Fushigi Yuugi Fan Fiction ❯ Firebird ❯ The Duties of a Miko... ( Chapter 2 )

"Firebird"

Ch. 2 "The Duties of a Miko..."

Hotohori wasn't expecting to see Nuriko lead in a drenched Chichiri, and a complete stranger, when the doors opened that night.

"I was about to get my beauty sleep for the night." He said, a little annoyed. "Not that I need any…"

`A bit of an egotist, aren't we?' Hotori thought, and wondered who this guy was.

"This is Hotori, and she was sent here through a book, no da!" Chichiri explained. "I think she's here to take Miaka's place, no da."

"Look, I don't know why I'm here………" Hotori sighed.

"I have some very important political business to attend to." Hotohori said matter-of-factly. "But we will be able to attend to this matter in the morning."

* * * * *

The next morning awoke to the sounds of someone sneaking into her room. She resisted her first urge to jump up and run. Instead she slowly reached over and threw the first thing her hand came across; an oil lamp.

"Oww." The intruder said as the lamp broke on the ground.

Hotori sat up, and was surprised to see the guy Chichiri had briefly introduced her to, too bad she didn't remember his name.

"Are you okay?" She asked, gingerly stepping over the broken glass.

"Yes, it hit me in the head, but I'll be okay." He said, carefully touching a bump forming on his head.

"I'm glad you're okay………"She said with a sweet smile. This smile soon changed, and frightened her `guest'. "But I must ask………WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN MY ROOM?"

"I ……..just wanted to………check on you………" he responded. "Try and figure out if Chichiri was right………"

"Oh………" Hotori said, suddenly a little nervous. "Sorry about throwing the lamp………"

After the mess was cleaned up, Hotori sat him down to tend to his bump.

"So, what's your name again?" She asked after a moment.

"Hotohori." He replied, then winced. "That stings………"

"Sorry." She smiled. "My name's Hotori."

She then chuckled to herself.

"What?" He asked.

"Our names are very similar." She pointed out. "Hotori………Hotohori………it's kind of funny."

He looked rather confused, and she smiled.

"Never mind………" She shook her head. "Say, what time is breakfast?"

"Breakfast?" He repeated.

"Yeah." She smiled. "I'm really hungry. I haven't eaten since lunch yesterday."

He showed her to a dinning room where they met Nuriko and Chichiri, and breakfast was soon served.

"Wow………" Nuriko said softly to Chichiri. "She eats just like Miaka………"

`Hmm………' Hotori thought. `That name sounds very familiar………'

* * * * *

Hotori looked around the beautiful garden she and Hotohori were walking through.

"What makes you so sure I'm the new Suzaku no Miko?" She asked, remembering the topic of their little talk. "I mean, how do we know I'm destined to be here?"

"If you weren't meant to be here, you wouldn't be here." He said matter-of-factly, and she nodded, it made sense after all.

She suddenly laughed and ran for a small clearing off the path. He followed, slightly confused. She sat down in the clearing, and he stood there skeptically.

She looked up. "I saw a bunny………" She smiled, holding up the small wad of fluff she'd picked up as she sat down.

After a moment he joined her and carefully stroked the small rabbit's head. She looked at him, and saw a genuine smile, the first one she could recall, come across his face.

Not far off, Nuriko was watching the scene unfold. (AN: Look, I know Nuriko's a guy, but I'm going to keep calling him "She" for 2 reasons. A) Hotori doesn't know it's a guy yet, and B) If he wants to be a she the least I can do as a loving fan is honor his wishes. Thank you, that is all.)

"Hmph! Try to be nice………" She growled. "And what does she do? Goes behind my back………"

"I hate to tell you, no da………" Chichiri said softly. "But I don't think you had a chance anyway, no da!"

She glared at him, but said nothing, they were talking and she had to hear what they were saying.

"What does the Suzaku no Miko do?" Hotori asked. "I mean………what's my job description?"

"The original purpose of the Suzaku no Miko was to gather the Suzaku Senshi and make a wish." Hotohori explained. "But now that the Senshi have been gathered, the only thing left is making a wish and guiding the Senshi whenever necessary."

"That doesn't sound too bad." She smiled as she stroked the small bunny in her lap.

`I might as well stay here.' She thought, looking around. `It's not like I've got anyone at home to miss me.'

* * * * *

A woman in her early thirties sat by the window, staring off into nature.

"Are you okay?" a man asked, coming up behind her.

"Fine." she answered, softer then usual.

"You're thinking of her again, aren't you?" He asked and she nodded. "I'm sure she's okay."

"I still feel bad about it." She sighed. "Even after so long."

"We did the right thing." He put a hand on her shoulder. "Now come on, Mire wants to show us something in the garden."

She stood up and followed her husband out into the garden to see their youngest daughter's new drawing.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Vera-chan: I'll give ya a cookie if you know who Hotori reminds Nuriko of! You'll get two if you can guess who the people in the last part are! ^_^