Starlit Reflections

Fushigi Yuugi is copyright Watase Yuu, Flower Comics, Studio Perriot, Viz Communications and Pioneer Entertainment. All rights remain theirs and no profit is being made from this (Tamahome would doubtless get it all if there was any anyway).

Chapter Four: Fire and Rain

Hotohori stalked into his outer rooms -

Where is he?! I told him -

- and stopped dead at the sight of a small box sitting on the low table beside the door. It had not been in his rooms when he left that morning.

Curious, he picked it up. It wasn't light, but neither was it heavy. The wrapping was familiar... but not as familiar as the handwriting on the small note the present had covered. I'm sorry was all that was written there.

"You can come out," Hotohori informed the room.

"Am I forgiven?" Nuriko's voice floated out from... somewhere. Hotohori shook his head. Finding Nuriko when he didn't want to be found was difficult at best.

"I could be convinced to forgive you..." Hotohori replied,  his voice threaded with a teasing note.

 Nuriko silently sighed with relief. He isn't that angry. Good. She quietly pushed open the door of the cabinet she was hiding in. Hide and seek was a child's game, but she played with Hotohori as much as possible. Play, for an Emperor, was hard to come by, and he needed all the relaxation he could get.

Not to mention the fact that an amused Hotohori was likely to be easier on her than an annoyed Hotohori.

Hotohori heard the soft, almost-silent creak of the cabinet's door. He's in my mantle-closet, he thought. Hotohori smiled. It was hard to be angry at Nuriko. The younger seishi kept trying to do things like this; to play with him, to distract him from care. Are all best friends like this?

"I'm sorry I didn't come earlier," Nuriko told him from just behind his left elbow. "I had some things I had to do."

"Like wrap a peace-offering?" Hotohori teased.

"Like talk to my sister. Our birthday's coming up and I had to get her some stuff to give me."

Hotohori blinked. "I thought the point of birthdays was to be surprised?"

"Well, you know what they say: 'Do not leave magicians and older sisters to amuse themselves; they sometimes have erratic ideas about what is amusing'."

"I take it you speak from experience."

 "I do. And I'm not going to tell you what the experience  was, so don't look at me like that."

Hotohori immediately assumed an innocent expression. "I wasn't going to ask," he lied.

"Anyway, why did you want me? It wasn't just to keep me here - LORD HOTO-HORIII!!! I don't believe you!"

Hotohori frowned. "Don't give me that 'I can take care of myself' nonsense. It is nonsense. You've had four assassination attempts in the last month and if you knew the level of security on you, you'd probably faint. Forgive me if I don't want you to die!"

Nuriko shrugged. "I had to see my family, and I wasn't alone. I took Sir Tamahome with me. Oh -" Nuriko stood up straight. "That reminds me. Can you think of jobs for two little girls? They're thirteen and nine."

"I suppose we could put them here at the Palace as maids," Hotohori sank down in a chair, thinking. "The eunuchs at the seraglio are always complaining that the ladies there are making too many demands on them. We could probably find one or two that aren't too demanding for a couple of little girls. Why?"

"Tamahome is the oldest of his family, living on a farm that isn't very good anymore. Apparently there's a lot of village politics involved. Anyway, he's here to find work but as a Shichiseishi of Suzaku, he won't be able to commit to any. I can get the two younger boys apprenticeships in my family's business, but the little girls - problem."

"I see what you mean. We won't want to let them too far out of our sight - if assassins are targeting you, they won't be afraid to target them."

The younger seishi's head tilted towards Hotohori. "You think..."

"I know," Hotohori replied grimly. "We're talking politics here, Nuriko. The usage of relatives and loved ones as hostages for good behaviour is one of the oldest diplomatic moves." He frowned again and tilted his head towards Nuriko, his voice suddenly growing dangerous. "Why do you think I have the daughters of all my most influential lords in my harem? It's not just to be my wives."

Nuriko coughed softly. "About that..."

"Yes?"

Nuriko blushed as she spoke. "Lord Yukino grabbed me on my way here. He's - um - he thinks we're lovers, and he wants me to, uh, 'keep my distance until after you've consummated your marriage'. I didn't know you'd chosen anyone yet."

"Apparently I have."

Oh dear. He sounds even angrier now. "Who is she?"

"That is what I wanted to ask you."

"I don't understand," she replied, bewildered.

"Apparently there is a Chou Houki in the seraglio. I thought you said she didn't exist?"

Uh-oh. "I didn't say that..."

"You said to tell them Chou Houki's name, because you didn't have another sister. But Kourin's sister Houki is listed as being in the seraglio!"

"Yes, but has anyone ever seen her?!" Nuriko demanded.

Hotohori blinked.

Nuriko sighed. "Houki does exist. I'm sorry I gave you the impression that there isn't a Houki. But you can't marry Houki. Nobody can. I thought, if you gave them a wild hare to follow, you'd have the time while they chase it to find your own lady."

Hotohori blinked. "...Oh."

"I didn't think they were hounding you that badly!" Nuriko sallied.

"Well, they are!"

Miaka frowned as she suddenly noticed how dark it had grown.

"Is it supposed to be this dark this early, Miss Kourin?" she asked.

Kourin looked up. "Oh no! Another summer storm!" True to her words, little splats! started to darken the stone she was sitting on. "Quick! We'd better get inside, before it gets -"

The heavens opened right on top of their heads.

 Kourin said a word she had learned from her grandmother that neither old ladies nor young girls were supposed to know, and grabbed Miaka's hand. They began to run, but the grassy mud beneath their feet was slippery and Kourin tripped, sending herself and Miaka straight into the garden's ornamental fountain.

This time Miaka was the one exercising the less savoury parts of her vocabulary. Kourin took notice, while hauling herself and her friend out of the water.

They managed to get inside without any further mishap, and fortunately a cleaning maid was inside.

"Go fetch us some hot tea and hot food immediately; and a posset to ward off colds," Kourin ordered her briskly. The girl took one look at the two drowned rats masquerading as a Court Princess and a Priestess, and took off at a run.

Kourin shrugged as she watched her go, then turned to the small ceramic stove that heated her rooms, picking up the poker the girl had dropped and poking the tiny fire that had been built inside. They were fortunate that the girl had just finished the job, rather than just started. Miaka was already huddled up against the side of the stove.

"I hope we don't catch cold from this," Kourin murmured. Then felt a tickle in the back of her nose. Oh, no. Stifling it did no good. It built until -

"Ah-CHA! Oh no. How do you feel, Miss Miaka?"

"Huh-CHOO!" Miaka replied.

I hope that girl gets here soon with those possets...

"Hello Kourin! What's - Miaka? Why are you both all wrapped up like that?"

Kourin cracked open an eyelid. It hurt. It hurt to move, it hurt to breathe, it hurt even to shiver. She knew it was just the summer cold and its sudden onslaught, but it still hurt!

"Sick. Cold. Gimme blanket or go 'way," she informed her twin brusquely, pulling the two she already had close.

"I'll go get the healers," Houki told her, leaving the room.

"You do that," Kourin replied, rolling over.

"... so Lady Miaka should have plenty of bed rest." The healer finished delivering his report.

"Why is Lady Kourin almost well, while Lady Miaka so ill?" the Emperor asked. "As I understand, they both caught the illness at the same time."

"It's truly no more than a mild cold, your Majesty," the healer replied. "For some reason, though, Lady Miaka was already weakened, perhaps through some care or sadness. Thus she suffers more acutely than Lord Nuriko's sister."

"Thank you for your report," Lord Nuriko told him, a beat longer than the Emperor should have taken to reply. He glanced up at his Majesty, who was gazing away, seemingly distracted.

"It is an honour to serve the Imperial Household," the healer replied, as form demanded, and he left the room gratefully. Dealing with the Emperor was nerve-wracking! He must feel the country was in great need to worry over the Priestess of Suzaku so.

A soft footstep warned him that someone was approaching him, and he turned to face the person who was following him.

"Lord Nuriko, is anything wrong?" he asked with commendable composure.

"I wished to verify something in your report. The illness, you are sure it is simply a cold complicated by grief?"

 I wonder why he asks? Oh yes, his sister is also ill. "Yes, I'm quite sure. As I told the Emperor, bed rest and time are the best healers for such cases."

"What if it's possible to heal the grief by some other means?"

The healer frowned. "By all means, we should assuage her Holiness' pain by whatever means possible. But I really do not recommend moving her until her condition improves."

The young lord bit his lip, frowning into the middle distance. "Hmm, possibly," he murmured. Then his brilliant eyes refocussed on the healer. "Thank you very much for your help," he smiled.

"You're welcome," the healer breathed, but Lord Nuriko had already spun around, returning to the throne room. "Damn, he's beautiful. No wonder the Emperor claimed him."

"Is there anything we can do?" Hotohori asked the quiet room, after Nuriko had left the room.

"She misses her family," Tamahome offered.

"There's not much we can do about that... except send her - home..." Hotohori sat up straight on his throne.

"What?" Tamahome demanded.

"Sending her home... If we could do that, let her heal in  the care of her family, and she could return when she's well, it would solve all our problems."

"The healer agrees," Nuriko added from the doorway. He sauntered into the room and perched at the Emperor's feet. "But how do we do it?"

"Taiitsukun," Hotohori breathed.

"Who?" asked Tamahome.

"Who?" asked Nuriko.

"The Mother of the Gods. She's supposed to live on a holy mountain and only those She chooses can see Her."

Nuriko blinked. "Forgive me, but as far as I'm concerned, I think that means we're back at the beginning. I'm not a particularly sanctified person."

"Nor me," added Tamahome. "I don't see how She would be interested."

"But," Hotohori shook a finger lightly at the pair of them, "She's the Mother of Suzaku. If His Chosen should choose to come by, She'd almost certainly choose to at least speak to them! And then we could ask Her!"

 Tamahome and Nuriko shrugged. "I don't have a better idea," Tamahome said. "You?"

"No. We can't move Miaka for at least a day, but the day after tomorrow should be all right."

"So," Hotohori rose from his throne, "the day after tomorrow, we leave." He walked to the doorway. "I'll have to present you both at dinner. Nuriko, look after Tamahome."

Nuriko waited until after Hotohori had left the room before blowing the raspberry at him.

Miaka found herself awake. The light streamed into the unfamiliar room, the angle indicating either early afternoon or late morning.

"Good morning."

Miaka was startled. "Hotohori?"

"Yes, it is I. How do you feel today?"

She coughed. "Not well."

"We have an idea on how to restore you to health. Tamahome, Nuriko and I will escort you to Lady Taiitsukun, who is... the strongest wielder of magic in this world. If any know a way to restore you to your world, it will be She."

Miaka smiled and lay back on the pillows. "... Thank you."

"Thank us by returning to Konan in health. That will be all the thanks we need." He stood. "I can see that I'm tiring you."

Miaka reached out, taking his hand. "No," she said. "No, please don't go. I'll be dreadfully bored all alone."

He sat down once more. "I cannot say I will be any better. You would think nobody in the presence of my beauty  could possibly feel boredom, yet Nuriko has succumbed to sleep in my presence more often than my pride would care to remember. But then, he himself is fair of face and so he is used to beauty. Mine outshines his, but it is close enough that he is not overawed by mine."

Miaka blinked. He is beautiful - but so vain! she couldn't help thinking, as the afternoon progressed.

Nuriko and Tamahome sat in the small antechamber adjoining the Council hall. Suddenly Nuriko sat up straight. "Here it comes," he muttered, and began to count on his fingers.

He had just folded the fourth one down when a shriek of "YOU'RE GOING TO WHAT!!?!" echoed from the Council chamber.

He shook his head. "Lord Yukino's going on seventy and he can still bellow like that?" he muttered to himself. "The old boy's definitely going to be around a few years yet."

Now the voices began to take on argumentative tones. Tamahome looked at the door worriedly.

"Don't worry," Nuriko said. "He can shout down the whole Council if he has to. And he is the Emperor. That which he commands to be, is. And if he commands that he's going to take a trip... Suzaku protect those who say no."

"No, no, NO! Majesty, you have no heir, you can't risk yourself like that!"

"I will not be risking myself! And as for no heir, that simply isn't true!"

"But, Majesty-"

The argument faded.

Nuriko stood up. "I am starved," he announced. "Want to go eat?"

Tamahome frowned. "I thought you were under orders-"

"-not to leave the Palace grounds. The Imperial Kitchen is here in the Palace, you know! Come on! We have a lot to do before tomorrow!"

It was more than Tamahome could do to resist that insistent tugging. So he didn't try.
 

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