Fushigi Yuugi Fan Fiction ❯ Night~Mare's Fushigi Yuugi ❯ Decisions ( Chapter 5 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Fushigi Yuugi: The Mysterious Play

Chapter 5

Decisions

: Or:

Hoto what??

By:
Night~Mare

With HEEELLLP! From:

Annikia Valentine

Dedicated to:

The Mighty Trumpet Loving Frog

---

Author's note: Did you know that I'm in Chapter Five and barely in the middle of Episode two? I tell you one thing…my Fushigi Yuugi is gonna be a heck of a lot longer then fifty episodes. I'm pathetic ne?

---

A light was on in some part of the house. She followed it but every step she took the light seemed to get further away. “

“Dad?” she said. Her voice came out as whisper. She whimpered and tried to raise her voice, but now she couldn't speak at all. She began to run after the light. The cold air ripping through her lungs. The walls closed in around her, trapping her. She couldn't stop running. Suddenly she was in a room basked in light. On one side of the room was Amanda kneeling on the floor reading the book the other was her Dad's sprawling train layout but her father was nowhere to be found. She ran toward Amanda screaming out her name. The girl didn't even look up. She looked around for her Dad. He was suddenly standing over at his layout a stock car in his hand and frowning down at the track. She ran over to him and hugged him.

“I want to go home. Take me home. Please?” The light faded and with the light the dream. Sharon felt the cold stone of the prison beneath her legs. Any moment she expected to wake up hugging nothing. Grey light seeped into her eyes but her dad stayed right beside her, warm and solid. An alarm bell went off in Sharon's mind. There was something she was supposed to remember. She silenced the alarm. Her dad was here. She didn't have a thing to worry about. She snuggled closer and buried her head into her father's shoulder.

He wouldn't let anything hurt her. Not thugs, or traffickers, or even Tamahome. His name echoed in her mind. The bell went off again and she was filled with a sense of foreboding. Something tugged at her memory. She went through her recent ones. Captured by the guards, Tamahome rescuing her, both taken to the palace, both thrown into… Gah!

Sharon opened her eyes and blushed. No way. She wasn't…was she? She noticed a black ponytail hanging over her 'father's' shoulder. She was. Sharon jumped to her feet and stretched her arms over her head as if nothing had happened.

“Good morning? Sleep well?” she chirped, not looking him in the face.

“Uh…”

“Well good…I'll just go over to the corner and bang my head against the wall. Kaybe? Kaybe.” Sharon moved to the corner and sat down. She wrapped her arms around her legs and stared at her feet. Great. Now what was she supposed to do? She couldn't talk to Tamahome. Not now. Not after… She twitched. She was such an idiot. The silence rang in her ears. Even the guards, who sat at a table outside their cell, were quiet. Sharon hated it. She had to say something. Just to break the quietness.

“Hey Tamahome?

“Yeah?”

“What's gonna happen do you think?

“We're probably just going to have to pay a fine or something. We'll be out of here in a few days.” The guards burst out laughing. Sharon looked up at them. She had the vaguest feeling that Tamahome was lying to her.

“You couldn't even afford to pay two copper ryus,” one guard said, smirking. “You're nothing but a dirt poor country boy. Whatsamatter? Couldn't your family afford you anymore?” Tamahome clenched his hands into fists.

“I've got more money on me then you're worth you arrogant son of a-”

“Shut up idiot! Do you want to get us into even more trouble?” Sharon snapped, standing up and smacking him in the arm. He turned his glare to her.

“Yeah? Well we wouldn't have been in trouble in the first place if it hadn't been for you. Stealing the imperial crown…and you're calling me the idiot.”

“Well I didn't want to get left behind on my own, okay? Unlike you, I can't fight well enough to defend myself.”

“I wasn't going to leave you behind stupid.”

“Then why didn't you say so jerk?”

“Because you're annoying that's why and if it wasn't for Ann I probably would have left you there. You could scare away anyone just by opening your mouth.”

“What's that supposed to mean?”

“What do you think it means, loudmouth?”

“Stop bickering all ready,” the second guard snapped. “We might be tempted to forget that it's not tomorrow yet.”

“Why? What happens tomorrow?” Sharon asked, a sinking feeling twisting her stomach.

“Oh, I don't know,” Tamahome said. “Does the word “execution” mean anything to you?”

“That's not funny Squash-boy! Don't even joke like that.”

“It's not a joke. What did you think they'd do after you stole the crown, huh? Slap you on the wrist?”

“Y…you mean…I'm going to die tomorrow?” she whispered, staring up at him. She bit her lip as the reality sunk into her. Oh gah… She wrapped her arms around herself and began pacing back and forth.

“It's not possible. No…no way. I can't die. This is just a story. Nuh-uh. Yes-huh. I'm not gonna die, nope not me. Hee. No not at all. I'll just go poof in that red stuff. Yep, yep, yep, “ Sharon giggled frantically,

“I'll just get to go home. No I won't. I wonder if I'll be hanged? Maybe shot, that is if they have gunpowder, probably. Or maybe tortured. Oh I wonder if they have the Iron Maiden. Yes I'll have one Iron Maiden with a side order of the rack and they'll go, would you like a pendulum with that? I'm gonna die slowly and painfully with pointy things sticking out of me. Hee. Hee hee hee. Oh man I feel sick.” Tamahome put both hands on her shoulders and shook her.

“Hey…snap out of it!”

“Out of what? Out of life? This is my life. This was my life. Hee. Maybe my dead body will re appear in my world. I'd like to see Amanda's face. Hee… She'd totally flip.”

“Don't worry. It's going to be fine.”

“Relax? I am relaxed! If I were any more relaxed I'd be dead!” she screamed. She glared at him. She felt like she'd just run ten miles up a steep hill. Her panic suddenly left her putting fear in its place.

“I don't want to die,” she whispered. She could feel tears burning in her eyes and turned away. She walked back to her corner and sat down. She tried to hold the tears back. It was stupid crying. For one thing there was no point to it. For the other, it was embarrassing. Everybody tried to comfort her and then afterwards she felt really dumb for crying in the first place. Sharon sniffled. She wouldn't cry. She would not. She saw Tamahome sit next to her out of the corner of her eye.

“I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you. It's going to be all right,” he whispered, “I'll find a way to get us out of here.”

“H…how?”

“Leave it to me.”

“I thought you hated me,” she said, looking at him.

“I don't hate you all right? Sheesh. Say just one wrong thing to a woman and she'll think you're a monster.” Sharon looked down at her fingers.

“It's not like I wouldn't deserve it.” Much to her chagrin, a tear began to streak down her face.

“Hey…don't cry okay? No one deserves to be hated…. We will get out of here…I promise.” His voice was soft. She looked up at him and saw the gentle smile on his face. He was being so friendly. Couldn't he make up his mind how he acted around her? It was so annoying.

“So tell me about yourself,” he said. Sharon nodded and twiddled her thumbs.

“Do you want to know about me or Ann?”

“Both of you.”

“Okay…well. I'm sixteen and in eleventh grade, did I say I was from a different world? Well I am. Anywho, my favorite book is probably Queen of the Damned by Anne Rice. I love anime especially Fooshigee Loogee: Mysterious Telecast.”

“Telecast?”

“I can't explain. Anyway Ann is fifteen and is smart. At least in some things. She's not so good in Math. Then again, neither am I. I don't know her favorite book but I do know she loves Interview with the Vampire. She's watched it fifteen times…or was that me? Doesn't matter. She's obsessed with Louis I don't know why he's such a coward.” Sharon paused to catch her breath. “Am I rambling?”

“Yes.”

“Does it annoy you?”

“No.”

“Sure? Because sometimes it does. I mean Amanda says that…”

---

The advisors and other men privileged enough to be in the council chambers were arguing. This was not unusual. The nature of the argument was. The emperor listened to the shouting going on.

“I say she should be executed along with that brash young man…”

“She might be the Miko the one we prayed…”

“I think it's all a hoax…”

“Who's the jerk that used the last of the creamer. I paid…”

“I say let the man go…”

The emperor held up a hand. The council was immediately silent and everyone sat.

“We will not risk losing the Suzaku no Miko,” the emperor said

“Your Majesty, do you truly think she is the miko?” said Kaiso, the oldest, most wise advisor.

“What makes you think she is not?”

“Pardon sire, but stealing the emperor's crown is hardly the appropriate entrance from one supposed to protect this empire.” The emperor laced his fingers together and rested his chin on them. On one hand, Kaiso did have a point. Still, the red light she had disappeared so briefly into did indicate she was somewhat out of the ordinary.

“Perhaps you are right Kaiso, but we would like to make absolutely sure.”

“Your Majesty, forgive my impudence but are you implying you'd like to find out all by yourself?” asked the war councilor.

“That is exactly what we are implying.”

“Many pardons Sire but I hardly think that's wise.”

“Nevertheless, we are going to discover the truth for ourselves. Besides, if we are not safe in our own palace then we are not safe anywhere.”

---

“…Now I wanna go home,” Sharon said when her throat was to dry to continue.

“I'll help you get home.”

“Ann too?”

“Of course.”

“Thanks. If I had something to pay you with I would, but things being as they are…”

“Don't worry about it.” Sharon was calm now, although she still couldn't look him in the face. She wished she had something to do. Where was a pack of cards when she needed one? Then she remembered the gum in her pocket. She pulled a stick out and popped it in her mouth.

Why were they here? She wondered. She doubted that being sucked up into the book was a coincidence. It was something straight out of a fantasy novel. It even had romance. Or rather it would. Sharon smiled as she pictured it. Ann would turn out to be some important person or have some powers or something. She would then fall in love with a commoner while the emperor fell in love with her and another girl would fall in love with the emperor, but that girl was loved by the guy Ann loved.

Sharon would just watch her friend's love tangle and be glad she wasn't in it. Tamahome was definitely the commoner though. He was cute and besides had a thing for Ann. This might be fun. It would be like watching a play or something. That is, if she survived. Sharon stood up and went over to the bars. She placed her hands on the cold metal and stared through at the guards. Just how was Tamahome planning to get out? It seemed impossible to her. She chewed her gum thoughtfully. When it was ready, she began to blow a bubble.

She was pretty good at blowing big bubbles. This one was huge. She could barely see over it. Sharon celebrated over her achievement until a thought occurred to her. How was she going to get rid of the bubble without it exploding in her face? Maybe if she blew it bigger it would tear slightly and the air would leak out. Her world turned a bright pink. She narrowed her eyes behind her glasses. Well it had worked for Ann. The guards began to yell and Sharon flinched. Had she gotten them in trouble again?

“Monster!” one of them screamed. Sharon took off her glasses and saw the two full grown men, tearing from the room and screaming their heads off. She looked around the cell but didn't see anything that they would be afraid of. Sharon noticed something shiny on the ground just outside their cell. The key! One of the guards must have dropped it. She was about to point it out but Tamahome had already discovered it.

“I don't know what you did,” he said, while he tried to unlock the door. “But whatever it was you did a good job.”

“Thanks,” Sharon said, pulling the gum off her face. Yech…she'd never get the stuff out of her hair. There was a soft clicking sound and the door swung open. Tamahome turned to her, yelped and jumped back. Sharon glared at him.

“What?”

“Y…your face.”

“What about it?”

“What's…what happened to it?”

“Bubble gum. Want a piece?” Before he could answer she got another stick out of her shirt pocket and handed it to him. He looked it over dubiously. “You chew it,” she explained.

“I'll pass. Let's get going before the guards come back.”

“Good idea.”

She didn't pay attention to where they were going. She was too busy trying to keep up without falling on her face. So far she had managed, but there were more then a few close calls. Tamahome had grabbed her wrist and by now had almost completely cut off her circulation. She was winded as well and her legs felt rubbery.

“Can't…we…rest a mo…moment? Please?”

“Nope. Not if you want to get out of here alive.” It seemed to her that he began to run faster. Her breath was rasping in her throat and she longed for something to drink. Sharon tripped over something and nearly fell again and bringing Tamahome down with her.

“Will you watch where you're going?”

“Sorry. I ca…can't run…anymore. Just go without me.” He let go of her. She sat down heavily and leaned against the wall panting. He watched her. When it was apparent she wasn't going to be running anytime soon he sighed.

“Stay here. I'll go find someplace where we can hide. Maybe we can sneak out at nightfall.” He began to run away.

“Hey wait a minute. What if somebody finds me?”

“Just scream,” he called over his shoulder. “You seem to be good at that.” Sharon decided not to bother.

She waited…and waited. Had he left her? Or had he gotten lost? Either way, she'd have to find her own hiding place. Sharon got to her feet and looked around. Now where would a good place be? Sharon wandered around a bit, moving slowly and on the alert. She saw a door at the end of a hallway and debated with herself. It might be a room filled with guards or it might be empty. She decided to see. It was better then standing in plain sight in the hall.

Sharon remembered Tamahome's command to stay put. She didn't feel bad about not obeying. After all if she waited any longer she would have been caught. That would not have been shiny. The door wasn't locked and Sharon opened it. She felt a rush of air and suddenly a fist was two inches from her face. She blinked startled. Tamahome dropped his hand and glared her.

“Didn't I tell you stay put?”

“Look you-” She paused as something gold caught her eye. It was a statue of a bird. It looked a lot like the one she'd seen flying in the Arts Center. Could it be the same one? She stepped around Tamahome and went closer. There was an altar in front of the statue. Incense sticks rested in holders grouped around the altar and their smoke made the room smell like flowers.

“I…I've seen this before,” she murmured. She reached out to touch the statue and the bird's eyes suddenly glowed red. Sharon snatched her hand back.

“What is it?”

“Suzaku, one of the four gods.”

“Heh. A rooster god? That's a new one.”

“He's a phoenix.”

“Rooster…phoenix…big diff. What are the other gods?”

“Seriyuu who protects the east, Genbu who protects the North…” A smell wafted into the room that wasn't incense. It smelled like…she wasn't quite sure. Some kind of food anyway. Noodles maybe? Pasta! She was starving.

Sharon made a motion for Tamahome to follow her and began to sniff out the food. She followed the smell until she reached a room with an open door. On a table was a bowl filled with some type of noodles with chopsticks resting next to them. The room looked empty. She felt kind of bad about eating someone else's dinner. But oh well. She was an escaped prisoner anyway and thought a thief besides. It couldn't get any worse.

Sharon put the chopsticks in either hand and tried to stab the noodles with them. But the noodles were too thin. She put the chopsticks down and began to slurp the noodles from the bowl. She was glad there was no one there to see her.

When she was done she looked around for Tamahome. He wasn't in the room. She knew it had been too quiet. She peered outside of the room. He was nowhere to be found. Why hadn't he followed her? She saw how it was now. She was supposed to listen to everything he said but far be it from him to at least follow her. Sharon folded her arms and glared at the wall. What a jerk.

Sharon began to roam the halls looking for that room again. She knew she was utterly and hopelessly lost as soon as she'd stepped out of the room. That didn't stop her from looking though. She was still cautious, but maybe not as much as she should have been. She nearly walked right in front of a guard. Sharon ducked into a nearby corridor and leaned against the wall. That was close. She peered around the corner and watched the guard walk away. Sharon sighed with relief and turned the corner. She nearly ran into a woman coming out of a room. Sharon was so startled she just blinked at her for a while. The woman gathered herself before the girl could.

“Oh, are you lost?” the woman asked. Sharon knew she was staring. She couldn't help it. The woman was beautiful. She was tall and slender with a pale face and warm brown eyes so light they were almost golden. Her soft dark brown hair flowed down her back and around her face.

“Gah?”

“We asked you if you were lost,” the woman repeated. Sharon jumped and tried to peer behind the woman. The woman stepped back and looked at the spot Sharon was staring, then she looked at her and raised delicate eyebrows. “Is there something wrong?”

“No nothing. It's just that you said we but I don't see anyone else,” Sharon said, laughing slightly and sweatdropping.

“Oh…I meant I…. I asked you if you were lost.” The woman put her sleeve covered hand up to her face and giggled. Sharon took a step back. She had the feeling this lady had a screw or two loose.

“So are you?” the woman asked.

“Am I what?

“Lost.”

“Oh right! Uh. Yeah. Just a bit. See I took the palace tour y'know and I was just looking at a…uhh…statue yeah and anyway they must have left without me.” Sharon laughed nervously. “I'm not suspicious at all see? So if you could just point me to the nearest exit I'd be much appreciated…er…appreciative. Whatever.”

“You're the one that stole the emperor's crown aren't you?” it wasn't a question. Sharon paled a bit.

“Me? Nah. You got the wrong girl. Anyway, I'm going to miss my cab if I don't hurry so…” Sharon turned to leave but the woman put a hand lightly on her arm. Sharon looked back at her. She didn't look angry or anything. Just curious.

“You don't have to be afraid. I won't tell anyone. Why did you do it?” Sharon found a sudden interest with the floor. She began to twiddle her thumbs as she thought of what to say. The truth might help.

“Well…I wasn't thinking. I needed money to get protection and I was broke. But the guy…”

“The one who saved you?”

“Huh? No. No, no, no, no. Ha ha. This other dude. I don't know his name…anyway. He said he wanted the emperor's crown and I didn't want to get left behind. So I went and took it. I can't believe I was that stupid,” Sharon gave the woman an apologetic smile. “So that's it I guess. Pretty dumb huh? You know what's surprising though?”

“What?”

“The Emperor is young! I expected him to be some old fogie,” Sharon said. The woman laughed.

“He's hardly that.”

“Yeah. Hey. What does he look like anyway? I didn't get a real good glimpse.” The woman closed her eyes and smiled.

“Well, he is the most beautiful man in the kingdom,” the woman said. Sharon sighed and let her heart go mushy.

“You're in love with him aren't you?” The two had started walking and the woman paused in mid-step. “That's Okay…you don't have to admit it. I'm probably wrong anyway.” For some reason Sharon trusted her. She smiled happily at the woman…her first friend in this world. Yay!

“My name's Sharon. What's yours?” The woman smiled. It was just a small curve of her lips but it seemed to light up her whole face.

“Some call me Hotohori,” she said. Sharon's smile grew wider. It felt so good finding a friend.

---

“Byakko protects the west. Suzaku protects here…the south,” Tamahome finished. He stared proudly at the statue. Suzaku was probably the strongest of all. The girl was silent with awe. Maybe…a bit too silent. He finally looked away from the statue. Sharon wasn't there. Tamahome winced. He should have known better then to take his eyes off her. Still the little idiot couldn't have gotten that far. He jogged out of the room and not for the first time wondered why he was saving her.

Well…she wasn't that bad he had to admit. A little eccentric maybe. Well maybe more then a little eccentric. She was also insulting, and loud, and could get in more trouble in a day then he could in a month. One thing was for sure…she was definitely not the miko. The red light that had come around her earlier had probably just been Suzaku trying to send her back. Hopefully next time he tried, he would succeed. Tamahome had problems enough without her running around. He was so absorbed in his thoughts he didn't notice the guards until he almost ran into them.

“Hey you!” one of them said. Tamahome cursed, screeched to a stop and ran the other way. The armed men in hot pursuit.

---

“You wouldn't believe me if I told you,” Sharon told the woman. She felt a little awkward; she still hadn't quite figured out her name yet and didn't want to call her the wrong thing. She'd narrowed it down to three choices. Hohori, Horihori or Hotohor…she didn't quite like the sound of any of them.

“We might.”

“Pardon?”

“I mean…I might believe you.”

“I doubt it. I come from this place called Staunton in this country called the United States in this world called Earth. It's not the most creative name but what can you do?”

“Oh? Is it much different from here?” the woman asked. Sharon wondered if the woman was being sarcastic. Deciding she wasn't, Sharon continued.

“It's totally different, I can't even begin to describe. Horihori right?”

“Hotohori,” the woman said a touch coldly.

“I'm so sorry…really. I'm so bad with names. It took me three months to get Ann down pat. I kept calling her Jamie. I'm so sorry.” The woman smiled.

“That's all right.” They fell silent as they walked. Sharon had no idea where she was going but she didn't think the woman would betray her. Sharon licked her lips and meshed her fingers together. Should she say it? It was true, but it was just so…odd to be saying it. Still. It would be nice to compliment the woman who would possibly save her life.

“Can…can I tell you something? I mean…don't take this the wrong way…'cause I mean I'm not that type or anything…but…” Sharon took a deep breath and calmed herself. Okay, she thought, you can do this. Just say it. “You're the most beautiful woman I've ever seen.”

The woman looked a bit taken aback; then she smiled. Suddenly Sharon heard the sound of echoing footsteps. Maybe a guard, maybe someone else, she wasn't about to risk it. The woman opened her mouth to say something but Sharon cut her off:

“Oh look at the time. Gotta go!” She gave a quick wave and dashed away.

---

“I asked you, where the girl is,” the prison guard yelled.

“And I told you. I don't know,” Tamahome said. There was another stare down and the guard lost it again.

“The more you protect her the worse it will be for you,” the guard said. Tamahome was silent. The guard waved his spear threateningly. “I'm warning you boy…”

“Don't call me boy if you want to keep your head attached to your neck.”

“Ha! You couldn't even touch me.”

“Let me put it this way. My sister could knock you down and she's only a child.”

“Are you calling me weak?”

“You said it I didn't.”

“You impudent bastard” the guard snapped, swinging a fist at his face. Tamahome easily dodged it.

“Missed, “ he said calmly.

“You think you're so smart do you? “ the guard snarled. Him and the other guards began to close in around Tamahome. The seventeen-year-old prepared himself to fight.

---

Now where on earth had that jerk gone off too? Sharon turned a corner and saw him surrounded by guards. She flinched back. A part of her wanted to run. No! she told it fiercely. You've been a coward long enough! Sharon built up her courage and ran toward them.

“Let him go!” she demanded, hoping they didn't decide to skewer her on the spot. She stepped in front of Tamahome, folded her arms and glared up at the towering guard. Hopefully she looked braver then she felt. Sharon could practically feel Tamahome's confused stare. She turned around to explain and when she did the guard grabbed her.

“Gah!” she yelped.

The first punch dazed the guard so that Sharon managed to squeeze out of his grip. The second knocked him cold and the kick sent him flying. Sharon stared up at Tamahome with wide eyes.

“You're good.”

“I know,” he said. Sharon's eyes narrowed.

“Arrogant aren't we?”

“Alive aren't we?”

“That doesn't mean I can't say the truth jerk and anyway it's your fault.”

“That you're alive?”

“That I got lost!”

“How is that my fault?”

“It's both your faults,” a guard said. Sharon looked around her. The angry looking men were surrounding them. Again sharp spears were out but Sharon didn't think the red light would save her this time. The men began to close in. Sharon backed up a bit and almost bumped into Tamahome. She bit her lip. This could be painful. Then she had a thought.

“I think it'll be all right,” she whispered to Tamahome.

“What makes you think that?”

“See when I was wondering the halls lost…I met this girl. I think she likes me…at least she was interested. So maybe she'll help save us…huh?”

“What was this girl's name?” Sharon paused. Dang…she had forgotten again…she really needed to write it down when she had the chance.

“I don't know but she's really pretty. You should see her. She has a nice voice too.

“Is she here now?”

“No I don't see her.”

“Then it's not much help is it?” he snapped. Sharon wished she could argue but she had to agree with him. It wasn't any help at all.

“What should we do with them?” one guard asked another.

“Since they escaped from the dungeon and obviously can't be contained…we should kill them.” Sharon gulped and ducked behind Tamahome. Killing was not good…not good at all. It was too messy. She was about to plead her case when someone interrupted her.

“Stop,” that single word made the guards pause. “You will not harm them. We forbid it.” Sharon blinked…the voice sounded familiar…could it be…? She cautiously peered around Tamahome's shoulder. The guards bowed respectfully and parted. Sharon sighed with relief. It was…was…Hoto whatever…that nice woman.

“Hi! Nice to see you again,” she chirped. Tamahome looked at her surprised.

“You…met…I mean…what?” he stammered.

“She's the chick I told you about. Isn't she beautiful?”

“The Emperor's a man you idiot!” he yelled.

“That's the Emperor?”

“Yes.”

“Oh,” Sharon said in surprise. She looked at the woman again and wrinkled her nose.

“She's not a man! She's too beautiful to be a man. Boy do you have gender problems.”

“Shut up…” Tamahome warned under his breath.

“What? She's not a man. I know a man when I see one. “

“He is so.”

“Is not.”

“Is so.”

“No one could be that beautiful and be male!” she yelled and pointed for emphasis.

“Yeah well he is!”

“Prove it!”

“I'm not gonna prove it!” he yelped. Sharon rolled her eyes. What a wimp. Something in the back of her mind was screaming to get her attention. She ignored it. She was good and angry and desperate to prove a point. She walked towards the emperor determinedly. A guard moved up to intercept her.

“Back off!” she snapped. “She said you couldn't hurt me and it's not like I'm gonna kill her or anything!” The man looked to his emperor for guidance. The woman nodded and waved him away. The guard stepped back but uncertainly. Sharon rolled up her sleeves. Then she clapped her hands together and gave the woman a little head bow. After all…this woman was royalty.

“Don't take this the wrong way…” Shoot. What was her name? Hori something. Aw forget it. “Your majesty. I'm just going to prove that Tamahome is a moron.” Then she closed her eyes and touched the woman's chest…oh the things she would do to prove a point.

---

Tamahome who had had his head bowed, wasn't exactly sure what was going on. Something told him he better look up now. He did and nearly facefaulted. What was that idiot doing?! The Emperor's eyes had gotten considerably wider and a large sweatdrop appeared on his head.

“Stop touching him! He's the Emperor!” Tamahome shouted.

---

Sharon wasn't paying attention to him. Something was definitely missing. No…no way. She wasn't a…the emperor was a woman…right? She frantically searched around for something…anything. Then realized what she was doing and promptly froze. Oh…gah. Heat flooded her cheeks as she looked up into the Emperor's startled face. Then she turned around and walked stiffly to Tamahome.

“Know what?” she said. He fixed her with an exasperated/angry look. “ The emperor's a man.”

---

Sharon kneeled. Ooh…look how red and fuzzy the carpet was…nice. The red almost matched the color of her face. She still couldn't believe she had done that. She had actually…gah…this was such a nightmare. The emperor's words came back to haunt her.

'Well he is the most beautiful man in the kingdom.' Yes…he…why hadn't she been paying attention?

“You've gotten us in big trouble now,” Tamahome, who was kneeling beside her, whispered.

“Me? You're the one who didn't follow me!” she whispered back.

“Yeah…whatever. Why did you even talk to the emperor anyway? I mean you got caught stealing his crown!”

“I didn't know he was the Emperor and you made me steal it!”

“How could you not know?!”

“I couldn't tell!”

“What? Haven't you ever seen royalty before?”

“Well if I'd seen royalty I would have recognized him!”

“If you are done arguing….” the Emperor said. Sharon hadn't even heard him come in. She shut up and nudged Tamahome in the ribs with her elbow. He grunted and nudged her back. She yelped softly, then rubbed the spot. What a jerk.

“We wanted to get to know you and that's why we disguised ourselves.” Sharon wondered what he was wearing now. She lifted her eyes just a little bit…and blinked. Gah? What the…. She slowly looked further up. Her eyes passed beautifully embroidered robes, delicate manicured hands and a gently smiling face. She dropped her eyes again for a moment…trying to get over the little shock. He was wearing duck shoes. They were shaped like a duck's foot and curled up at the toes. It was stupidest piece of footwear she'd ever seen. If she didn't fear for her life so much she would have burst out laughing. Fearing for her life, yes that would be a good idea right about now. She shook her head free of her daze. Gah. Well she had to say something.

“How are we gonna be executed, if I may ask. Fire? Poison? Torture? I'm allergic to torture by the way.” Tamahome elbowed her in the ribs again and Sharon shut her mouth.

“We are not going to hurt either of you.”

“Huh?” Sharon lifted her head. Why not? She wondered. She didn't want it, but why wouldn't the emperor kill them? If she was in his place she certainly would.

“We would ask you to do something.”

“Well I'm not about to say no.”

“We want you to do it because you want to.”

“Will it hurt?”

“Probably not.”

“You're not gonna ask me to sell my soul to you or anything are you?”

“Sharon!” Tamahome growled. For a minute he sounded just like Ann. The emperor chuckled.

“No. Nothing quite that drastic.”

“Then what?”

“We would like you to accept the position of the Suzaku no Miko.”

“The what?”

“You havegot to be kidding,” Tamahome mumbled. Sharon ignored him.

“What's the…Suzuki no Miko?” Sharon asked.

“The Suzaku no Miko is the only one who can protect Konan from its enemies. She is the savior of our kingdom.”

“And you said it wouldn't be drastic,” Sharon muttered

“Sharon,” Tamahome snapped.

“What?”

“What did you say?” the emperor asked.

“Nothing important,” Sharon said nervously.

“Well…do you accept?”

Sharon bit her lip. This was an important job. She knew she probably couldn't handle it. She would probably say something or do something and start a war. She didn't even look the part…maybe Ann…

“Well I have this friend that's from another world and she's here…”

“What's wrong with you?”

“Well. I'm just not the right person…”

“Are you saying you don't trust the emperor's decision?”

“Gah…well…no…I mean yes! It's just…I…gah…”

“Do you want to become the Suzaku no Miko?” His voice seemed to smile and she was comforted a little by that.

“I'm not sure…”

“It's not something that's chosen. It's something you're destined for.” Sharon was about to say no. She wanted to say no…at least one part of her did. The other part was sure that saying no wouldn't feel right. But…she wasn't good enough…she'd have to say it.

“Yes.” Gah! Where had that come from? No! No, no, no, no, no! “Yes…I'll be the Suzaku no Miko.” Gah… shoot…well maybe she could take it all back.

“Then it's settled” Then again maybe not. Sharon groaned silently. What had she gotten herself into now? He led them out to the front of the palace and she looked down on the courtyard. People who were milling around the courtyard stopped and stared as the emperor came out.

“Bow,” Hotohori said to the crowd, “ for we have found the answers to our prayers. The Suzaku no Miko has arrived.” Sharon watched in wonder as everyone bowed before her. She wasn't that important. Was she? Maybe she shouldn't have accepted the job. Heck…she knew she shouldn't have accepted it. She had the feeling that her life was going to take an abrupt turn. Well, she thought to herself, look on the bright side…it's not every day you get to feel up an Emperor.

***********

A red book flips open and the words at the top say…

Tomorrow's Episode: The Seven Seishi of Suzaku

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Disclaimer: Fushigi Yuugi is a creation of Yuu Watase

All other characters are under my jurisdiction and cannot be used with my permish although why you'd WANT to use `em I dunno but just in case.