Fushigi Yuugi Fan Fiction ❯ Legend ~ Book One: Girl of Legend ❯ Fifteen: Secrets & Blackmail (the Priestess Way) ( Chapter 15 )

  "Are you sure you want to do this?"

   KC glanced at Tamahome, who stood beside her outside Nuriko's door. She took a deep breath, released it again and smiled wryly. "Not really," she admitted. "But it's been three days now and Nuriko won't even look at me without glaring holes into my skull. How long have I been here, and what have I done in all this time?"

   "Well…"

   "Exactly." She nodded firmly. "You think I don't hear what people are saying? I'm the Priestess of Suzaku and so far I haven't done anything even remotely … priestessy. I haven't even left the palace yet. Everyone's starting to doubt whether I'm the real deal or not, which is probably reflecting pretty badly on Hotohori since he picked me and all."

   "Uh, Suzaku picked you. His Majesty just found you."

   "Technically, I found him first."

   "Right." A pause. "So, why am I here again?"

   She elbowed him. "Because you promised to back me up if I decided to confront His Royal Pissiness, remember?"

   "Yeah… Clearly, I was suffering from mental trauma when I made that offer. Although I sounded cool at the time, didn't I?"

   KC snorted. "Don't worry. You can always run away screaming like a little girl if he decides to go all Michael Myers on us."

   "Who? And I do not scream like a little girl!"

   "Says you," she teased and rapped briskly on the door.

   "You know, I changed my mind. I'll be cheering you on from over—"

   "Get back here!" She snagged him by the back of the shirt before he could make his getaway, just as the door swung open. Nuriko scowled at her. "What do you want?" he asked grouchily. "I'm busy."

   "Gotta talk," KC replied as she bodily shoved her way past him, dragging Tamahome behind her.

   Nuriko blinked at the spot where she'd just been standing. "Why, won't you come in?" he deadpanned. "Make yourselves at home, really!"

   "Thanks!" KC chirped as she dropped onto a padded bench just inside the door.

   Tamahome gingerly slid beside her. "I just want to say," he began, holding up his hands in a "don't shoot!" gesture, "that this is all her idea. So if you're going to go all … 'Michael Myers' on anyone, go at her, first."

   KC pulled a face at him. "My hero," she snorted.

   "Hey, I've got a family to think of!"

   "Hey! So do I!" She leveled a glare at Nuriko. "Which is exactly why this bullshit is gonna end. Today. I'm not leaving this room until you agree to come with us to help me look for the rest of the Seishi. The entire country is counting on us! Hotohori is depending on us! Doesn't that mean anything to you?"

   Nuriko's lips thinned. His deadly glare deepened.

   "Look, I'm not asking us to be bestest friends forever or anything cheesy like that, but can't we at least put aside our differences long enough to get this thing over with? I said it before, didn't I? The sooner Suzaku is summoned, the sooner I can save the country and go home, and the sooner I'll be out of your hair. We'll never have to see each other again!"

   "A tempting prospect," he snorted.

   "Right? So what's the problem?"

   "I. Don't. Like. You."

   KC sighed and glanced helplessly at Tamahome. "Can't you talk any sense into him?" she asked. "He seems to like you."

   "Er—"

   "What did you just say?"

   KC looked at Nuriko, who gaped down at her with a face suddenly drained of all color. She leaned forward, rested her elbows on her knees with her hands clasped under her chin. "I said, 'Can't you talk any sense into him? He seems to like you'," she repeated slowly, one eyebrow raised in silent challenge.

   Nuriko looked like a statue, unmoving but for the slight quivering of his nostrils. Two slashes of color stood in vivid contrast against his white cheeks. He seemed like he might pass out.

   "Glad to see you get my meaning." KC sat back again. She folded her arms and crossed her legs, making herself comfortable. "So, since you insist on doing things the hard way—"

   "You'll never prove it!" Nuriko snapped, hands clenched at his side.

   KC shook her head. "I don't have to prove anything. Tamahome knows, too. That's … three people who know the truth now?"

   "Mei Lin," Nuriko hissed, eyes narrowing.

   "She didn't tell me a thing! I just happened to be exploring the grounds and stumbled across that little bath when you were in it. Boy, did I get an eyeful! I dragged Tamahome over for a second opinion, just to make sure I wasn't completely nuts," KC lied smoothly.

   "Which is still open to debate," Tamahome muttered under his breath. And winced when her heel connected sharply with his foot.

   "Anyway, I just figured since Mei Lin was your personal maid, and you were so desperate to get her back, she must know something about your little secret. Common sense and all that."

   Nuriko slowly sank onto a stool, his face expressionless. "What is it that you want?" he asked, his voice hoarse and sounding on the verge of tears. "Money? Jewels?"

   "Don't need 'em," KC replied with a shrug.

   "Uhhh…" Tamahome piped up, but was silenced with an elbow in the gut. "…I don't need 'em either," he croaked, grimacing as though he'd just chewed on something sour.

   "I suppose you'll be going straight to His Majesty with this information," Nuriko muttered, voice bitter. His hands twisted the fine silk of his robes into a wrinkled mess. "You must be feeling rather proud at having finally gotten one over on me. I imagine seeing me rotting in the dungeon for my betrayal will be a balm to your pride."

   "Don't compare my actions with yours," KC snapped. Nuriko looked up in obvious surprise. "I'm not nearly as mean as you, and I wasn't actually planning to tell anyone."

   The Seishi scowled. "Then why are you here?" he snapped.

   "Because you forced my hand," she snapped back, "and I'm not above a little blackmail. First of all, stop acting like such a royal bitch just 'cause Hotohori doesn't love you. That isn't my fault, so stop treating me like something you found stuck to the bottom of your shoe. He didn't love you way before I ever showed up!"

   Nuriko flinched but held his tongue.

   "Secondly, you are going to come with us when we leave to find the other Seishi. Which I imagine will be any day now. I want to go home, but as long as I'm stuck in this palace waiting around for you to pull your fool head outta your ass, that's never gonna happen. So you're coming, even if I have to tie you to a damned pole and drag you!"

   Tamahome snorted into his hand, clearly attempting to stifle a laugh. Even Nuriko's lips twitched a little, although a frown quickly replaced the tell-tale smile.

   "Now." KC smoothed back her hair and took a calming breath. "As long as you can act like a civilized human being, I don't see why we can't get along. It would be very nice to know that I can go out there risking life and limb without having to worry about being stabbed in the back by my own Seishi."

   Nuriko stared at her, as though trying to puzzle her out. "I don't get you," he murmured. "You have the perfect way to take revenge on how I've treated you, and you don't plan to exploit it?"

   "Um … I thought I was exploiting it." KC glanced at Tamahome in confusion.

   "I think he means you don't plan on making him suffer all sorts of horrible humiliations. You know, like he made you do."

   "Oh. Well, that's a tempting idea, but it'd only delay us more." She shrugged. "I'm not out to make enemies. I just want to get this thing over with so I can go home. 'Sides, I wouldn't be any better than him if I stooped to that level."

   "Thanks ever so," Nuriko deadpanned.

   "So I can count on you, right?" She fixed him with a determined look.

   He sniffed. "Seems like I don't have much choice in the matter."

   "Great!" She gave a triumphant fist pump. "Well, now that's sorted, so I guess there's nothing left to do but talk to Hotohori about travel arrangements!" She rose to leave, eager to finally be doing something, and abruptly sat down again when a sudden wave of vertigo threatened to buckle her knees out from under her. "Whoa! Head rush," she gasped.

   "Are you okay?" The question came, amazingly enough, from Nuriko. Both Seishi looked at her with concern.

   She chuckled and waved it away. "No worries. I'm just a little tired, I guess. Haven't slept much lately."

   Tamahome scowled at her. "You're going back to your room and taking a nap. That's an order."

   "Wow. Tamahome, going all Papa Smurf on me all of a sudden? I'm touched," she laughed.

   "I'm serious!" he snapped. "Take a nap! It won't do any good to have you collapsing in the middle of the journey. Besides, how do you think His Majesty will feel if you end up getting sick?"

   KC squeaked in alarm. "Ix-nay on the Otohori-hay!" she hissed, glancing pointedly at Nuriko.

   Tamahome blinked at her. "…Huh?"

   "Never mind." She sighed. "Fine, fine, I'll go take a nap. What am I, six? You're so bossy!" She turned to stalk out of the room.

   "KC."

   Nuriko's voice stopped her in her tracks, turning to glance at him inquisitively. "You won't—" He swallowed, hard. "You won't … tell His Majesty about … this, will you?"

   "I already said I wouldn't, didn't I? Geez! You're so mistrustful," she sniffed.

   Nuriko turned his suspicious gaze on Tamahome, who held up his hands in defense. "Don't look at me," he laughed nervously. "It ain't none of my business."

   "I am curious, though," KC added, cocking her head at Nuriko. "I mean, how did you intend to pull it off?"

   He blinked at her. "Pull what off?"

   She rolled her eyes. "Okay, work with me here. For argument's sake, say Hotohori decided to choose you for his empress."

   "Uh-huh…"

   "Well, how did you plan on explaining it?

   He blinked again. "Explaining…?"

   "Oh, for cryin' out loud, Nuriko!" KC huffed. "Hotohori isn't blind, you know. Did you think he wouldn't notice that third appendage below your waist?"

   "KC!" Tamahome yelped, slapping a hand over his flaming face.

   Nuriko blinked, and his cheeks took on a pink hue as her meaning hit home. He scratched his head and gave a sheepish little giggle. "Eh, ya know … I hadn't really thought much further than getting him to marry me," he confessed.

   Now KC did hit the floor, and Tamahome was right down there with her.