The first thing Miaka did the next morning when she woke up was panic. She wasn�t in her normal bed, covered with fluffy pink comforters and filled with stuffed animals. No, she was in a hard bed, covered by a thin white sheet. She abruptly sat up and looked around the room. Then yesterday�s events came back to her.
�That�s right.� She muttered, raking a shaky hand through her hair. She chewed nervously on her bottom lip. What did she do now? A knock on the door startled her out of her thoughts.
�Hai?�
�We should get going. We need to get to the palace.�
Miaka slid off the bed and opened the door to come face to face with Genrou.
�Nani?� She moved over so he could step in.
�If you get ready, we can head off towards the palace.� He informed her, taking quick peaks at her appearance from his spot in the middle of the room. She wasn�t wearing her brown vest, and her clothes were slightly wrinkled and her skirt was hiked up a little bit. Her hair, which had been up before, was now down, cascading over her shoulders. Genrou shook away the thoughts angrily and headed towards the door.
�Meet me downstairs when you�re ready.� He muttered, leaving Miaka utterly confused.
�H-hai!� She shut the door and looked down at her appearance. She gasped in horror when she realized why Genrou had been so jumpity and in a hurry to leave. She pulled down her skirt and smoothed out the wrinkles of her blouse before slipping the discarded vest back on.
�What I wouldn�t give for a nice hot shower, some new clothes, a brush, and a mirror.� She muttered and combed her hands through her hair. Praying her hair was parted evenly, she put it up into the two odangos she was trademarked to have. Satisfied, she left the room and made her way downstairs.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
�Ohayo, Gen-chan!� Miaka replied happily, sliding into a wooden seat next to Genrou. He raised an eyebrow, but continued to sip his sake.
�Do you want anything to eat before we leave?�
Miaka nodded happily. She was famished. Genrou motioned for a man to come and take her order, and boy was he sorry. After Miaka ordered everything on the menu, she turned around to face a shocked Genrou.
�Nani?�
�You�re gonna eat all that?� He placed his cup on the table and eyed the foreign girl carefully. Miaka nodded and shrugged.
�I would order more, but I think it would be rude to make you pay for it all.� She smiled as Genrou�s jaw dropped. She ate more that what she had just ordered? He sweatdropped at the thought.
After breakfast came and Miaka inhaled it all, the two were on their way to the Konan palace.
�So��
�So�?� Miaka turned and looked at Genrou questioningly. He rolled his eyes and glanced down at her.
�Who are you? Why are ya� here?� He pressed, kicking the unlucky pebble that was lying on the road.
�Didn�t we go over introductions yesterday?� Miaka asked, still confused.
�Where did ya� come from?� He tried his luck again, simplifying the question. Miaka�s mouth formed an �o� before she explained.
�I�m from Tokyo.�
�Tokyo?�
�Yea, as in Tokyo Japan?�
Genrou, who clearly was not expecting that answer, stumbled. Miaka reached out to steady him, but he swatted her hands away. She pulled back, a little hurt by his gesture.
�Japan?� He croaked. She nodded.
�My god! She�s serious!� Genrou thought.
�Last time I checked I was from Japan.� She muttered, rubbing her temples. Genrou looked down at her again, trying to think of a way to break the news to her.
�Umm, listen kid. I don�t know how to say this, but�.� He raked a hand through his hair in frustration.
�I am not a kid, I�m fifteen, almost sixteen.� She scoffed angrily, placing her hands on her hips.
�You�re in China.� He blurted, ignoring her last comment. Miaka abruptly stopped walking. Slowly, she looked over at the red-haired man and began to laugh. Genrou watched her, puzzled as to why she was doubled over in laughter.
�T-that�s funny. For a minute, I thought you said I was in China!� She giggled, clutching her sides.
�That�s cause I did.�
Miaka immediately stopped and straightened up, trying to match up to his height. Her eyes were filled with confusion and fear.
�That�s impossible. I live in Japan. With Yui-chan�and�and�� Her bottom lip trembled as she thought about all her friends and family.
�Okaasan�.oneechan�.�
She sniffled and angrily scrubbed at the tears in her eyes. Genrou felt a small tug at his heart as he watched the young girl�s eyes well up with tears. He sighed.
�Look, er, Miaka. Don�t cry, we�ll get you to the palace and the emperor will find you a way home.� He assured her. Miaka let out a choked sob and sprinted off, leaving Genrou behind.
�M-matte!�
He took off after her, his tessen flopping on his back as he took long strides. He cursed as he pushed through a bunch of bushes and into a clearing. He stopped short.
She was gone.
�Kuso!� Genrou angrily punched a nearby tree. After letting a few more curses flow from his lips, he started jogging, determined to find the girl.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
�I should have stayed with Gen-chan.� Miaka whispered as she pushed her way through the crowd. She hadn�t realized Konan was so big. Just like the other part of Konan, the city was bustling with life. She squinted and placed a hand above her eyes and began to look around.
�Why couldn�t I be smart like Yui-chan?� Miaka whined. Yui always knew what to do. She frowned at the mention of her friend. Would she ever see her again? Would she ever see any of her friends again? What about her family? Tears welled up once again in her eyes at the thought of living in China for the rest of her life. She stood, frozen in her spot as people pushed past her.
�Miss? Are you okay?�
Miaka jumped and turned to her left, where she had heard a voice. She gasped as she saw the beautiful woman standing next to her. She had long, black hair that was pulled into a ponytail.
�H-hai?�
�You don�t look okay.� The woman insisted. Miaka blushed and nodded sheepishly.
�Yea, well, I�m sort of looking for the palace��
�The palace?� The woman�s eyes widened in shock. Miaka nodded.
�Hai, I need to ask the emperor how to get home.� She explained. The older woman nodded thoughtfully and took her arm.
�Follow me, I�ll take you there.�
�Really!? Arigatou!� Miaka happily skipped along with her.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
�Sugoi!� Miaka exclaimed as she eyed the large building before her. Her jaw hung open and her eyes were sparkling with admiration. The woman chuckled.
�Yes. What�s your name?�
�Oh! Gomen! I completely forgot to introduce myself! I�m Yuuki Miaka.� She bowed slightly, smiling. The woman�s smile widened as she watched the energetic girl.
�Hotohori.� (AN: Grins evilly).
�Nani?� Miaka looked up, puzzled.
�My name is Hotohori.�
�Hotohori? Isn�t that a b-� Miaka was cut off when she heard footsteps coming towards them. She shrunk back as three armored men stopped in front of Hotohori and bowed.
�You�re highness, there is a young man here who is creating a ruckus. He insists he lost somebody and needs to speak with you.�
�H-highness!?� Miaka squawked, jumping back. Hotohori smiled apologetically at her and nodded.
�I didn�t want to disturb you.� Hotohori explained quietly. Miaka nodded, and looked the �woman� over. Her eyes fell upon Hotohori�s chest and she blushed profusely. �She� didn�t have breasts.
�Y-you�re a man!?� She blurted before she could stop herself. Hotohori�s eyes widened and Miaka feared she would be surely be looked down upon. To her surprise, a laugh rose in Hotohori�s throat, and she just blinked.
�Hai, I am.� He stopped his laughter and cleared his throat, turning back to the guards before him.
�Take me to him.� He ordered. They silently nodded and he began walking off, motioning for Miaka to follow.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
�Dammit! I�m tellin� ya! Let me go!�
�Gen-chan!� Miaka exclaimed happily as the red headed, hot-tempered man came into her view. His head shot up and he sighed in relief.
�See, I told ya�! Now put me down!�
�Release him.� Hotohori stated. Without a moment�s hesitation, the two guards restraining Genrou let him go. He tumbled to the ground in a tangle of limbs. Miaka giggled and walked over to him.
�Gomen, Genrou. I shouldn�t have run off like that.� She said quietly, helping him up. He shrugged and folded his arms over his chest, looking wearily at Hotohori.
�He�s the emperor, he helped me.� Miaka explained. Genrou�s eyes widened. He certainly did not expect the emperor to be dressed in a peasant�s clothes. He was expecting long, flowing red gowns and a crown.
�You�re highness, I�.�
�Please, just Hotohori.� He motioned for Miaka and Genrou to follow him. They obliged. Once in the three were settled in what appeared to be the throne room, Hotohori spoke.
�Miaka, where is your home?�
�In Japan. Tokyo.�
�Guessing from your strange garments, my guess would be you are not familiar with this world?�
Miaka shook her head. She didn�t know what he could do to help her, but she was willing to give anything a shot.
�Iie, I was with my friend, and then�this giant red bird came and��
Hotohori�s eyes lit up and both Miaka and Genrou worried what was going through his head at that moment.
�Maska�Suzaku?�
�Suzaku?� Miaka tried the foreign word on her tongue. It felt strange, but at the same time, right.
�My apologies, Suzaku no Miko.�
Hotohori bowed slightly. Miaka and Genrou stared in shock.
�N-nani!?�
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*