Fushigi Yuugi Fan Fiction ❯ The Mysterious Play: Legend of the Moon and Sun ❯ Back Into The Book ( Chapter 2 )

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

The Mysterious Play: Legend of the Moon and Sun
Chapter 2: Back Into The Book

Written By: Scandalous Behavior

~ ~ ~ ~

The standing and waiting for someone to explain just what was going on was really starting to take a toll on Sachiko Yagami's sanity. After seeing her cousin disappear into that weird scroll and her demanding to know what was going on the group split up so that Keisuke and Tetsuya could make excuses to Miaka's mom and to Yui's parents that they would be out a little later than anticipated. Not to mention the fact that Sachiko seriously doubted either of them wanted to be more involved than necessary in this situation.

Taka Sukunami made it clear that he wasn't going to tell her anything until they got out of the schoolyard where anyone walking by could hear them, as Principal Juno had when Kaori had been interrogating Taka. Sachiko gave in for the moment, telling them that they might as well go back to her penthouse since it was the closest. Getting into Taka's car, she sat in the back next to the short haired blond Yui Hongo and stared out the window of the car as people walking passed by along with trees and houses. Wondering how you ever got back to normal after having your baby cousin kidnapped and your older cousin disappear into some ancient manuscript Sachiko hoped this didn't damage her mind permanently otherwise how was she ever going to get on stage again.

Taka pulled into the parking garage under the penthouse and they went up, none of the three having been in the building were kinda blown away at the lobby luxury that Sachiko was used to and then to get in the elevator to the entire floor that belonged to the Yagami family. The floor was built into two stories and now seemed like an empty tomb without Kaori and Akio. Sachiko excused herself to get out of the costume into a short vinyl skirt, knee high black boots, and a mid-drift red top with V-neck and laid down collar, entering the living room again to the still school uniformed dressed Miaka and Yui, with Taka in a pair of faded jeans, blue t-shirt and black leather jacket.

"Where is your grandmother, Sachiko, I'd think she'd want to know about Kaori and Akio?" Yui asked, as they sat in the white living room on the Victorian chairs.

Sachiko shook her head, catching all three's eyes.

"Our grandmother died almost a month ago from a heart attack, she won't be involving herself in this." Sachiko informed them.

"I'm sorry," Miaka sincerely condoled, "but, Sachiko, how are the three of you living here by yourselves? Don't you have a guardian?"

"The social worker is interacting with Grams's lawyers on what to do with us and is pushing back all the details for at least six months which would be Kaori's eighteenth birthday and allow for her to get legal custody of Akio, while I would just become ward of the county for two months and then on my own when I turn eighteen."

Taka noticed that Sachiko said all of this like it was the whole plan but he wondered how it was going to affect things now that Kaori and Akio were missing. He now knew why Kaori was even more distant and why no one knew that Emiko Yagami had died, to give her and Sachiko time to get things settled.

"Enough about this, are you gonna tell me where my cousins went or do I have to call someone?" Sachiko threatened, hands on her short black vinyl skirt clad hips.

"We'll tell you," Miaka started, "but first you have to agree that this is not to be told to anyone and that it's all true whether you believe it or not."

"After what I've seen I'm ready to hear anything." Sachiko told Miaka, the auburn 'odango atama' haired girl only gave a small smile before the distant Taka took over the conversation, a stoic expression on his face.

"About two and a half years ago Miaka and Yui found a book, the title of 'Universe of the Four Gods' on the cover. It was a Chinese manuscript that told the story of a girl who gathered the seven Seishi of Suzaku. That by reading the book the story became true and at the end of it the person who was reading it would get the powers talked about in the book. Cause the book itself was an incantation and by reading it you were in reality becoming part of the spell. When they opened it Miaka and Yui were brought into the book, into the land of Konan, one of four kingdoms. That was when they met the first Seishi, the first warrior of Suzaku named Tamahome."

"Wait, wait…isn't that the name that Kaori called you?" Sachiko interrupted with.

Yui nodded since Taka was too involved into the explanation to stop.

"After Miaka finished her mission, she was to come back to her own world. Here. And with some miracle I was reincarnated to protect her and love her even here."

"Talk about true love," Sachiko mused, "and why is it again that Kaori called Yui that Priestess of Seiryuu?"

"In the Legends there only girls from foreign lands can become the Priestesses of the four different lands. Two lands before Sailo and Hokkan had gotten their Priestesses seventy years ago this world's time. When Yui was pulled back into this world and then again in the book later she was made the second Priestess, the Priestess of Seiryuu in the land of Kutou. Kutou was going to go to war with Konan…"

"Which meant that Miaka and Yui were enemies, right?" Sachiko asked, all the things starting to click in her mind.

"Right," Taka didn't really need to go into how right that statement had been, "and so that explains it."

"No it doesn't. You came out of that world, so why in hell does that world need my cousins in it? I mean according to you the book can only do that when it's being read and Kaori didn't even open the scroll or manuscript or whatever. And how is Akio involved in all of this? Why would they want those two?"

Yui and Miaka looked to each other and then to Taka.

"I don't know. When we crossed over to here it wasn't really certain if you could go back or anyone there could come here. That scroll isn't the same book that Miaka and Yui used, it is the original scroll that was before the book."

"So there are two of them?"

"I don't know how that is," Taka picked up the red and brown scroll with the symbols of the four gods embossed seals where it could be unrolled out and noticed that the note that was still with it as they had picked it up when Kaori had disappeared, and Miaka had opened the scroll and read Kaori's name imprinted in it.

"This means that these scrolls or books are the opening portals to that other world, so I say that we go and get my cousins back. Now."

Sachiko reached for the scroll only to have Taka glare at her and move it from her reach.

"You have no idea what you are getting into by going into that scroll. It's not just that easy to do, you can't just go into the scroll expect that both of them will be right there for you to find and then come right back. Besides in the book 2 hours was three months in the book, so I would say since it's been an hour it's been a month and a half in the book. Who knows what kingdom they could be in and what exactly is going on?"

"Then read the damn thing and make it take me to them."

Miaka saw that the entire thing was getting to Sachiko, who looked on the edge of crying.

"We can read where Kaori is, since I saw her name but not Akio's but even if we went into the book it wouldn't take us right to Kaori."

"But Chichiri could." Taka thought out loud, making Miaka blink.

"Go to Mt. Taikyoku?"

"Sounds like a plan to me. What's a Chichiri and where is Mt. Taikyoku?" Sachiko asked.

Yui only watched the first smile to cross Taka's lips settle there. What she wanted to know was how Kaori seemed to know so much about the scroll without really knowing anything about it and why did it take the boy, since it seemed someone from that world had come into this world and taken the boy. These things weren't addressed and for a reason she thought because no one wanted to talk about them. Miaka was still handling that Kaori knew about her and Tamahome. As it became settled that they would go into the book but straight to the abode of Taiitsukun, an old woman that had created the 'Universe of the Four Gods' they would pack things and meet back in half an hour. Sachiko watched Taka and Miaka leave and then stood by the door as Yui paused in the doorway.

"What is it?" Sachiko's hostility clear in her voice, finding out more about Yui's true character from what Taka had not said rather than what he had.

"Let's just say I hope we find your cousins fast."

"Afraid your true character might come out again?"

"You don't know what your talking about, Sachiko." Yui said and left.

Sachiko just watched the blond. If what they all told her was true she was going to need a lot of courage to go through with going into a book that took you to a whole different world as she closed the door and headed up stairs to pack.

~ ~ ~ ~

In the book it had been almost three months since Kaori had entered and she had really no idea how she got into the problem she was in now. Her thoughts shifted in and out as she tried to stay conscience, even though the pain of her back was making her succumb to the blissful blackness that her mind beaconed her to.

~While In The Book~

Kaori sat in the small cottage, which was actually acting as an eating establishment. Wooden plank flooring, rough scarred wooden tables with splintered wood chairs, everything about the place spoke of no money but good food. Sitting in the corner, her mother's cloak wrapped around her, she kept her glasses covered eyes down as to not bring attention to herself.

Having been here a week, she had learned quite a bit of this old Chinese replica world. Things that she knew she couldn't possibly know about. That you never made yourself stand out anymore than possible, which had been a hard lesson to learn on your first day here. When she had woken up in this strange land, she was instantly sought after two deprived men, who tore after her as she went into a dead run and as they cornered her she remembered her New York survival training and managed to get away, with the help of a young girl. The young girl, about the age of ten, had taken her aside when she entered the small village, having been in the woods and told her about some of the things that would make Kaori stand out less than others. The young girl pointed out that Kaori's blond hair, something that was an oddity in this world, along with the silver of the clasp of the cloak would make people think she had money. That the bags she carried would also make people wonder about her. Taking the advice to heart, if she was ever going to find Akio she needed to be invisible. Using black tape that Sachiko used for all kinds of things and always had with her, Kaori wrapped it around the silver of the cloak's clasp over the tiger and took out Sachiko's black scarf that was part of her costume for the play to put it on her head to help hide her blondness. The young girl's mother, a kind elderly woman, added that the bags Kaori carried would be just as bad as her hair to attracting attention and so Kaori dumped them out, taking what she thought she would need and apologized to Sachiko and Akio in her mind for leaving so much behind, but she was sure the mother and daughter would be thankful to have such oddities at least to sell. The mother gave her leather satchels that would hold what she had to have and brought around their only horse, a brown mare, to have Kaori use.

At that she had protested, but the mother had held up her hand.

"Do not apologize, young one. You will need it on your journey more than us and with all these new foreign objects we can get money enough to replace this horse." The woman smiled.

Kaori thanked them both before setting off. It had been lucky that she met such kind people that would take her in like that. It kept people away from her, the only strange looks she got was due to if they saw her short school uniform skirt but while she was on the horse it never got more than a passing glance. Asking questions in Chinese even though her accent was off and some of the words were different from what she had been taught in school she only found bits and pieces about a young boy with a man coming through almost a month and a half ago.

So now she sat in cottage, sipping on a thick liquid and then finishing the soup that she had ordered. Taking out a single silver coin, part of the money she had gotten from the mother and daughter, plus her having to sell Sachiko's favorite eye makeup. It was the weirdest thing to think what she had in abundance in her world this one had never seen and paid a lot for. Her thoughts were interrupted by a man walking in that could not be classified with the rest of the dirty men that entered here in the last hour she had been sitting.

His entire appearance made him seem regal and of an entirely different class than those who frequented here. Not that it made him any more trustworthy, Kaori warned herself, having seen a lot in the past week. His clothes were clean, for one, with a white long sleeved shirt outlined at the cuff and collar in purple, a red tunic over it with a purple sash at his waist, white pants with shoes that had laces that laced up his leg to the knee. His hair was long, almost to his thighs of a black-gray color that had nothing to do with his age because as she observed his face he looked only to be in late teens, early twenties in age with hazel-gold eyes. It was strange that a guy could be said to be beautiful but here was living proof. A sword was tied to his side with the sash and he went to another darkened table, ordering from the keeper. Honestly, she didn't mean to stare but she felt she knew him when that was impossible.

"Hey, girly, you gonna want anything else?" the harsh tone of one of the other keepers asked.

Shaking her head slowly, then nodded to the silver coin on the table as he picked it up and bit into it, a practice she had seen more often than not. He smiled in satisfaction at finding that it was indeed real silver.

"Do you happen to know the quickest route to Sailo?" she asked, meaning to be quiet but a loud bunch of men entered and she had to speak up. The name of the county caught the handsome man's ear but he made no movement as if he had heard her.

"Sure, just follow the path your taking right now," the keeper looked at her delicate hand and she pulled back, as his interest in her mother's ring sprang into his eyes.

"Thank you."

Standing, she moved to the exit only to have a foot block her path and her eyes followed the foot to a scruffy man with dirt all over him as well as his four companions.

"Well, what do we have here? A delicate flower?" he asked, leaning in his chair as one of the other men sitting opposite of him putting him behind her, pulled on the cloak and the hood dropped back to her scarf covered head.

"Aren't you a pretty piece," the man with the leg in the way replied to seeing her face completely, "why don't you keep me and my friends here company?"

Smiling sweetly, a trick she used in cases like these, she leaned forward and with a swift movement of her hand going into her cloak to the pocket in her skirt, she pulled out her Swiss Army knife and held it to his crotch.

"How about I don't?" she made her point by pressuring the knife blade an inch more into his private area.

At the other end of the cottage, the man saw that the girl didn't need his help. She was taking care of herself, which was a brave thing to do when it was five against one little girl.

"Whoa, girl, we were only having fun." He protested, gulping at having his manhood threatened.

"Fun for you, maybe not for me. Now move your foot or your going to be made to sit to pee the rest of your life."

Slowly moving his leg down, she went out and unhitched her horse because she knew they would come out to defend their misplaced pride. Her foot in the stir up she threw her weight onto the horse, seeing shadows inside and then the man she had watched walked out.

"Dangerous for one so young to be alone to defend herself." He commented, the sword being placed in the sheath.

"Because I'm a girl?" she asked, as he petted down the majestic black Arabian horse that was obviously his.

"For one point, the other being that you should not travel alone."

"Whose says I'm alone?"

Pulling himself into his own saddle, he bowed to her as if to apologize.

"Forgive my assumption then."

Kaori felt her lip lift in a smile, as she caught that he had to pronounce each word as if it was foreign to him.

"I don't think you apologize that often."

She trotted her horse onto the trail, as he followed her.

"Why is that?"

"Because you practically choked on the words," looking over her shoulder she noticed his sword, "did you kill them?"

Surprised that she would ask, he replied, "No, I did not. Although for their dishonorable intentions towards your person I should have."

A soft laugh came from her lips and he galloped his horse beside hers to find out what was so funny.

"Dishonorable intentions? That's one I haven't heard before. What are you some sort of professional politically correct speaker?"

His eyes had a confused glaze in them she sighed.

"Never mind."

"You are not from around here."

"Gee, how'd you guess?"

"You're speech as well as you ability to think you can take care of yourself without a man."

Kaori stopped the horse in mid-step.

"You know you were actually being the first guy to act at least semi-normal and then you go and make a comment like that," Kaori narrowed her eyes at him, "I can take care of myself."

"And if those men had come after you?"

"I would have rode off and lost them. I'm not an idiot I know what they wanted to do with me."

"Then you are indeed foolish."

Kaori was sick of this.

"Can I know your name?" she asked.

"Hotohori."

"I'm Kaori, and I must say it was nice to meet you, Hotohori, but I've got a lot of road to go and this is where we part ways."

Skeptical that she would make it by herself to Sailo, as he heard she was heading, he couldn't very well invite himself along, so he bowed.

"Then, Kaori, I wish you luck on your journey."

She nodded and watched him ride off. Thinking that at least someone listened to her, since Akio and Sachiko never did she continued down the path of the last known place she had heard that the man with her brother might be heading.

~ ~

Hotohori hadn't gotten far when he thought again about the girl he had left. Kaori, he thought, she reminded him of Miaka. Not in looks but in spirit. Although Miaka almost always had someone with her while this girl was decisively determined to be on her own. He wished her luck. In the back of his mind, a protest rose up that he couldn't just let her go off by herself but he was in no condition to help anyone, least of all a girl of her strength.

Deep in his soul sadness stayed from the death of his precious wife, Houki, the year before. Watching the gentle spirit drift away from him due to an illness not made to be cured even by Mitsukake had taken a toll on the entire palace. Even his now four-year-old son Boushin had grieved deeply for his mother. Possibly it wouldn't have hurt so much if he hadn't loved her as he had. To think that he was so sure that Miaka, when she came to this world from her own, had been the one to end his loneliness when she had fallen in love with Tamahome he was sure he would never love another. Houki had been his peace, the other part of his soul and the mother to his heir. Every inch the perfect Empress that now it seemed quite impossible that he would ever love someone as much as he had his delicate wife.

Nuriko and Chiriko had been the most concerned about his well fare at Houki's death. As Suzaku warriors the bond he had to them was second only to that of his immediate family. Chiriko was now a well-respected government official and one of his private advisors even if he was seventeen. Nuriko had taken on the job of being the one that looked after everyone. For that he was eternally grateful but had he stayed in that palace, to turn a corner and never see her smiling face at him again was more than he could bear. He had to leave, even for a short while. Having signed the agreement that he would marry again, for the sake of the county and his son's need of a mother, he didn't feel it right to do so. To him it was being unfaithful. His depression had caused many a worried glance towards him and his anger at the world that had taken her from him was taken out on more than a few. In his mind he was no longer the Emperor he once was, nor could he be again.

Not a soul had managed to make him care about much in the last twelve months and then to come across that girl. Noticing her foreign clothing, the uniform so like that of Miaka's hidden behind a cloak, the elegant lines of her face and figure had gotten more than a passing interest out of him. Her startled violet-blue eyes that looked at him as though she knew things about him she couldn't know, for they had never met. Catching sight of blond hair beneath that black scarf had intrigued him, as never had he seen such a hair color other than the color belonging to the Seiryuu Warrior Nakago. It had taken a large amount of restraint as he rode next to her to keep his hands from wanting to run its fingers through the silky mass. That hadn't happened since Houki's death and he wasn't sure that he liked the sensation of being physically attracted to someone again.

His mind on his thoughts, he finally realized it was getting dark and decided to make camp. One thing about having to have gone through the rising of Suzaku he was more self-sufficient than he used to be.

~ ~

Nuriko was pacing the corridor of the palace outside the young prince Boushin's quarters in Eiyou, the capital of Konan. His short purple-black hair blew in the breeze from the courtyard, his pinkish eyes snapping up from his face lower position as he paced when the sliding traditional doors of the boy's door opened and the pony tailed dark red-brown haired Chiriko stepped out, closing the door after him.

"Well?" Nuriko demanded impatiently.

A calm look came over the younger man's features.

"He still wants to go look for His Highness. For a four-year-old he is remarkably stubborn."

Nuriko huffed.

"Must be all the time spent around His Majesty."

Chiriko chuckled.

"Oh, maybe around you, Nuriko."

Glaring at the younger man, Nuriko leaned against the railing that lined the one side of the corridor.

"So what should we do? Go look for him?"

"If only to pacify Prince Boushin. Hotohori has been gone almost two weeks."

Nuriko nodded, standing straight.

"I will have all the preparations made for our departure tomorrow."

"Nuriko, do you think that having him sign that contract between Konan and Hokkan was a good idea before he left?"

"I didn't agree with it then and I don't now. His heart isn't in it and no woman is going to be comfortable with just half of him existing."

"Think that Princess Makiko will love him as he needs?"

"Who knows, Chiriko, who knows."

~ ~

In the land of Hokkan, a magnificent palace was active with activity as the people made ready for the Princess of Hokkan to make her trip to be engaged to the Emperor of Konan. Princess Makiko was walking down the marble and tapestry hung hallways to the room where her brother, the great golden Yosuke, King of Hokkan sat upon this throne with a very smug look in on his handsome face.

"Why are you so happy, my brother?" Makiko asked with little real interest, more of a passing fancy of wonderment in her normal self-centered life.

"Just the thought of how I pulled it off and news," Yosuke glanced to his vapid sister, "of the Moon Goddess being back in our world."

Makiko lifted a delicate eyebrow.

"I thought that girl died when she was two?"

"A rumor made by the people of Sailo to protect her. Although I have my ways of finding the truth from rumors."

"Has someone reported that they have seen her?"

"One of the tavern keepers saw the ring on a strangely dressed girl's hand and he was very informative even though he died from his incorporation. Seems your future fiancée is playing protector of the girl."

"He's what? What is with this Emperor and his need to socialize with those strange girls from that other world?"

"All I want is that girl and you, dear sister, are going to help me." Yosuke voice was filled with malice.

Interest peeked; Makiko asked him what she had to do.

"Nothing for now. Only soon you will have a role in all my plans," Yosuke stood and moved down the three steps that lifted the throne above the even flooring, "I have details to work out. Enjoy your coming wedding, for when you are Empress, you will have all you've ever wanted."

Walking past her, his golden shroud following him and Makiko saw out of the corner of her eye that her other brother; Junichi was standing off to the side and had heard everything.

"Do you not have something to do, Juni?"

The shy fifteen-year-old only moved back into the shadows and Makiko shivered, knowing that one-day her full brother was going to have his head cut off by their half-brother Yosuke. Junichi was a good-doer and she couldn't understand why. He was royalty, a Prince and yet he acted like a common servant. Disgusted she thought to her wedding and smiled.

After leaving the throne room, Yosuke went to the private dungeons where his most prized prisoners were kept. The entire atmosphere was filled with despair and hopelessness that it cheered him up. The mold on the old gray stone walls, the sound of water under his feet at the underground river, and he moved to the iron bar cages that held his oldest and newest prizes.

In one of the cages was a middle-aged man with sadness in his eyes and face, dressed in plain brown garments and in the second cage was a small boy with odd clothes on and a confused look on his face as to why he was being held. Smiling a horrible smile, Yosuke came to the middle between the two cages.

"I see you and your new friend have gotten to know each other," as Yosuke saw that the man was sitting as close to the second cage as possible to console and give comfort to the young boy, "although he won't be here much longer, I have a different task for the boy. While you, old man, are going to die down here."

"You are a cold-hearted bastard, Yosuke." came the superior voice of the man.

"True, but it serves its purpose. So did this boy, who if I might say, looks a lot like you, don't you think? Then again I suppose sons look like their fathers," that got an amazed look on the boy's face that Yosuke couldn't help but continue, "that's right, that man is your father. The one that your dear mother told you had died and she truly thought he had. How sad," Yosuke's voice dripped with sarcasm, "and now that I have you, the bait, all will come together and I'll get what I so richly deserve. Because, young Prince, your sister is here to save you."

"Kaori's here?" Akio asked.

"Kaori? Is that her name, how interesting? Thanks for the information. I must go now, I leave you to your family reunion," with a look over his shoulder he added, "enjoy it while you can, Zhuang, because once I've killed your daughter and eldest son I will come for you and the boy. You'll be one big happy family, when you're all dead."

The sound of retreating steps and the metal door closing left Akio to look at the man he had never seen and now was told was his father.

"You're my father?"

"Yes, my son. I never thought to see you, least of all." Zhuang smiled sadly.

"But why? What is going on and why am I here?"

"You are being used to get Kaori," Zhuang warmed at saying his daughter's name, "Yosuke wants your sister."

"What for? Kaori isn't from here and she doesn't have anything that anyone would want, I mean she has grandma's money and me but that's it....oh, and Sachiko."

"Sachiko? Is that your Uncle's daughter?"

"Yeah. She's an actress, we were at her play when some guy grabbed me," Akio touched the shoulder that had been treated for the wound the man had given him.

Zhuang thought on this.

"Did Kaori put you in that room?"

"Yeah, even locked the door. Didn't know how he got in and he had some strange rolled up paper with him."

"A scroll," Zhuang cursed, "he left the scroll so that Kaori and your brother would come back."

"And Kaori's here but I don't have a brother, just me and Kaori."

This concerned Zhuang after knowing through information provided by the only trustworthy person of the royalty of Hokkan, Junichi, that his eldest son had been reincarnated in the world that his beloved wife had come from. How could he not have found the younger two? Zhuang wondered.

"You have never met your brother?"

"No, the closest guy to a brother we have is Taka, but he's all alone. He and Miaka are going to get married when she graduates, from what Kaori says."

"Taka?" Zhuang pondered if this boy could be his son Satoru, "has Kaori contacted with anyone that she had some connection to?"

"No. Kaori worries about Sachiko and me mostly. Then again," Akio shifted in his sitting position, "she's been having dreams."

"What kind of dreams?"

Akio shrugged, "Don't know. Sachiko watches over her but she is always so tired and never remembers what they are about. One night she was crying out in her sleep about people Sachiko and me have never heard about before. Mainly some guy named Tamahome."

"Tamahome?" Zhuang said and then remembered that was the name of his son as the warrior for Suzaku, that his daughter was remembering her brother.

"Yeah. So we are from here?"

"Part of you is, my son."

"Hey, Dad?"

"Yes?"

"I'm glad I got to meet you."

Zhuang smiled.

"Me, too."

~ ~

Three days from the cottage that she had met the stranger she realized she was going in circles. Cursing, she jumped down from the horse and searched the ground she was on for any clue that might tell her where she was going. After a half an hour she gave up.

"Where's a gas station when you need to ask questions?" Kaori asked out loud to no one.

The horse gave an exhaled breath and she smiled.

"Some help you are."

A sound pierced the birdcalls and sound of whistling wind that sounded remarkably like a child scream. Getting into the saddle she headed towards the sound to an open meadow where over ten men in dark clothing were attacking a well-decorated carriage. In royal purple and gold tones with the sound of the child scream coming from inside, she jumped off the horse, throwing her cloak onto the horse to get it out of her way and headed to the carriage while men around her fought. Blood sprayed the yellow and green ground, the horrific echo of bones breaking and the clash of swords played background to the screams. Yanking on the door, having a hand reach out to pull her down she kicked low in between the man's legs and sent him to the ground. Another twist on the door handle and it opened to reveal a small boy who was fighting, kicking and biting a man that was trying to take him out of the protective carriage. Using leverage from her entrance in the doorway she kicked the man out of the carriage, sending him sprawling on his back to the below hard dirt floor.

"Are you okay?" she asked softly to the tear stained face of the golden-eyed boy.

"Yes. Who are you?"

"Boushin!" the voice of a recognized voice called out.

"Come on, kiddo. Let's get you somewhere safe."

As she picked him up, she moved quickly around the fighting of three men that seemed to belong with the boy. Taking cover near her horse, she held the boy until his cries stopped. As the fighting came to the end by the sharp pointed blade of Hotohori, he sheathed his sword, glared with murder in his eyes at the three men who were with the carriage and went to find his son.

"Boushin!"

The boy shifted his weight in her arms and she let go as he made a straight line to Hotohori, who bent down and lifted him into his strong parental arms.

"Your Highness, we are so glad to have found you." Chiriko announced.

"How's it going, Hotohori?" came an orange-red head's casual voice.

"I know what you must be thinking, Your Majesty…" Nuriko started.

Hotohori put his son down, his hand still holding onto Boushin's left one.

"You have no idea what I am thinking, Nuriko," the angered Hotohori replied, "do you realize you put my only son's life in danger? That he could have died?"

"But he didn't," came Kaori's realistic opinion as she set the cloak back on her shoulders coming around the horse, "and you should stop acting like the over-protective Papa Bear and just be thankful that he's fine."

"Kaori, you have no business interfering in this."

At the direct cut, she only glared at him.

"Seeing as how I saved the boy, I think I do."

"It is true, Father, the lady warrior did save me."

That got all four males attention at the child's remark.

"Gonna bite my head off some more?" Kaori asked, arms folded over her chest.

Nuriko had been around the Emperor a long time and to this point had never seen him look so ashamed of himself as he did now when he looked at the cloak covered female.

"Please forgive my words, I spoke too soon."

"Two apologies," Kaori lightly teased, "at least this one sounds more sincere."

Boushin curiously watched the lady interact with his father and thought she had to be the bravest lady he had ever seen. Not even the blood, that some of the servants couldn't stand being around, had not bothered her.

"Lady Warrior, are you with my father?"

Five identical incredibless looks appeared on the adults faces.

Kneeling down to Boushin, she removed her cloak's hood and eye to eye with the young boy.

"No, I am not. I ran into your father three days ago when he saved me from five very unpleasant men that would have hurt me otherwise. My name is Kaori, which you can call me if I can call you Boushin."

Pleased at her response, the young miniature version of the handsome man nodded.

"You may not call her Kaori," Hotohori corrected, "she is Lady Kaori, Boushin."

Standing to face the stubborn male, she lifted an eyebrow.

"As you wish, Your Worship." Kaori sarcastically mocked.

Chiriko cleared his throat.

Kaori took in the appearance of the other three men that were watching the conversation between herself and Hotohori with avid interest.

"I suggest we make camp for the night," Hotohori told them, "and first thing in the morning we will return to the palace."

They nodded, as the horses were unhitched from the carriage and taken down to the small stream to drink by a short violet-haired man. Kaori went to her horse, which she had decided to name Chestnut, and took down the satchels.

As darkness hit, a roaring fire was in the middle of them as they sat around on blankets from the carriage. Kaori was carefully observing the differences between the men that were close to Hotohori. The first one was short violet-black hair with pinkish eyes in a blue long sleeved shirt with white panels on the side of the shirt with lining in gold along with the ties that kept the shirt together, with a orange sash at the waist and blue pants, the same type of shoes lacing up his leg to his knee. The second one looked around her age with red-brown hair in a green and blue robe outfit seeming very mature, compared to the others minus Hotohori. Then the orange-red haired guy with orange eyes in a dark blue shirt with light blue trim, the collar folded over also light blue with a white shirt underneath a leather belt at his waist with a gold buckle with a gold diagonal chain across his chest with dark pants, two beaded necklaces around his neck and dangling blue stones in his ears. Introduced to them as Nuriko, Chiriko, and Tasuki. Somewhere in the back of her mind she thought she already knew the names before they were said.

All three were just as curious about her, as Chiriko took her glasses and looked into them, amazed that she would need them when obviously she had great eye sight. Taking them back, she placed them back on her nose.

"It's more an appearance thing, I guess."

"Appearance? But doesn't that make you more unattractive in your world?" Nuriko asked.

"You'd think so, wouldn't you?" Kaori mused, "but it seems nothing I can do can take away from my features. It's a big hassle."

That got Hotohori's attention as he wrapped a blanket around his sleeping son.

"It is a hassle to you to appear beautiful?"

Kaori shrugged, "I never really think about it. In my life, Sachiko, that's my cousin, is concerned about her appearance enough for the both of us."

"So you would rather be seen as unattractive?"

Taking off her glasses she drew her thumb over the frames.

"No female wants to be seen as unattractive, Your Worship, it's just not always a blessing."

Tasuki interfered at that point.

"Believe me, I know. Females are always fussing about how they look, what people think of them, it's enough to make a guy sick."

Laughing at that, Tasuki grinned at her.

"Then you have people that see nothing but appearance and never past that. Beyond how they look, or how they see other people looks the farthest they go into that person's character."

Chiriko nodded his agreement of her assessment.

"You seem very wise on this."

"Try living with a female actress and see if you don't learn a few pointers."

Kaori excused herself to go wash at the stream, only to have Hotohori follow her. As she knelt beside the one-foot deep stream, the water clear that you could see the smooth bottom, he wondered out loud.

"Why do you seem to be angered at me when you see me with my son?"

Kaori turned from the stream, a little amazed that he had been watching her so closely that he had noticed.

"I am not angered at you, Your Worship," Kaori wiped her face off on a small cloth that Chiriko had offered her before she headed in the woods to the stream, "I just think that you shouldn't be so hard on your son."

"I do not need a young girl telling me how to raise my son."

At his superior tone, she stood.

"I am not telling you how to raise your son, but did you even see the pained look he got when you reprimanded him for agreeing to call me Kaori rather than Lady Kaori. All he wants is acceptance from you if you weren't so self involved maybe you would realize that."

A deafening silence came as the moonlight shown down onto the running streambed and the soft grass and healthy trees. Sensing that he wasn't exactly happy with her words, she kept her mouth damned if she would apologize to the self-righteous male.

"Do you have children, Kaori?" he finally spoke.

"No, Your Worship, I don't. I have no children of my own; all I have is a young boy that depends on me and a cousin that is my responsibility. I know I couldn't possibly understand what makes you the way you are, just as you could not know about me but as a person without parents I can tell you that nothing is worse than making a child seem unworthy of your time and consideration."

Hotohori stared at her and a little amazed at the strength of his glaze, she took a step back as if to avoid it. It was looking into her soul and it scared her.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Because I have never known a person to have such conviction towards another person without truly knowing them. Yet you talk as if you have a clear understanding of me," his voice got a hint of anger in it, "and who are you to lecture me on being a good parent? You are nothing but a lost female without sense to know when she is in danger."

"Oh, really?"

With that she stepped next to him, her smile sweet and before he knew what was happening she pushed him backwards into the stream, causing the fabric of his attire to soak up the water and water splashed upwards for an instant as he settled into the stream's bank.

"I can take care of myself, Your Worship, you are the one that needs to cool off that temper of yours. For a guy with such responsibility you have no clue how to deal with a female, obviously."

His eyes narrowed at her and as she realized how close she was to the bank it was too late as his leg came out and caught the back of her knee sending her into the water face down. Rolling onto her back, she pushed herself up by her arms, seeing her glasses laying broken on the bottom of the bank and retaliation spoke out through her eyes as her hair was now wet and coming out of the bun.

"I have a great deal of knowledge how to deal with undisciplined females."

Angered, she took a hand of water and threw it at him, hitting him square in the face.

"No female could ever want such a jerk like you, I have to wonder about the mother of your son…"

In that instant, she was pinned by her arms to the bank of the stream, the water lapping at her soaked uniform as he laid over her the depth of his anguish showing through his golden eyes.

"My wife is not to be spoken of, least of all by you."

Blinking up at him, her gray-violet eyes questioned his. Knowing now that his wife was deceased by the way he showed his emotion, she glanced up at him.

"If you loved her that much don't you think that running away from your son like you were doing is dishonoring her memory?"

Shocked at her words, he stared down at her.

"You were, weren't you? Running away from your pain, the loss. You can't wish it away, Hotohori. Your son needs you and you need to move on with your life."

"How do you think to tell me that? I cannot do it. I have tried and I have failed her."

"Then do us all a favor and crawl into the grave with her because you obviously aren't going to be use to anyone like you are now. You don't even to seem to care that your son needs you or that your friends are worried about you."

She felt his grip on her wrists tighten before it loosened and he bent his head. His lips touching hers just enough to startle her, as the softness of the kiss made her eyes close and as his own hands moved from her wrists, she unwillingly wrapped her arms around his neck and he deepened the kiss. The truth of her words had to be stopped before he did something he regretted, he thought as his lips caressed hers lightly. One of his hands running in her flowing hair from the current of the water and as she gave a surprised whimper as his tongue came out to outline her pink lips and then dipped inside her sweet mouth that shocked them both as they pulled back instantly.

Moving away from her, Hotohori sat on the bank.

"I do not know what came over me."

Still amazed at the feelings his lips had invoked, she just nodded before footsteps sounded and Nuriko appeared out of the shadowed trees.

"You both decide to take a bath with your clothes on?" Nuriko teased.

Kaori stood on feet that seemed unsteady and passed by them both, un-nerved. Getting to camp she got curious looks from Tasuki and Chiriko but only took one of the satchels and headed somewhere to change out of the drenched uniform. As Nuriko came back to the camp, without Hotohori, Tasuki raised an eyebrow.

"Notice that Kaori was wet?" Tasuki asked.

"So was the Emperor. Seems that he might be coming back to his old self."

"He kissed her," Chiriko added, "Her lips were redder."

All three looked at each other and sighed.

The next morning, Kaori had changed into the outfit that was in Sachiko's bag, of a dark purple short-sleeved shirt with a lavender spaghetti tank top over it that showed off her mid-drift and too long jeans that were fine at the waist but a few inches longer in length due to Sachiko's taller height. Her hair was pulled into a French braid, still angered that her glasses were at a loss she had to make due. Having slept on the other side of the carriage she came around to almost come head on into Hotohori. He was in a red tunic now and neither one of them knew what to say. Boushin seemed to show up just in time to save them.

"Good morning, Lady Kaori."

"Morning, Boushin."

"Father," the young prince asked, "is it alright if I give Lady Kaori a gift before we go back to the Palace?"

"Yes, you may." Hotohori told his son before turning on his heel and heading to the three companions that were putting away last night's camping blankets.

Boushin tugged on Kaori's jeans, so she knelt down and he took the small-jeweled dagger from his own sashed waist and handed it to her.

"A better weapon than the one you have." He explained simply.

Taking the dagger out of the sheath she saw it was hand crafted and the emblem of their god, Suzaku was engraved on it. Putting it back in the gold-jeweled sheath, she hugged the small boy to her, who wrapped his hands around her neck.

"Thank you, Boushin. I will treasure it."

Nuriko came around to see Kaori hugging the boy, the family heirloom dagger in her hands. He didn't say anything as he was sure Boushin was not going to accept it back if he told her what it was and it would hurt the young prince.

"We must be on our way, Prince Boushin."

Kaori backed out of the hug and stood, smiling at Nuriko. Boushin went to be put in the carriage by Chiriko when Nuriko saw the confused glaze come into Kaori's eyes as the Emperor passed by her line of sight.

"She died a year ago and it has been hard on all of us, especially him and Boushin."

"I found out last night. Don't worry, Nuriko, I have no intention on hurting your Emperor. I just want to find my brother."

"If you ever need our help," Nuriko meaningfully stated, "you only have to send a message to the Palace and you will have help."

"You are a great friend for him, you know that."

Winking, he replied, "I try. Do us this favor, I mean if you do need us please seek our help."

"I will, Nuriko, and thank you."

"Not everyday you meet a girl that isn't afraid of the Emperor in this mood."

Smiling she went around the side with him to say goodbye to Tasuki and Chiriko, and then nodded a goodbye to Hotohori.

As they left, something in her heart protested.

~ ~

Not two months later she was coming back from the Sailo kingdom. People weren't in abundance and not once had she got any straight answers out of any of the residents. It was almost like they were scared to death to say something. One elderly woman had taken one look at her face and fainted.

She knew she was being tailed, that someone was following her for the past three miles and her mind urged her to find a well crowded place when out of no where arrows were flying around her, something knocked her off Chestnut and in a mix of dark and light colors she landed on thick moss. Her body in pain, she caught sight of the person who had knocked her off her horse and saved her life. Beside her, breathing uneven was Tasuki.

"Tasuki!" Kaori crept over to him, seeing an arrow piercing close to his heart, "you idiot why did you do that? You could have just yelled for me to get off."

"Sorry, Kaori." His mumbled reply came.

Seeing the attackers on horses in a mad gallop leaving the area, probably assuming they had gotten her, she put his arm around her neck and lifted him up, only to be pulled back to the ground by his weight.

"You really are going to have to help me, Tasuki. I can't hold your weight all by myself."

"Girls…..always complaining…"

She smiled at his words and headed to Chestnut, not sure what she should do when she knew he needed a doctor right away. Making due with a blanket that she had been left to keep by an innkeeper, she tied it to branches in a makeshift rack to carry his body on. Carefully setting him on the rack, she debated on whether or not to pull the arrow out or leave it. Biting her lip in worry, he peeked through pained eyelids.

"Leave it."

Nodding, she got on her horse and then over her shoulder questioned him to keep him conscious.

"How did you find me?"

"You are back in Konan, Kaori."

Cursing herself, she sighed.

"How far from the Palace are we?"

"Half a day."

"Why did you protect me?"

"Had to…..found out…..who you are."

"What? Tasuki? Tasuki?" she saw that he had loss consciousness.

Most likely from the pain, she thought and continued on root.

~ ~

The sun was setting when she saw the Konan capital. She took them down into the valley and towards the Palace gates; people stared but didn't offer to help. As she got to the guarded palace gates, she jumped down, the cloak floating around her and went to the guards.

"I need help Tasuki is hurt." She explained, her movement caused one of the guards to see the dagger at her waist.

"She has Prince Boushin's knife, she must have been one of the ones that attacked the carriage and she has tried to kill Master Tasuki."

"No," she denied but it was too late, they were drawing their own conclusions and the gates opened to reveal a beautiful woman with three more guards.

"Well, what do we have here?" the woman asked, "the thief of Prince Boushin's dagger and having brought the evidence of your assassination of Tasuki to us."

"I didn't hurt Tasuki."

Giving a small laugh that she didn't believe a word coming out of Kaori's mouth, the woman took Kaori's chin in her hand, as two guards held her arms.

"I have plans for you, Kaori," the woman whispered into Kaori's ear.

"Take her to the dungeon and make sure she pays for her betrayal." The woman said so that the guards now heard her.

Kicking and hitting at them, Kaori could not get away and as Chiriko looked down to see Princess Makiko delight in Kaori's predicament he ran down the hall to get a message to the Emperor, because while he was gone no one had the power that Princess Makiko was using and not even with him being a Suzaku was able enough to get the guards to listen to him. First he had to get to Tasuki and then get a message to Nuriko and Hotohori, who were away with Prince Boushin surveying the Empire.

~ ~

In the dungeons, the guards delighted in taking Kaori to the darkest room and ripping the back of her shirt open as she hands were tied above her and as three of the guards, all with menacing glances on their faces, looked on the one behind her fingered a leather wipe lovingly. One of his fingers touched her smooth cream-colored skin and then marveled that he would have complete control on this girl's punishment.

"We'll teach this foreign traitor to disrespect the Konan Royal Family."

She felt the first snap of the leather hitting her back's skin and clenched her teeth, determined to not make a sound and give these cretins any more delight in her undeserved pain. After the tenth hit she couldn't keep the pain from her mind anymore and blissfully succumbed.

~ ~

The news got to Hotohori and Nuriko four days after Chiriko had sent it and as they made a mad dash back to the palace, they both prayed that she and Tasuki were all right.

~ ~ ~ ~

Well, that's all for right now. More details into why Tasuki came to Kaori's rescue and what is going on in the other world while all this is happening.

~ Scandal ~
November 7, 2001