WO AI NI: Part 4

Suzaku no Miko

Now was he not only burdened with the fact that his family didn't get enough food, he was also burdened with the fact that his father needed money for medicine. Money that he didn't have.
  Tamahome felt helpless...he didn't think he could buy medicine - it was too costly. In his mind he knew that it was either his father that died or himself and his siblings. But he wasn't going to be cruel - he would find a way.
   The problem was - where was he going to get all that money? The rent was due again, the family was suffering from bad crops and no food, and the doctor had prescribed a medicine for months now but Tamahome wasn't able to get it yet.
   As his birthday neared, he wished wistfully that his mother was still alive. She would know what to do; she always did. Mothers were like that. At the same time, he said nothing, but kept his cool so that his siblings wouldn't know.
   They were happy. With what little they had, they were happy. Tamahome was trying to teach Chuei how to read and was pleased that he was grasping the subject really well. He was often reminded of his Master and wondered vaguely where he could be. Yuiren came to him every night with a new song she had made up. And Gyokuran was always telling stories. Mostly, they were about love. Shunkei, always tired, fell asleep almost all the time.
Tamahome wondered if it was a sickness, but decided against that because Shunkei was a very sweet and very energetic kid when he was awake.
   With the problems in his mind, he helped himself forget by being around them. His pride of life (being his siblings) fed his aching heart. He wondered how long he could keep this up. Yuiren came into the room with her sleeve in her mouth. Still chewing on it, she clambered up on Tamahome's lap. Sighing, he plucked the cloth out from her teeth, and she smiled up at him. "Niichan is busy?" She asked.
  He nodded, continuing to count that day's pay. "Too busy for Yuiren?" She asked. He stopped counting and turned to her with a smile. "Of course not. What does Yuiren want?" She giggled and threw her arms around his neck. "Yuiren loves Niichan!" She cried. He hugged her, responding to her feelings.
  "Yuiren also love daddy." Yuiren noted, as she let her elder brother go back to counting his pay. "...Is daddy going to die?" She asked. Her lip trembled and Tamahome dropped his coins. He turned to look at her with wide eyes, as she started to cry. He hugged her again. So. She had figured it out, and spoken the truth that Tamahome had tried to deny and refused to accept. He should have known she wasn't stupid.
  Tamahome drew a deep breath. How was he going to explain this? After a while he said lamely, "Yuiren...Niichan is going to get money to get the medicine and make Daddy well again. He won't die." He put up such a front that it made him feel that way. But he knew deep inside that if something wasn't done as soon as possible, his father would.

                                                  * * * *

  Stoke of luck! The weather turned good, making crops fruitful. Added, they earned alot of money because street thieves and traders were known to be roaming loose. It was as though Suzaku had heard Tamahome's plea and had done something about it. One way or another, he was making good enough money. Enough to buy the necessities of medicine and food.
  This was all good, but it had one downfall - Tamahome was away for days, even weeks from his family with the business, and it made him feel lonely. But all that didn't matter. He had learned how to shut out his personal feelings so that he could concentrate on making his family happy. Thus, he never thought about himself anymore.
  What he did grow to love a lot was money. That was evident. He would do anything and everything for it. Somehow, it soothed him from his longing to be with his family, for the thought that it was for them brought him enough happiness. But right now, he was worried about Yuiren. Actually, he missed the child with a vengeance. Her doll had not been returned yet.
  He heard something. A girl yelling. Feeling that familiar rush of adrenaline, he followed the sound. 'Money!' He thought as he stepped into the scene of two men and two girls who were strangely dressed. Remembering what had happened a year ago with the girl and her sister, he figured that this time, he would save both and that he would never let it happen again.
  The man was shouting at one of the strangely dressed girls with brown hair to play nice. Tamahome swiftly took hold of the arm and twisted it brutally behind his back, listening to his cry of pain.
  "Quit it."
  At the end, the two traders ran away. 'It's getting boring now.' Tamahome thought, as he watched them. He had sprained one's arm, and beaten the other to a pulp. He smiled, grateful to his Master for his training and also because he was proud of himself. Then realizing that he was on duty, he turned back to the two girls.
  "Ladies. Are you okay?" He asked. Both of them were pale. One had  short blondish hair,- which sort of surprised him - blue eyes and a strange array of clothing. It was brown with a simple bow on it. The bottom part of her costume was like none he had ever seen before. The other girl, dressed in the exact same thing, had brown hair in buns held up with pink ribbons and green eyes. Her eyes seemed to sparkle and her smile was smooth. Tamahome chided himself for looking so intently at her and instead, knelt down beside them, holding his hand out expectantly as they finished their grateful thanks.
  "Money is a better way to express one's gratitude." He insisted, leaning forward. They were after all, saved by him. And everyone knew he had a deal struck once saved. He was more than just surprised when they gave him blank looks. He was disappointed.
  "You guys have no money? Don't you women know that money dominates the world?" Tamahome almost sounded angry. Then he stood up and started to walk away. "Sorry!" He called over his shoulder, "But I hate poor people!" He strode down the street, half wondering why he had bothered to help them, half wondering why they didn't know. He heard one of them calling out to him, but he paid her no mind. After all, she wasn't important - she had no money.
  Instead, he headed back to town, where he figured he could make up for lost time and find someone else to save. He had no idea that he would run into one of them so soon.

                                            * * * *

  "Did you hear? A girl in foreign clothing skipped out on paying."
  "Yeah I know, I know! She paid with foreign coins then ran away."
  A local restaurant. One that Tamahome and Tokaki had eaten in long before. Finished with his meal, Tamahome couldn't help but listen in on two men's conversation. He put down his toothpick.
  "Ano...excuse me." He said, leaning over his table. "That girl...were there two of them?" He demanded. One of them shook his head.
  "All I heard was that she didn't pay. Serious crime you know. Government officials won't take it lightly. I didn't hear anything about there being two...why?" he asked. Tamahome sat back down, and brushed the subject off with them. 'Then it's not the ones I saved from this morning.' He thought. But he had a feeling...a strong feeling...he got up. He had to find her. And for some reason, as he stepped out of the restaurant, he knew exactly where she would be.
  He was right of course. He found her with - not surprising - a bunch of traders *again* She looked terrified. And at the end, she came crying into his arms like one of his siblings. His anger at her for roaming the streets alone, cooled off at the thought that he had yet another sister to take care of. "It's okay now." He assured her. "They're gone."
  She pushed away from him, demanding to know where her friend was. He told her the truth that he didn't know. Thing was, she didn't believe him. She followed him, insisting that he tell her where she was. Finally seeing it was hopeless, he turned around.
  "You are very annoying you know?" Tamahome demanded.
   The girl remained unruffled by that comment. "I need to find her quick. I feel sorry for her." At that, she started to cry. 'Not again.' Tamahome thought.
   "Wakatta, wakkata! Just don't cry anymore!" He said exasperatedly. In truth, it hurt him to see her cry. But this of course, he denied to himself, saying it was just because she reminded him too much of Yuiren. Without another word, he led her down a street, to a crowd that had gathered. A royal procession was taking place. Tamahome didn't care much about royalty, but it came to his mind how nice it would be to have all that money. Or, at least to have one of those expensive looking jewels from his crown. This, he said out loud.
   "Is the emperor rich?" Came her sudden question to him. It made him blink and stare at her like she was stupid. "Well...of course." He answered. "Is the emperor nice?" Came her next question. For a moment, he was about to tell her that he wasn't, but seeing all the people around him, and not knowing who was listening in, he simply said, "Well...I haven't heard anything..bad." He placed his hands behind his head, still fantasizing what he would do if he did get a jewel like that.
  "Ja, then I'll get it for you, in return for your help in finding my friend!" She cried, bading goodbye. He glanced at her, her words not sinking through. He nodded, still in his trance, "Yeah..." He snapped out of it when he heard her say, "you said yeah!"
  The idiot! She was going to get herself into trouble. He was going to call her name but realized that he didn't know it yet. Sighing to himself, he decided that if would have to be him that looked out for her.
  He made quick time. Picking up a handful of rocks and dust, he threw it, causing confusion. Tamahome picked her up, introducing himself and she introduced herself as Yuuki Miaka. Strange name...but he promised her all the same that he would help her out no matter what - sealing it with a kiss to her forehead much to her surprise. All of a sudden, a red light engulfed her, and she started to disappear...

                                              * * * *

  "You..."
  She looked ready to cry. "Yui-chan...she returned...but I couldn't..." She said in a small, broken voice. Once again, she started to cry. So he promised her that he would help her find her way home. There was no time for words though. Soon they were bound and Tamahome found himself in a dungeon, next to an unconsious girl he had met only a few hours earlier.
  '...Miaka, huh?' He sat himself down heavily, crossing his legs beneath him. Now they were in a predicament. A predicament he didn't know how to get out of. He cursed beneath his breath and his eyes travelled to the unconcious girl again. Why....?
  Before he could think some more, Miaka came to, grabbing onto him. Realizing what she was doing, she let go. Together, they puzzled over how to get out. Tamahome was surprised at her optimism. But she was determined one way or another to get out. He couldn't help but look at her green eyes that sparkled this time with anger and determination. He felt a blush creep up to his cheeks as he forced himself to remember that people with no money were useless. But there was something about her...
  Pretty soon, they got out. Her tactic with "gum" fascinated him and he quickly demanded if he could have some. With questioning eyes, she smiled and handed them to him. Feeling like this would bring him a fortune, he put them in his pocket for safekeeping. Now, if he could only find the way out. But he should have known it wasn't possible.
  "Miaka look." He said, her name rolling off his tongue. He liked the sound of it. He decided he would say it again. So he did. They were in a darkened room, a sort of shrine. In the front to the center of the room, a huge golden statue stared down at them. The sight was magnificent and as every statue he had seen of it, it took his breath away.
  A barely audible whisper came from Miaka's lips. "Wow..." Tamahome heard her breathe. He had to say, her choice of wording was better than what he could have come up with. It was a beautiful statue of Suzaku. An overwhelming peace came over him as he looked up at it. His father and Tokaki had told him that Suzaku was very important, and respect for him was highly called for.
  "Our god Suzaku." Tamahome explained, finally able to find his voice. "He protects Konan in the South. Biakko- Sailo in the West, Seiryuu-Kutou in the East, and Genbu-Hokkan in the North." He turned around, ready to ask her opinion on the statue, eager to get to know someone. "Ne, Miaka...Miaka?" She was nowhere to be found. The door they had come through was open. Feeling like an idiot himself for letting her out of his watch even for a few seconds, he ran out, searching for her.
  The place was massive! But every bit as beautiful as its size. There was never a dull place in the palace. But there was no time to admire everything, he had to get out. Maybe, he reasoned,
she had gotten away and was safe. He himself might get caught if he never ran for it now. In
any case, he was not leaving without knowing for sure she was out of there. He intended to
keep his promise.

                                                       * * * *

  Wrong direction! Tamahome ran another direction, but came out with the same results. Pretty
soon, he had all the guards from the inner gardens running after him. He remembered their cruel
whips, and he didn't want to feel them again. What was worse was the thought that Miaka was
recieving them that very second. So, he decided to keep silent, praying that she get away while
all the attention was given to him.
  He winced as they pulled his hair. The pain from their firm grasp on his arms behind his back made him gasp. He'd felt worse. "Where is the girl, damn you!" One shouted in his ear. Tamahome glared at him, a fierce, defiant glare. "I already told you, I don't know! She probably got away while you guys paid attention to me." He said angrily. What was with these guys? One thing was for sure, they didn't trust the truth. He felt a powerful blow to his stomach, causing him to double over in pain. His ribs hurt, and his head swam.
  "Let's try that again. Where_is_the_girl?" They asked. He spit at them. "I'll say it for the last time: I_don't_know." He answered scornfully. He felt pain shoot up his arm as they threatened to break it. He grit his teeth together waiting for the pop.
  "Tamahome!"
  Her.
  "What are you doing here??" He cried. "Go! Get away! Run while you still can!" He struggled with everything he had to get away from the guards. He was furious at her. Why didn't she listen?
  "I can't! I won't leave you here!" Came her desperate answer.
  "Idiot!" He screamed as she was grabbed by the soldiers he so hated. "Tamahome!" She cried, reaching her hand for him. That did it. NO ONE touched her like that. He wouldn't allow it. He broke his bonds as though they were old pieces of thread. His sybmol glowed, representing who he was: a Suzaku seishi. His anger drove him enough to get them out of the way.
  "You...if any of you touch her...you will answer to me!" He said angrily.
  "Stop!!! This is my command! None of you will touch them without my order!" Came a very authoritative voice. Miaka's eyes widened. "Hotohori?"
  Tamahome's symbol disappeared. He suddenly felt weak and tired. Out of the corner of his eyes, he saw each of the soldiers bow on their knees in reverance to this newcomer. And out of one of their mouths came the words: "Emperor!!"
  "Emperor? The real one?" Finally! The chance to tell him all his anger. But the mere sight of him, even in a girl's clothes, was enough to make him come to his knees in fright as the Emperor of Konan nodded his affirmation.

                                                   * * * *

  He found himself on a rug, a crimson one, facing the throne. And sitting upon it, sat Saihitei, fourth Emperor of Konan. As the Emperor apologized about his behaviour and the way they were treated, Tamahome never took a word of it in. He simmered with anger at him for everything. There was nothing he could do though: he was in the audience chamber. Guards by the dozen surrounded both inside and outside of the room.
  "I have to ask you a favor Miaka." Tamahome heard the Emperor saying. Miaka, as confused as he was, maybe even more, looked up. "Yes?"
  "I need you to help Konan by protecting it." The Emperor was out of his mind! She was a mere girl who couldn't protect herself. Then he expected her to protect the country? Was he crazy? But then, he was silently hoping something himself. Could she possibly be...?
  Tamahome heard her protesting to that one, sounding a bit distressed. But the Emperor got to her though.
  "Why won't you? Don't you want to obtain Suzaku's power? Why, you can own the world if you wanted to."
  That changed her mind. The next thing he knew, she jumped to her feet. "I'll do it! I'll do it! Be Suzaku No Miko! I'll do it! I've been waiting for the position!" Tamahome felt his world start to spin. This was blown way out of proportion. Too many strange things happened to him that day. He was starting to get used to it. He had known it from the beginning, he realized. The  strange feeling in his gut sharpened as the Emperor stood up.
  In a loud voice, he announced, "Konan! The Suzaku no Miko has been found! Show your respect!" There was a big commotion as Miaka turned around. Rows and rows of people prostrated themselves before her.Everyone had their foreheads touching the floor as they cried out, "Thank you! Thank you Suzaku No Miko!" Tamahome, the gut feeling intensifying, brought his head down as well in reverance toward her miserably.
  Miaka, stood dumbfounded, unsure of everything that was happening. Tamahome had known. He had known all along that she was the Legendary Suzaku No Miko.
 
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