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Part 3
Tasuki beat his fists on the gates, howling in fury. "Lelahn! Kuso! Let me in, kisama!!" Tamahome grabbed his wrists and pulled him bodily away from the gates. "Stop it, Tasuki! This isn't helping!" Tasuki forced himself to try to calm down. His amber eyes were narrowed dangerously as he regarded the thick bars of the metal gates. "We have to get in there. We have to rescue her." Then he looked down at his bloodied fists ruefully. "We just have to," he said softly. The blue-haired boy shrugged. "All right, we wait until dark, and go over the wall. Any idea where they keep the prisons in that place?" "What the fuck are you implyin'!?" Tasuki yelled, affronted. "Nothin', just asking." Tasuki glared at him for a moment, then a thought hit him. "Wait a minute. *That's* your plan?! Just leap over the wall and fight the guards?" Tamahome shrugged again. "Do you have a better plan? At night there'll be fewer guards and a lower chance of being discovered. And I don't know about you, but I don't care *how* many guards there are, I'll take them on!" "Hmph!" Tasuki snorted. "I can take on just as many as you, if not more, buddy. So just bring it the fuck on!" The two boys continued their verbal sparring as they walked away from the gates. Just on the other side of the wall, a shape detached itself from the lengthening evening shadows cast by the wall, forming itself into that of a beautiful woman, and headed deeper into the palace. :So, these boys wish to rescue the girl tonight,: the woman thought. :I'll have to make sure the Emperor is ready to receive them.:
Lelahn fought against her guards, biting and scratching like a wild animal. Suddenly, she stomped hard on the foot of one, while simultaneously biting the hand of the other, and found she was free. She broke for it, sprinting away into the nearby maze of small buildings. A few minutes later, not hearing sounds of pursuit, she stopped to catch her breath. Miraculously, she seemed to have escaped. :Hmm, I guess what I've heard about fear making you capable of amazing things was true,: she thought. The sun was rapidly sinking in the sky, painting the whole grounds with a red glow. :I've got to get out of here.: She spent the next hour sneaking in and out of the shadows of buildings, but by the time the darkness was almost total, had to admit she hadn't made much progress. She was hopelessly lost, hungry, and holding off panic by sheer force of will. Suddenly, she heard a rustling sound, and the sound of someone daintily clearing their throat. Lelahn jumped and turned to regard a woman sitting nearby on a low wall. She was wrapped in a large, concealing, white robe of some kind that seemed to be held on only by a prayer. Her brown hair was tied loosely in the middle of her back, and the ponytail was thrown in front of her shoulder, allowing her hair to frame her face on one side, but not the other. She was as beautiful as Lelahn herself, perhaps more so, if one counted Lelahn's starved and bruised appearance. This woman didn't seem to have lifted a finger in her life. "Do you need help? You seem lost," asked the woman kindly. She had a mellow, alto voice, perhaps even a tenor. Lelahn found herself approaching the woman, a nervous smile crossing her lips. "Uh, yes, actually, I *am* lost. Can you please direct me to the nearest exit?" The woman got up from her seat, smiling, her eyes alight with interest. "Surely you aren't looking for the exit at this time of day?" "Yes, please. That *is* what I'm looking for," Lelahn said, trying to be firm, but failing. Something about this woman was making her incredibly hot and nervous. The woman clapped her hands once, her smile widening. "Oh! Of course! You must be the one the Emperor had arrested today. You escaped from the guards!" Lelahn's heart leapt into her throat. "I-I don't know what you mean. Well, I really must be going now," she said, starting to turn away. "Oh, don't go! Don't worry, I'm on your side," the woman said conspiratorially. Lelahn turned back. "Then, you'll help me?" "Of course!" "Yokatta!" Lelahn breathed a sigh of relief. "I really need to find my friend. I'm sure he's going crazy knowing I'm in here." The woman nodded sympathetically. "I understand." She bowed graciously. "My name is Hotohori, and yours?" "Lelahn." The woman took her hand gently and began leading her along. "And what brings you here, Lelahn? For what reason did Heikka order you to be arrested?" Lelahn clenched her free fist in frustration. "I-I don't know why the Emperor wanted to arrest me." She stopped walking and Hotohori turned to look at her. Lelahn looked up at her with supplication in her eyes. "Please, Hotohori, you sound as if you're close to the Emperor. I'm sure his word is law in this world. If he w-wants me, what should I do?" She looked confused. "Wants you?" Lelahn looked down at the ground, feeling a single tear squeeze out of her eye and drip off her cheek. "For his own - pleasure. It's happened to me before, many times." "Oh no!" Hotohori exclaimed in horror. She grasped Lelahn's chin gently in one hand and tilted her head so she was looking into her soft, golden eyes. "I tell you this from the bottom of my heart, Lelahn. Heikka would *never* do what you fear, to you, or to anyone." "H-Honto?" "I am as sure of it as if it were myself." Lelahn squeezed Hotohori's hand like a lifeline. She wanted to throw herself into her arms, but wasn't sure how the reserved princess would take it, so she restrained herself. "Yokatta." She wiped her eyes and the pair resumed walking. "Well then, I don't know why the Emperor would want to arrest me. All I know is Tasuki and I tried to get in today to see him, but the guards turned us away." "Why did you want to see him?" :She won't believe me, but there's no harm in telling her,: Lelahn thought. "Well, Tasuki's a Suzaku Seishi, and since I'm from another world, he thinks I'm the Suzaku no Miko." Hotohori stopped in her tracks, then a look of joy and interest spread over her face. "You're from another world?" "Y-Yes." She turned to Lelahn again, smiling broadly. "Oh! That's so interesting! I've never met anyone from another world before!" "You believe me?" "Isn't it true?" "Well, yes, but-" "Then why shouldn't I believe you?" "Does this sort of thing happen a lot in your world? Girls just showing up from other worlds, I mean." "Well, no, not at all," said Hotohori. "Then why should you believe me? I could be crazy or something." "Well, that's sort of complicated…" Hotohori trailed off at the sound of a scuffle just around the corner. She laid a hand on Lelahn's shoulder. "Let's see what it is. Be careful to stay hidden." They crept up to the corner and cautiously peeked around. Lelahn was aware that Hotohori's flat stomach was pressed against her back, but paid it no special heed. She looked around the corner and nearly cried out when she caught sight of Tasuki, surrounded by guards. One grabbed him by the chin and yelled into his face. "What are you doing here? Where is the girl?!" Lelahn recognized him as one of the guards who had turned them away from the gate earlier that day. Tasuki spit on the guard's shoes. "Ahou! If I knew where she was, would I be hanging around with you assholes?" "Ahou!" The guard yelled. He drew back a fist and prepared to bury it in Tasuki's face. Lelahn made a split-second decision that had no relationship to logic. She jumped out of hiding and yelled. "Yamete!" The guard stopped in mid swing and looked around at her, his eyes boggling. "If you want me," Lelahn continued. "I'm right here. Just don't hurt him!" Tasuki yelled at her. "Lelahn, you baka! Run!" The guard pointed at two of the others. "Get her!" Suddenly another figure materialized out of the shadows, headed for the cluster of guards. The two who had headed after Lelahn were cut down before they'd taken two steps. Simultaneously, Tasuki broke out of the restraining grip of the two holding him by bashing their heads together. Four guards crumpled in less than a second. Then an authoritative voice rang out. "Yamero! Stop fighting, all of you!" Everyone looked around in shock to see the source of the voice. Hotohori stood just behind Lelahn, her golden eyes flashing. The guards reacted to her appearance in a most curious manner; their eyes bugged out, and they prostrated themselves on the ground. Tasuki and the blue-haired man looked around at the guards in confusion. Tasuki pointed at Hotohori. "Who the hell is that?" One of the guards - the one who had almost punched the flame-haired bandit in the face - said in a strained voice, "Kotei Heikka!" The Seishi choked and threw themselves down on the ground. Lelahn just stared at Hotohori helplessly. "W-Wait a minute, Tasuki, isn't the Emperor a man?" "Of course he's a man, Lelahn! For Suzaku's sake, ya gotta bow!" he yelled. Lelahn stared at Hotohori. "No, it's not true…" she said in a small voice. Hotohori looked at her kindly. When he spoke, his voice was a deep baritone and sounded far more natural - and masculine - than before. "I'm sorry, Lelahn, it is. I did not want to deceive you, but I needed to get to know you, to see if you truly are the Suzaku no Miko." "You're a man, and you *lied* to me?!" Lelahn's voice was high and almost hysterical. "You touched me, and you had me arrested, just so you could *talk* to me?! You *BASTARD*!!" She raised an open palm. The guards shouted and surged forward, but Tasuki knew her well enough by now to anticipate her actions and made it there first. He grabbed the hand that was only inches from slapping the Emperor of Konan and spun her around, wrapping her in his arms. She immediately broke down and started sobbing into his shirt. Hotohori looked and sounded stunned. "Lelahn… I truly didn't intend to hurt you…" he said softly. Tasuki glared at him heatedly, then went back to stroking Lelahn's long hair and trying to calm her down. "She'll be all right in a few minutes, Heikka," he said softly. "She's just scared, that's all." "Well, there's no need for her to be scared. Guards, escort them to rooms. They are our honoured guests." Hotohori waited only long enough to hear their affirmations that they would obey the order, then he turned on his heel and left. An hour later, once Lelahn had calmed down and managed to use the facilities in the *huge* room to erase the effects of crying, Hotohori received them in court. Both Tasuki and Tamahome - she had finally learned the blue-haired boy's name - had refused to leave her side for a moment in the mean time. When they arrived in the giant chamber, Hotohori had changed his clothes. He was now wearing red robes and his hair was bound on top of his head in a sort of wooden box. He looked incredibly regal, and undeniably male. "Lelahn," he said kindly. "I must offer my sincerest apology for frightening you. I would never have attempted to deceive you if my country were not in such terrible danger. Will you please forgive me?" Lelahn sighed. She was aware that she had overreacted, but the fact that he had deceived her still rankled. Still, she couldn't stand to be petty. "Yes, Heikka, I forgive you," she said. He bowed from his seated position. "Arigatou gozaimasu," he said gravely. "Now, Lelahn, from what you told me, I imagine that you are aware of the legend of Suzaku no Miko." "Yes, Tasuki told me." Hotohori's eyes lighted with interest. "Your companions, are both Suzaku Seishi?" "Yes, Heikka." She introduced them, not knowing what else to do. "This is Tasuki, and Tamahome, both Suzaku Shichiseishi." With great gravity and delicacy, Hotohori undid the top button of his robe and pulled down the high neckline. A symbol flashed in red on his neck, bathing them all briefly in the light. "I am Hotohori, another of the Suzaku Shichiseishi." All three gasped in surprise and wonder. Hotohori refastened the button, then rose from his seat. "Lelahn, I beg you, please save our country. Gather the seven Seishi and call Suzaku, as the Suzaku no Miko!" Lelahn glanced briefly at Tasuki and Tamahome. Tasuki looked grim, but Tamahome offered her a smile. She looked back up at Hotohori. "How could I not? Of course I will do whatever I can to help." Hotohori flung his arms out to encompass the room. The numerous sleepy-looking guards and advisors stood at attention as soon as he did so. "Minna, pay obeisance, please! This is the girl who will save our country!" he announced, his voice ringing out through the chamber. Lelahn looked around and saw that everyone was bowing down, prostrating themselves before her on the floor. :What have I gotten myself into?: she thought in excitement and despair. | |
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