Red River Fan Fiction ❯ A SHINTO PRIESTESS IN THE ANCIEN HITTITE EMPIRE ❯ V1 C3 The sorcery of the Dark Water ( Chapter 3 )

A SHINTO PRIESTESS IN THE ANCIEN HITTITE EMPIRE

OR

WHERE THE RED FIRE AND RED RIVER MEET

 

Disclaimer: I own nothing except Miyuki Kanzaki.

 

Note: well, it's shaping nicely. Don't forget to write me what do you think of Miyuki and/or what are your ideas. I will look into it but make no promises. However, I promised to write back. A question to my readers: Would you like that I'll rewrite an entire manga instead of cutting it in smaller portions like now?

 

 

Vol 1 Chap 3: The sorceryof the Dark Water.

 

 

 

In the court of the temple, the Queen is rummaging her defeat. Her servant is attempting to help her. “Prince Kail's quick hands are widely known and the exploits of his seductions are infamous. Perhaps he did deflower the girl…”

 

“Don't be a fool!” The Queen turned and glared to the man. “I don't care about that! For my true purpose, the Death-curse, it doesn't matter whether the girl is a virgin or a harlot.” The only thing of importance to the priestess of Teshub was the spilling of the blood of the young Miko. “I need that girl's blood flowing from her neck! That is all!!” She sighed. “And, of course, there is the matter of her nature.” The Queen looked worried for the first time.

 

“Her nature?”

 

“I did not show it in front of her, but she is right on one point: She is a priestess.”

 

“But you are the Great Priestess of Teshub, surely her power…”

 

“That is not the point. She is from a different faith, yes! But faith is faith! She has power! She is completely cut off the jurisdiction of her gods, but she still retains her status as a priestess. If she acknowledged even one of our thousands gods or if one of them chose her…”

 

“Oh…then?”

 

“That's it! I'll get to Prince Kail's palace using the `Dark Water'!”

 

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“Kikkuri!” Kail was descending the stairs of the temple, Miyuki on his shoulder. A chariot with two horses was waiting for him with a light brown-haired young man in a dark tunic. “The festivities are over. Let's go back to the palace.”

 

The young man blinked as he remarked the bundle on the shoulder of his Prince. “Hey, where'd you get the girl?”

 

Kail threw the Japanese schoolgirl in the arms of his first servant. “Queen Nakia was using her in another of her schemes, so I spirited her away.”

 

“Oh…” Well, it was a good thing that she was not very heavy.

 

`Queen Nakia's schemes?' Miyuki couldn't believe she heard right. Was the third Prince aware of the plotting of the Queen? “You…you're not friends with the Queen, are you?” It was a risk to take, but after escaping a sacrifice…

 

“Friends?” Kail smiled to the young girl. “There is no funeral my stepmother would relish more than mine.”

 

“Then…then…” Yes, it was a possibility. “Take me back!!” Kail unbound the Miko as she tried once again to regain the control of her situation. “Take me back to my home!!” Kikkuri drove the chariot in the streets of the city. “The Queen brought me here against my will by magic!”

 

Now, that was interesting. What devilish plans had made Nakia? “She brought you here with her power? Where from?”

 

“Japan!”

 

The name doesn't ring a bell for Kail. “Japan?”

 

“This city is Hattusa, right? Where in the world is that!? I've never heard of it!” If she had a geographic reference, the young girl was sure to found a way to home.

 

Kikkuri sighed at the ignorance of this peasant girl. “You must be quite the country bumpkin if you've never heard of the capital of the Hittite Empire.”

 

Kail was perplexed, especially by the `exotic' appearance of Miyuki. “Yes. Nor do you seem to be from the Kaska tribe (enemy of the Hittite to the north, around 1450 BC Kaska invasions captured some Hittites territory. Suppiluliumas led campaigns to regain those) or from Kizzuwadna (region at that time under the control of the Mitanni kingdom, which consisted largely of Hurrian people) either.”

 

“Do you know of the Mitanni kingdom?”

 

“No.”

 

“Then…what about Egypt?”

 

At last, something, she knew about. “Egypt! I know Egypt! Is it near here?” `The Middle East? Could that be where I am?' Yes, she could go home!

 

“Not very near, it's a fortnight's journey by chariot. Is this Japan of yours in Egypt?”

 

“No, I didn't mean that…”

 

Kikkuri believed that he knew what this girl was talking about. “Maybe it's a refugee village. Egypt's had constant turmoil since that boy came to the throne.”

 

“Yes. Poor Pharaoh Tutankhamen. Such bad luck.”

 

The emerald eyes widened at the revelation. No! She couldn't have heard that! “Tutankhamen? The Boy-King? The successor of Pharaoh Akhenaton?”

 

“You know of him? They say he's a child younger than I.”

 

`If I know of him? For Kami-Sama sake, I've studied him during my priesthood! He was a Pharaoh of ANCIENT Egypt! He was the 12th Pharaoh of the 18th dynasty during the period known as the New Kingdom…Around 1341-1323 BC!!' Her breath was catching and her knees suddenly refused to support her. `So where I am now is…the Middle East of the past?!'

 

Kail felt worried as the girl swayed in his arms. “Hey, are you alright!? You…What's your name?”

 

The Miko was shocked. “Mi…Miyuki…”

 

“I see. Well then, Miyuki. You said that the queen brought you here by magic, right? For what purpose would she do something like that?”

 

“She said…She wanted her son to succeed to the throne…” The Miko was automatically responding. The shock was too great. “So she's going to kill the other princes with a Death-curse. And for that she would have me as an offering since my blood as a priestess of my people is perfect for her needs…”

 

The two men looked to each other, eyes widened. Kail and Kikkuri were thunderstrucked by the revelation.

 

Miyuki was still trying to deal with what she learned. `Ancient Middle East? No way! I am in my historical past. How is it possible? The Nexus open to others worlds, not others times!!'

 

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Later that night, at the palace of the third Prince.

 

A crying black-haired girl wiped her reddened eyes. “This isn't the time to sit and cry. That's not going to change anything.” Miyuki was alone in a spacious bedroom. “Prince Kail just dumped me in here and then ran off again.”

 

She gathered her wits. The crying session had appeased her and she felt she had regained a little of her might now. “I guess I'll just have to manage to help myself.” `But how can I cross space-time to my home?'

 

She needed a tremendous source of energy or something like the Nexus to do it AND the help of at least one of the local gods. “I'm caught up in something bad here. I certainly don't want to end up on an altar again.”

 

A knock on her door sent her in a defensive crouch. She was still rattled by her previous experience. However, she was unprepared for the appearance of a young boy in a loincloth with black hair and eyes.

 

“Excuse me. I brought your supper…”

 

It could not be possible. It was… “KANEDA!”

 

“What?” The young boy lifted up the tray he was carrying, dodging an accidental spilling.

 

Now that she was seeing him in the light, Miyuki recognized her error. Kaneda didn't have pierced ears. “You're not Kaneda!?”

 

The young boy blinked. “Uh…”

 

“S…sorry! You look like my little brother…” The Japanese priestess was embarrassed. `That's right…there's no way that Kaneda could be here…'

 

The boy smiled to the displaced Miko. “My name is Tito. Prince Kail ordered me to look after Princess Miyuki.”

 

That was new. She pointed to herself. “Princess Miyuki?”

 

“I think this is the first time Prince Kail has brought a woman here. I'm quite happy about it.” He began to arrange the tray on a table. “Do you like flowers? Oh yeah. A meal has been prepared for you.”

 

“Thank you…” She smiled for the first time after the beginning of this nightmare, and smelled a flower he brought. `The way he moves and chatters…just like Kaneda.' Hmmm…She could ask him some questions. “Tito, can I ask you something?”

 

“I'm making your bed…” He stopped his work and looked to the young girl. “Yes, what is it?”

 

“Is it possible to kill someone with a Death-curse? By sacrificing a person?”

 

“Princess Miyuki! That's a crime!”

 

“If you say that…Then it IS possible?” The emerald-eyes of the young girl widened. The mere fact that their judicial system had dealt with such actions make them too real.

 

“Well, they say some powerful priests can do such deeds. But usually a snake is used to put a curse on someone…that's already enough to be a crime. To sacrifice a human, they must wish to curse someone virtuous or of nobility.” Tito was speaking like he was stating a fact.

 

This was NOT so good for the Miko. “Princess Miyuki? Is there something else?”

 

“Uh, yeah…” No! She couldn't let it go like this!

 

As she ate the supper made of roasted birds, sliced dried meat, vegetables and fruits, the Japanese schoolgirl pondered on what to ask. “Umm…Well…I mean…”

 

In her time, Miyuki know all the rules for the commerce between Heaven and the mortal plane, but here… The rules were not the same. She desperately needed a solid background on this time period. “Suppose a powerful priest used magical power to bring someone here from very far away…” Well, here we go. “What should that person do to get back home?”

 

“If that's the case, the one who brought the person must send her back. In general, I've heard that such magic can only be undone by the one who conjured it…” Tito finished to serve Miyuki and then took his leave. “There. My room is next to the kitchen. If you need anything, just call me.” He smiled as he closed the bedroom. “Good night. Sleep well.”

 

Tito regained the kitchen, happy of the presence of the visibly gentle girl with such nice green eyes and long shining black hair in the palace. “Ho! Why there are six pots of water here?” He turned to another servant. “I brought home only five today.”

 

“A water seller came by boasting how sweet this water tasted, so I bought one from him.”

 

“Very well. I'll serve it to Princess Miyuki in the morning.”

 

As Tito slept in his room, small bubbles appeared in the sixth jug of water. Bubbles also reproduced in a large basin in the private summoning chamber of Queen Nakia.

 

The great priestess was exercising her power on the water. “…I can hear the breathing of someone sleeping. And it's a child…But I can still use him.” She smiled wickedly. “He is…the perfect instrument. I'll make him do the dirty work for me…”

 

Nakia focused her power through the water. At the palace of Kail, the water of the sixth pot took a dark taint and as if it was alive begin to slither out of the jug. Like a puddle of slime, it approached the sleeping boy.

 

“Ngh…” Despite the danger, Tito didn't awake as the tainted water advanced on him, then extended a pseudopod to his head. It suddenly entered the ear of the boy and disappeared inside him.

 

“Wha…Hmm…” Tito opened eyes with altered pupils.

 

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Slowly the door of the bedroom of the displaced Miko opened and Miyuki silently get out.

 

`Only the same priest can undo a used power…' The Japanese schoolgirl achieved to attach a cloth-belt to her tunic. `In short, this means that only that evil-looking Queen can return me to Japan, huh.'

 

Since the answers given by Tito, the priestess has tried to work a solution. `And I know that being near her is too dangerous. She's the last person I would want to be near without my full power at the very least. But no matter how much I hate it if I want to go home rapidly: I have to face her even if I'm not in the best shape.'

 

As she walked the passages on her bare feet she remembered a small problem. “Uh-oh! I don't know the layout. Which way was the gate again?” She found herself in an interior court open to the night air. “This is an awfully big palace for a lone Prince.” Well, it was official: She was lost. “…Geez.”

 

She suddenly stopped under the warning of her sixth sense. `Huh?' But too late, a slipknot was lowered on her neck and tightened. “AAAGH!!” `What… What the…!?'

 

Someone jumped from the balcony where the cord of the slipknot was secured, effectively rendering her powerless.

 

With stupefaction, Miyuki looked on her aggressor. Pointing a dagger to her throat was: “Ti…to?!” The Miko instantly saw something she didn't like. `His eye color is different.'

 

“AAH!” Hampered by the cord, Miyuki didn't completely dodge the sudden knife strike from Tito. The blade sliced between the neck and the shoulder. Unfortunately, it was not the only strike. “Stop, Tito! What's wrong with you?”

 

The beleaguered priestess attempted to defend herself. “Snap out of it! Tito!” She searched around her for someone. “Help me! HELP!” The court was deserted. “Somebody help me!”

 

As she fended herself, Miyuki begun to analyze the situation, the endless drills by Komera served to ground her against confusion. `Why would Tito want to kill me?! Where are the Prince's guards? If this is a Prince's house, why are there no signs of life?!'

 

In the water mirror of her basin, Nakia observed the results of her meddling. “Tito! Stop this!!”

 

“Prince Kail only keeps his most trusted aides and servants in his palace.” She smirked. “Thankfully there'll be no one to interfere and help her.” She turned to her most precious servant. “Uruhi, are the spell preparations going well?”

 

“Yes. All we need now are the girl's blood and for you to perform the incantation.”

 

“Ha ha ha… soon the rival princes will be memories, and my son will be the Emperor's sole heir.” She laughed at the scene revealed by her magic. “Child…You should be grateful to me for granting such a heavy responsibility upon one of such humble birth. Tonight you will decide the fate of an empire.”

She focused her willpower on the young boy. “Make an offering of this girl's blood to me!”

 

Her mental order erupted in the mind of the possessed boy. Kill…the girl!

 

“TITO!” The blade was striking at her. But she was not helpless. Her best friend Lina had made sure of that. “KYAA!!” The Japanese priestess managed to deflect the blade to the slipknot, cutting it.

 

This was not to the likes of Nakia. “Curse you, you worthless fool!” She redirected the actions of her puppet. “Don't let the girl get away!”

 

Miyuki began to run away, trying to have a way out of the situation. `What happened to Tito!?' She knew that this was not normal for the joyful boy. `He's completely different from before! It's as if someone is controlling him!' It hit her at that moment. Her priestess senses captured the emanation of a spell. `No! He IS controlled! I must do something!'

 

At the end of the court, a way out appeared to her. `A gate! I can get outside.' “HELP!”

 

Unfortunately another of the waves of weakness that had plagued her since her arrival struck her again and she fell down. “Unh…”

 

The boy took advantage of the situation and rammed his knee in her back. He griped her hair and pulled to expose her throat. “Ow!”

 

“Tito!!” She could only look into his mindless eyes as he prepared to slit her throat. “AAAAH!”

 

An arrow, launched with precision, cut slightly the hand of the puppet of the Queen, making him released his dagger.

 

Hunting bow still vibrating after his master shot, Kail ran to the scene. “TITO! What are you doing?!” It was certainly not something he could have imagined to see one day. “What's the meaning of this deviltry?” He managed to reach Tito as the boy picked up his weapon. “STOP IT!”

 

This was the moment for Miyuki. Not even thinking about herself, she only saw an innocent manipulated by evil forces. She reached in her inner light and summoned the Red Flame from her soul.

 

Even with her failing reserves of energy, the invisible crimson aura manifested. Her hands clamped on the sides of the head of the young boy and she unleashed her gift. “BY THE POWER SEALED IN MY BLOOD! BE GONE!”

 

The wave of fiery energy penetrated the possessed boy and forced the tainted water out of him. “Ugh!”

 

Kail could only catch the young girl as she swooned after the effort, her scarlet aura disappearing, and watched the young boy throwing up darkened water. “Tito!”

 

Nakia was furious. “That accursed Kail! He interfered and she managed to cast an exorcism spell!”

 

Uruhi was alarmed. The presence of the enchanted water could incriminate his Queen. “Your highness!”

 

“Don't worry! The dark water will disappear. There'll be no proof that I did it.”

 

The Queen was right. Already her tainted water was evaporating under the eyes of Kail and Kikkuri. “Look there! The Queen's Dark Water!”

 

“Hush Kikkuri. Damn!” `She dares to strike directly in my house!'

 

“Prince Kail?”

 

Kail said nothing as he contemplated the last remains of the Dark Water evaporating in nothingness. `And that fiery aura around Miyuki. First time that I witness something like that.'

 

`So much has happened so fast…' The Miko was clinging to consciousness. `My head is swimming…My energy is depleted again…'

 

“Miyuki?” Kail was worried about the state of the young girl in his arms.

 

`I want to go home…Home!!' She was shaking and clutching to the prince. `I hate this horrible place.' It was too much for the Japanese schoolgirl and she fell into unconsciousness.

 

“MIYUKI!” Damn, her wounds must be more serious than he thought at first!

 

Around the palace, alarms were raised, concerned people swarming.

 

“What's going on??”

 

“What's the matter?”