Eliza awoke the next morning in her own bed, feeling as if she�d not slept a wink. She�d tossed and turned, rising to pace in the pre-dawn hours, then laid back down, miserable. So, her friendship with Nuriko would be ended before it began. How could Hotohori presume to propose? They barely knew each other!
She stared out her window at the lightening sky. All her life, she�d held little interest in suitors and romance outside of novels. She preferred adventure. Well, adventures with romance, really, but not in REAL life! In books! Books were safe! Books didn�t tell you that you should artificially darken your hair, wear certain dresses, discuss only certain subjects, act a certain way. Lovers in books accepted each other completely. That never happened in real life, as far as Eliza could see, and she wished she didn�t have to marry with all her heart. In coming here, in escaping her grim future of marriage at home, she�d found herself in the midst of the worst sort of love triangle.
Nuriko loved Hotohori. Hotohori loved Eliza. Eliza had a sneaking suspicion that given the opportunity, Tamahome would start spouting sonnets as well. And every time Eliza looking into a flame, she saw amber eyes and fiery hair. What a mess.
Her door suddenly burst open. Nuriko stood there, eyes glaring. �I HEARD!�
Eliza cowered. �Um, heard what, Nuriko?�
�His manservant overheard everything! He told the chambermaid, who told my lady�s-maid, who told ME this morning!�
Frustrated, Eliza couldn�t take it anymore. �FINE! Be angry! See if I care! I don�t want to marry ANYONE! I hit him, did the manservant tell the chambermaid THAT? He kissed me and I slapped him, and told him YOU loved him. I don�t want any of this. I don�t even know how I got here, and I�m certainly not going to accept a proposal from a man I barely know!� The stress became too much, and she burst into tears.
Nuriko just slammed the door behind her as she left.
After a little while, a maid came in with a tray for breakfast. Eliza composed herself as best she could, sipping warm tea. After a while, she conceived a plan. They�d be leaving soon. She�d dress, go down to the stables, and ask for a mount. It would be so simple. She�d say she wished to ride, to prepare for the journey. No one would deny her. And if she rode out of the palace, who would gainsay the Priestess? She�d go back to that town, and see if she couldn�t MAKE herself go home. Surely if she went back to Shuntau, she could find her way back to the townhouse on Mission Hill.
It was worth a try. But an hour later, she found herself having an argument with Tamahome.
First of all, he didn�t want to let her ride a horse alone at all.
�What do you mean, I can�t ride? I�ve been riding alone since I was six years old!�
�It�s not proper for a lady to ride alone. Either someone holds you, or you ride in a palanquin. You�re the Priestess. There are standards to maintain.�
�Oh, horse apples, Tamahome! I�m not FROM here, doesn�t that count for something?� She thought a moment. �Wait � isn�t a palanquin one of those horrible chairs carried by slaves? I�m not going out looking for the Suzaku warriors in one of those!�
�No, you will ride with either myself or Hotohori.� He took the reins of the bay mare she�s selected from her.
�I will do no such thing!� Eliza was horrified. If this was to be her adventure, she�d rather live it her way. And that included riding her OWN horse. �I can ride any horse you�ve got. I�ll prove it to you!� She tried to tug the reins back. �Besides, are you going to make Nuriko ride double too?�
He shook his head and wouldn�t let go of the reins. �Nuriko will stay here." Eliza gasped. Tamahome continued, "Anyway, it�s safer if you stay inside the Palace grounds. We�ve already heard reports of raids on our borders. There could even be Kutou assassins around.�
Exasperated, Eliza snapped, �Then escort me, Lord Tamahome.� She snatched the reins from his hands. �But I am riding my own mount and that�s that!�
Surprised, Tamahome called for his mount. In minutes, the two were riding into Eiyo.
Despite her crankiness, Eliza found herself enchanted by the city. Everyone treated them with respect, recognizing Tamahome from his clothing. Shy children offered her flowers, and merchants scrambled to show off their best wares. Eliza was sorry she wasn�t really on a shopping trip.
They stopped by a canal, and Eliza dismounted to get a better look. Tamahome stood by her side as she smiled at the fast moving water.
�At home, we live near the sea. Sometimes, the fog is so thick, the world fades away, and only the horns of ships remind you that you�re living on the edge of the world.� Her voice gave away her change in mood from cranky to content.
Tamahome smiled at her description. �You love your home.�
�I do. The sea, the hills, the way the sun sets over the water. My house, my father, and Geoffrey. I've been gone for days and days. How they must worry....�
�Who�s Geoffrey?�
Eliza glanced up at the tension in his voice. �My brother.� At his relaxing expression, she groaned inwardly.
Turning, she decided that this time, she�d take the initiative. �Tamahome. I like you very much. You remind me of my brother. But as wonderful as you�ve been, well, you�re not my type.�
Tamahome closed his eyes in resignation. �I admit I�ve come to love you, Eliza. But I think I knew I�d have no chance. If you�d turn down Hotohori, then why would you ever want me?�
Eliza rolled her eyes. �I see gossip is alive and well in Konan.� At his pained expression, she quickly laid her hand on his arm. �I�m sorry. I should very much like to have your friendship. As I said, you�re so much like Geoffrey, it makes me smile.� She squeezed his arm lightly. �Can we be friends?�
Covering her hand with his, Tamahome returned her smile wryly. �I would like that.�
California, San Francisco, Mission Hill
�Well, thank goodness she nipped that in the bud!� Geoffrey exclaimed. He�d just about had a fit over the scene with Hotohori.
Missy rolled her eyes. �You should know your sister well enough to know who she prefers.�
�What do you mean?�
�I mean that bandit!� Missy shook her head at the obtuseness of males and sipped her tea. �You watch. The Wise and All Knowing Missy predicts that Eliza will meet him again!�
Geoffrey made a ferocious face. He wished for the thousandth time that Eliza hadn�t been so fond of dime novels.
Konan, Eiyo, the palace
That afternoon, Eliza gathered her courage and went to Nuriko�s room. She�d straighten this all out come hell or high water.
She knocked on Nuriko�s door to be greeted by the maid. �Priestess! Your Eminence, the lady Nuriko is bathing right now.�
�Good, then she can�t get away!� Eliza pushed past the maid and made her way to the bathing room off Nuriko�s chamber. She didn�t see the maid flee. Not even knocking, she slid the door open. �Nuriko, we have to talk! I know you�.�
Eliza froze. Nuriko froze.
Eliza felt the blood rush to her face. Leaping backwards, she slammed the door shut. �I�m so sorry!� Her only reply was a shriek.
The door yanked from her hand as it was pulled open from the inside. Eliza whirled, backing away. Nuriko stood, wrapped in a robe, a horrified and miserable expression covering HIS face.
They stared at each other for a moment, then Nuriko sighed something that was practically a sob. �Well, it was bound to come out eventually.�
�You�re� you�re a man?!?� Eliza�s eyes widened at Nuriko�s nod. �But� but you�re � the harem�. �
Tears running down his face, Nuriko sat at the vanity and looked at his reflection. �It�s a really REALLY long story. But yes. I�m actually a man. But don�t I make a beautiful woman?�
At a loss, Eliza could only nod. Nuriko gave her a sad smile. �I guess you could call me crossdresser. One good enough to live as a woman, selected as beautiful and graceful enough to be selected for the Imperial Harem.�
�But, you�re in love with Hotohori!�
�Yes. Who wouldn�t be? He�s everything perfect and gorgeous in a man.� Nuriko sighed, and turned back to the mirror. He slowed picked up a brush. �I guess I�m ruined, now.�
Suddenly filled with compassion, Eliza swore, �I won�t tell.�
�What?� Nuriko stared, eyes wide.
�I won�t tell! Anyone! I�m sure you have your reasons, and I hope that someday you�ll trust me enough to explain, but for now, your secret is safe.� Eliza smiled.
Back to Semper Slayers