imperial harem, he accepted it all and felt that he really had gotten to know the warriors a bit more—even Tasuki and Chichiri. Wouldn't they be surprised to know how much more he knew about them now!
Juan had joined them for dinner, and Boushin continued to absorb information as they talked and talked about what they did that day, trying to fill Boushin in on everything he missed out on. Juan was handing him more plants they had found and telling him what they could do to the human body, and Shouka showed him a flower lanyard she had made before placing it on his head. To her dismay, it was too small to fit beyond his ears.
"Oh," Juan observed. "You're an emperor." Boushin and Chiriko looked at him with wide eyes, and he continued. "When we were playing yesterday, you were Hotohori."
"That's right," he smiled, somewhat relieved. "Did I mention that Hotohori was an emperor?"
Juan frowned. "I thought you did… maybe…"
Chiriko broke out into a smile with a knot in his throat. "Why don't you go out them again tomorrow? We'll talk in the evenings."
Tetsuya is waiting for me. I just have to get to where Tetsuya is. I'll be alright. Tetsuya will be there.
By lunchtime, Yui was more anxious than she thought she'd be. It felt like the book was getting closer, or that something was following her through the halls, or that there were voices whispering her name. Close as the restaurant was, her campus seemed longer than usual, and winding—winding like the streets and alleys of the capital back in Kutou. She just needed to turn the corner of this last building, pass the soccer field and the bicycle racks, and walk along the back of the equipment sheds to reach the east gate. But as she turned, there she was: Mayo Sakaki.
Yui took a step back and gave her a firm look. "What are you doing here, Sakaki? You should be at school."
"Something as trivial as that doesn't matter now," she smiled. She was dressed in street clothes and was carrying a full backpack. It looked like she was ready for a long trip, and had no trace of a school uniform through which someone could connect with her. "You know what I'm here for."
"I don't know how to give you Suzaku, and I don't care. You should get rid of that book, if you know what's good for you."
"I am the new Priestess of Suzaku, and I must claim him back from you."
"You're crazy! And this has nothing to do with me anymore. I made my last wish and now I'm free of that stupid book."
"The book that claimed your friend Miaka Yuuki?" she pulled it out and held it with two hands in front of her face, glowering at Yui over the top of it. Yui gasped at the sight of it.
"You shouldn't have that! Get rid of it right now!"
"You never finished your role in this. Seiryuu has only been dormant."
"No! You're wrong! I have nothing to do with it anymore!"
"You know it still needs you for the story to continue."
"Stop it!"
Suboshi had made it out off the coast of Kutou in a private boat. The moonlight was bright; it reminded him of the night Yui had summoned Seiryuu. "Lady Yui," he said, and held his hands out towards the sky. "I'm here."
As if an extension of his hands, Seiryuu Seikun reached through him. Hear me, my priestess.
"Give back Suzaku," Mayo yelled as the book began to emit a bright blue light. "Unleash him to me, Priestess of Seiryuu!"
Yui screamed as the light enveloped her, and she could clearly hear a voice inside of it.
"Lady Yui!"
Tetsuya had already ordered a drink, and played with the ice with his straw. A smile crept to his face as he waited, anticipating that Yui would soon join him.
Two days had already passed in the secluded mountain village. Boushin played with Juan and Shouka in the daytime, but made sure to be back early to hear as much storytelling as Chiriko could fit into a single night. Now that he had been given permission to share everything and he had already called to mind many details to share, Chiriko had become more enthusiastic about sharing the story with Boushin, even accidentally sharing details he did not intend to. Poor Nuriko's romantic past was now completely exposed.
Boushin sat on his bed with a wide smile as Chiriko orated, and Boushin pressed him with questions. "But my father didn't really kill Tamahome. He must have only come close!"
"Very close. He would have died, had Mitsukake not been there."
"But what about the kodoku? Mitsukake didn't think he could heal that!"
"No, not when it comes to the mind," he replied with a hand to his head, which then fell to his heart. "But love can penetrate the mind. Miaka threw her herself against his body once he collapsed, and helped him to hold the sword over her. She insisted that if he must, he should kill her, and they would perish together. Too taken aback by her love, Tamahome's mind was disturbed. As his life force was diminishing, so did the kodoku, and at last he was able to be disenthralled of it."
"Disenthralled? Wait, I don't understand… you said that in a strange way."
"I wasn't clear?" he blinked, and put a hand back to his head.
"That's alright, it wasn't that strange… Chiriko?" asked Boushin. Chiriko's hand had gone to gripping his head as he stared at the floor widely, and the sudden change scared the boy. "Are you alright?"
Without warning, Chiriko stood up fast enough for the chair to fall over as he sprang to the window, and looked around as if he had been startled by something. He gazed intensely at the sky between his fingers.
"Chiriko, what's wrong? Are you going to be sick? Chiriko?"
A moment of silence later and he finally spoke. "I'm fine. I just need a few minutes. Let's stop here for tonight."
"Alright," he cautiously replied. "I'll go get you some water."
As Boushin left the room, Chiriko looked back up to the stars. For the first time in a decade, he was able to understand messages hidden among them.
Later in the night, Chichiri shifted around in bed, having woken up. He would have soon fallen back asleep, had he not noticed Miaka's silhouette standing by the window. "Miaka? You alright?" he sat up.
She turned back with a bittersweet smile. "It's Yui. She's come back."
"Are you sure?"
"There no mistaking her," she shook her head. "She's back here, somewhere in this world."
"Why?"
"I don't know, but I need to find her."
"Even though she thinks you've died?"
"It doesn't matter. If she's here, then something's brought her, and it can't be good."
"Where is she then? Kutou?"
"I don't know. I just need to go out and find her, wherever she is. I can sense her this clearly, so it can't be too hard."
"But what if Nakago finds out you're still alive?"
"What does that matter anymore, Chichiri?"
"It'll be dangerous, you know. But I'll make sure you find her. I'll protect you."
"I know you will," she smiled, and touched his chest at arm's length. "You must not have noticed what else is back."
Chichiri was confused, but a moment later he recognized something familiar. Without a word, he turned from her to a bamboo hat he had set in the kitchen. Holding it up in one hand, and he jabbed the other through, and it disappeared.
Tetsuya heard his phone ring. He figured it was Yui, but hadn't expected her to call. Instead, the caller identification showed it was Keisuke. "Hey, what's up?"
"You're with Yui, right?"
"I'm about to be."
"Shoot. I can't get ahold of her on her phone."
"Well, it's off, that's why."
"Go out and find her. Sakaki's cutting school and probably out looking for her. Her parents don't know where she is either."
"Don't tell me she'd be on the campus!" he yelled, and was already standing up to run out. "Damn it! I shouldn't have waited so long! You get out here too, Keisuke!"
"And cut work?"
"That's what I'm doing, now just hurry up and come track this girl down! I've got to find Yui!"
Tetsuya hung up and ran down the street, in through the gate, and down along the back of the sheds. Had he been any less observant, he would have completely missed the book lying on the ground. He shouted in frustration, and continued repeating swear words under his breath as he picked it up, and opened to any random page. He didn't even read it, but could tell right away that it was not a scene he recognized. The story was moving, and for the book to be left there, it meant Yui had already been taken.
Later on in his apartment, he and Keisuke sat on either side of a table, looking at the book between them. "I should have just met her on campus," he said, his head in his hands. "I was right there, Keisuke. This happened two minutes away from me and I was just sitting there."
"You're not a celestial warrior, don't beat yourself up for not being psychic," responded Keisuke. "First we have to figure out what's going on right now."
"Yui's in the book, we can probably tell that much."
"Right. Let's just see who it's following right now."
"If not Yui, then who? Sakaki?"
"If she left the book there, then there's a good chance she's been taken too."
"That girl is nuts. Is she trying to be the new Priestess of Suzaku or something?"
"We can't just leave her there if that's where she is. Here we go, let's start here. 'The Priestess of Suzaku and Chichiri left before dawn.'"
"Aw, great. It's following Sakaki."
"Just let me keep reading, Tetsuya! 'When asked how she could be sure of the way, the Priestess put a hand to her heart and told him that bonds from the past would lead her to her friend. This time, she would be sure not to leave… her…'" Keisuke trailed off until he became silent.
"What? Why'd you stop?"
"It's… Miaka."
"No way!" Tetsuya took the book out of his hands and looked over the page himself, his eyes growing wider with every word. He looked back to Keisuke, who looked dumbfounded as tears started forming.
"She's alive, Tetsuya. Miaka's still alive! She's been living in the Universe of the Four Gods this entire time," the words dribbled out of his mouth, and then he broke into a wide smile and shouted, "She's alive!"