"Invisible Enemies"

Fushigi Yuugi Chapter Nine part Two

Miaka held the solid wooden bucket low in the stream, letting it fill to the brim. She admired her reflection for a moment, a faint flush gracing her cheeks at the memory of Tamahome’s intense gaze. With a warm smile, she laughed to hersef, "Nanka, hontou-ni, Tamahome no oyomesan ni natta mitai!" Miaka grinned again, and a dragonfly flitted across the water, sending her reflection dancing.  The expanding concentric circles disturbed her beaming face, spreading out and across the gently flowling creek.  The sight of herself sent reeling by their motion made the girl's euphoria vanish.  She leaned back on her heels, her expression falling. "Sou ka…nani tte, atashi. His wife? I can’t even be his girlfriend." Miaka’s hands tighted on the bucket’s handle. She closed her eyes, her words berating the feelings in her heart. "He exists only in a book."

Miaka raised her face, found the scroll that Hotohori had loaned to her, and held it in one hand. She regarded it, remembering what he had told her about the sacred writings. I borrowed Suzaku no Shijintenchisho from Hotohori. He told me it was full of predictions and hints about how to find the Suzaku Shichiseishi.

Well, no time like the present. Besides, she needed something to distract her mind away from the truth about Tamahome. Miaka slowly opened the scroll, kneeling on the grass next to the stream, the fox-man’s do li still dangling down her back.

Without warning, Yui flashed through the girl’s mind. Her friend turned and smiled at Miaka, her face trusting and happy.

"Sou da!" Miaka banished her troubled worries about romance and Tamahome. "I don’t have time to be sentimental. I must hurry and find the remaining four Shichiseishi, and locate Yui-chan!"

Miaka puzzled over the scroll. This version of Shijintenchisho contained no illustrations, only Chinese kanji. She ran her eyes over the characters. She recognized a few of them, but without kana to provide the grammatical details, the symbols she could understand were all unrelated jargon. It did not help that some of the kanji were written in their ancient forms, and had yet to be modernized by passing centuries into the contemporary Japanese counterparts Miaka was forced to memorize more of every year in school.

The girl scanned down the columns of words until her eyes landed on a pair of kanji that she definitely knew. "A monk with a mask?" She read with doubt.  "What could that possib--"

Her train of thought was exepectedly derailed when a large shadow appeared behind her, blocking the light from the scroll. A bit annoyed, Miaka turned to see who had distrupted her studies. She gasped.   A huge, immense brute towered over her; a sharp scythe in his big hands.

"Anata, Suzaku no Miko da, ne?" he asked in a low, almost pleased voice.

*******

Within the Important Documents Reference Room, Keisuke still half-sat on the wall ladder, reading the bound book version of Shijintenchisho with disbelief.

Keisuke jumped in shock, eyes wide. "Assassin?!"

*******

A world away, Tamahome started. He whirled to face the door, crying, "Miaka!"

Next to him, Nuriko stared in surprise as he pounded away. "Tamahome! Chotto, Tamahome!" Nuriko shouted as the other Shichiseishi slammed through the door.

*******

Next to the creek, the assassin swung his scythe down, Miaka falling backwards in haste to get out of its way. The blade impaled the ground between her legs. The girl gaped at it, a single sweatdrop hanging from her head.

The man chuckled and yanked back the blade, recoiling for a second playful attack. He was obviously enjoying this.

Miaka raised a trembling fist to her mouth, eyes wide in amazement. "Na—nan nan no yo?"

He struck again, this time from the side. Miaka scrambled away, barely avoiding the blade a second time. She frantically scrabbled at the ground, desperate for traction on the slipery grass. She finally managed to leap forward, and the scythe impacted the ground again, barely missing her. At last, the girl made it to her feet and fell back against a sturdy tree, the hat pressed between her and the trunk, her fists raised in front of her in an useless gesture of defiance. She stared up at his hulking form. Frozen, she could only watch as he stepped forward, chuckling, his eyes narrowing and evil grin growing wider.

He suddenly straightened and swirled his body around for a backhanded slash, the scythe cutting the air behind him as he prepared for the fatal blow. At the apex of his swing, Tamahome’s fingers closed upon the smooth sides of the blade, halting its motion before the assassin could hurl it forward again.

The brute gasped.

Tamahome whirled about and slammed a knee into his face, knocking him backward. The Shichiseishi crouched in front of Miaka, teeth bared and furious eyes glaring.

"Tamahome!" Miaka cried, hands clasped together.

A second man suddenly leaped out from the bushes, wrapped in a long black cloak and tight clothing that covered everything but his eyes and above. Miaka and Tamahome yanked about at the sound of him ripping free of the branches. The new man suddenly flung his cloak aside and struck out with one hand, impacting the ground where Miaka had stood only a moment before. Blue lighting sizzled around his arm, sending rocks and dirt flying.

Miaka and Tamahome staggered backward from the debris, arms raised to protect their heads. The man stood and ominously stepped towards Miaka. She leaned forward, pleading, "Yamete!"

He suddenly stopped, his eyes widening in shock.

Miaka froze in amazement.

Two large arms had appeared, one reaching forward on either side of her head. They were held straight out next to each other, palms facing the second assassin. In a fluid motion, the hands moved to hover over one another, and with a muted shout, yellow light blasted forth from them, right in front of Miaka’s astonished nose.

The beam knocked the new assassin from his feet.

"Without even touching him!" Tamahome exclaimed.

The assassin twisted about in the air and landed on his feet a distance back, in front of the man with the scythe. Both glared at Miaka for a spilt second before they leaped away with an angry, frustrated noise.

The do li floated out from behind Miaka’s back, the two arms retreating back within its dark interior. It fell upon its side, lifeless upon the ground. Silence, then the sound of metal jingling danced to their ears, and a tall form emerged from the hat's dark interior. He effortlessly rose through the air, holding a staff topped with two heart-shaped metal loops, one atop the other. The lower heart held four smaller, round rings that dangled from it, chiming with each movement.

Miaka’s fox-man had reappeared.

Tamahome leaped to Miaka’s side, wrapped his arms protectively around her, and pulled her a step back. He glared suspiciously at the new man, but Miaka watched him with curious astonishment. "Are you the fox-eyed man from before?" she asked, surprised.

"You’re the one who told her she was being targeted, right?" Tamahome demanded.

The man nodded once, his face still a perfect study of pleasantness.

"Nani mono da?" Tamahome snapped. "Iya, sore, ningen ka?"

The other’s expression became a bit piqued. "Shitsurei na no da," he commented. "I’m a wanderer, no da."

Twice now this strange, magical man had saved Miaka.  If he were an enemy, he would have no doubt left her to die. If not by the arrows the night before, then surely by one of the streamside assassins.  Tamahome and Miaka decided to trust him, at least until given reason that they should not.  The three began the walk back to Tamahome’s village.

The newcomer explained as they proceeded, "I advised her well, so you should have felt the precence of the enemy in the village, no da," he chastized, then made certain his audience knew whom he was addressing. "Tamahome-kun."

Tamahome abrutptly stopped, his expression growing hard. His hand clenched tightly around the handle of the full water bucket.

Not noticing Tamahome’s reaction, Miaka continued walking for a moment, then paused herself and spoke, her voice bright, "Ano…demo….thank you for driving them away."

The man also stopped, and he slowly removed his hat. He turned to watch them from the side of his eyes. "It’s a bit soon to say that, no da. To tell the truth, I have a bit more advice, no da."

Miaka waited expectantly, eyes shining, a smile upon her lips.

"Suzaku no Miko…make your actions responsible ones, no da."

With a soft gasp, she took a half-step backwards, confusion and hurt upon her face. "Responsible?"

He turned to face the village, his back towards the girl. He lifted his staff upwards and thrust the end of it into the ground, sending the four rings upon its large brass circle jingling once more upon the air. "Otherwise….there will be vicitims because of you, no da."

Miaka’s heart pounded in her ears, her blood rushing painfully through her body. With horrid detail, the sight of the dead men Tamahome had been protecting only the day before slashed through her mind.

The sudden sound of a scream pierced into the girl, snapping her out of the bloody memory. She gasped when she realized she knew that voice. She had already heard it twice in the past few days! Nuriko!

"Nii-chaaaan!" the faint voices of children carried upon the breeze.

Tamahome stepped forward, worry and anger creasing his handsome face. "Shimatta! Masaka, ima no yatsu ga?!" He threw himself down the path, dropping the bucket. It bounced once, water spilling out upon the ground.

Miaka took a step after him, one hand at her mouth.

With a sigh, the fox-man placed his do li back upon his head. "See what I mean, no da…" he commented with resignation.

Her eyes slowly quivering, Miaka tried to grasp what had just happened. Victims? Sonna! Atashi no sei de. Atashi no sei de, Tamahome no kazoku ga... She stood there for a moment, watching Tamahome’s quickly retreating back, then clenched her jaw and took off after him.

"Matsu na no da!"

As they tore into the house’s yard, one of the children’s voices reached them again, crying pitifully, "Nii-chan!" Tamahome ripped open the door and furiously surveyed the interior, Miaka pounding up behind. She stopped, gasped, then turned her face away and screamed in horror.

Tamahome’s family and Nuriko were strung through the room by wide streams of white cloth.  They were stretched out with their arms and legs pulled tight, all of them dangling from the roof and walls. Over and over, the children screamed for their onii-chan, eyes screwed shut with terror.

"Miaka! Tamahome! Get out of here!" Nuriko yelled from where he was trussed.

The ninja assassin loomed in front of the captive friend and family, his eyes crinkled with a faint smile.

"K’sooo!" Tamahome bellowed and charged.

The assassin spread his arms, then threw forward the same ribbon-like ropes he had used to string up the others. The ropes snapped around Tamahome’s body, painfully tightening as they strung him up in the air. Tamahome gritted his teeth and struggled for breath, his eyes flaming.

"Tamahome!" Miaka cried from the doorway.

The assssin slowly began to draw his sword from its scabbard. "What do you think of this, Suzaku no Miko?" he growled. "If you want to save them, then you’ll have to be killed by me." He yanked the blade free, then whirled it through the air to brandish it in front of his face. Miaka’s terrified face reflected within its mirror shine.

Full of pain, she watched him.

"Saaaa...come here!"

Miaka met his evil gaze, her eyes trembling. The cries of Tamahome’s family echoed through her ears. Small children...and a sick man. Her expression hardened. She took one step forward, then another.

"Miaka, don’t!" Tamahome shouted.

She resolutely walked towards the assassin, her eyes dark and condemming.

With a musical jingle, the fox-man appeared in front of her, halting her progress. He crouched low, staff confidently held in one hand.

The assassin took a step back.

Miaka stepped to the side, a slow smile creeping onto her face. "Anata wa, Fox-san?"

He raised his free hand in front of his face, thumb hooked through his necklace, and with a meaningless sound, flicked his fingers stiff. The white ribbons constraining Tamahome, his family, and Nuriko abrubtly vansihed. With a resounding thud, they all smacked onto the wooden floor--except Tamahome, who twisted adroitly about in the air and landed on his feet. "Untied!" he shouted with delight.

"Kuso!" the assassin snarled, brandished throwing spikes, and threw them forth.

"Take this, no da!" the fox-man spun his staff about, deflecting the blades away. One of them struck his knee, splitting the cloth and leaving a gaping hole in his leggings. Red light burst forth from his skin, brightly shining...in the pattern of a glowing kanji.

Miaka gaped. "A kanji on his knee! Suzaku no Shichiseishi!"

In a corner of the room, Tamahome’s siblings ran to him and tightly clung to his legs, still crying for him. He gently hugged them close. The assassin realized his situation, and with a muted "Chi!", tried to run.

Nuriko reached forward one hand and snagged his arm with an iron grip. "Wait, you!" He yanked the man backwards and twisted his arm behind him. The assassin screamed with pain. "Saaaaaa, what can you tell us?" Nuriko asked him with forced charm. "First, how many Kutou assassins are in Konan for Miaka? Tell me!" he bellowed.

Tamahome, Miaka, and Suzaku's fourth Shichiseishi watched, silent. Tamahome suddenly started. "Abunai!" he shouted and threw himself over Miaka.  Arrows shot into the room, piercing the assassin’s back. The man writhed for a moment, then fell to the floor.

Nuriko stood frozen, one arrow neatly speared through a wrinkle in his pink sleeve.

Suzaku’s fourth Shichiseishi turned to Tamahome, once more smiling. "Not bad, Tamahome-kun! You felt the presence of the enemy, no da! I must give you credit, no da!"

"Iya, not at all!" Tamahome laughed.

Nuriko loomed over them, fangs bared. He snapped his arrow within one very angry fist. "Anata-tachi! Why didn’t you protect me?!"

A slow laugh interrupted them. They turned to see the assassin lying upon the floor, life slowly seeping from him. "You’ll see," he chuckled with pain. "When we find Seiryuu no Miko….this country will be…"

What? Miaka leaned forward, confused. "Seiryuu no Miko? What do you mean? Ne, answer me!"

Tamahome placed a hand on her shoulder, halting her shouting. She turned to look at him, and he shook his head. It was pointless.  The man was dead.

*******

"Naaan da! You turned out to be a Suzaku Shichiseishi!" Nuriko exclaimed with surprise.

The newcomer laughed. "Ore wa Chichiri to iu no da! I’m not a fox, no da!" he chuckled, one finger cheerfully pointing upwards to mark his point.

Miaka’s delight at his assistance turned to puzzlement when she noticed a fold of skin on his lower left cheek that had been almost sliced away. Bloodless, it dangled from his face like a small bit of serrated apple peel. Not certain how to mention it without being rude, she finally just leaned forward and uncertainly said, "Ano…the skin on your face is coming off. Are you okay?"

Chichiri cocked his head to one side, fingered the loose bit of skin, and laughed. "Daijoubu!" he laughed again, hands spread wide. He reached to hold his face in one hand, grasped, and pulled down. His face popped off, revealing a second—undamaged—layer. "I have a spare, no da!"

Miaka jerked back, sweatdrops appeared, and she promtply fell onto the floor in shock. She laid there for a moment before she recovered, climbed to her feet, and sat next to Nuriko on the table.

Nuriko reached over and patted Miaka on the back with his right hand, a smile on his face. "We found the fourth Shichiseishi, Miaka. We did it!" He gripped her shoulder with pleasure at the completion of their next step.

"Un," Miaka softly replied and studied her knees.

Nuriko leaned close to her and suspiciously eyed Chichiri. "But this guy’s a bit hen," he commented, not really trying to keep his voice low.

Sweatdrops appeared on both Miaka and Chichiri. "Better than being a gay boy, no da." Chichiri rejoindered.

Not denying anything, Nuriko straightened with another grin.

Miaka smiled as well, still studying her knees. Her posture was quiet, but her mind roiled in turmoil. Sore wa ureshi dakedo…

"Nii-chan…"

At the sound of Yurien’s plaintiful cry, the trio looked over to where Tamahome knelt next to his father’s low bed, where Yurien was crying into Tamahome’s chest. His arms around her, Tamahome gently comforted the child. "Daijoubu. Chichiri says he doesh’t feel any indication of the enemy," he reassured her.

Miaka walked a few hesitant paces towards them. "Ano…"

Tamahome, Yurien, and their father tuned to her.

Miaka stood still, feet together, hands clasped in front. Her eyes studied the floor and slowly began to tremble. Her eyelids lowered, and she fought back tears. "Gomen nasai. Atashi no…sei de."

Without a moment’s pause, Tamahome’s father dismissed her appology from where he lay in his bed. "Iya, iya." His eyes closed, and his voice was full of warmth. "It’s very gracious of Suzaku no Miko to visit such a run-down house."

"Demo—" she tried to protest.

"Don’t worry," Tamahome finished. "It wasn’t your fault." The genuine emotion and care she heard in his words gave Miaka the strength to raise her gaze from the floorboards. Tamahome met her eyes, and he smiled that special smile.

*******

Miaka and her three accompanying Shichiseihi sat around the table, Nuriko cradling his chin in both hands.

Tamahome turned to Chichiri. "Kutou has the same Shichiseishi legend?" he asked.

"During my travels, I heard that Kutou knows Konan has found Suzaku no Miko, and is desperately searching for Seiryuu no Miko, no da."

"That means if Miaka can get the power of Suzaku and have her wishes come true…then so could Seiryuu no Miko," Tamahome stated the obvious conclusion.

Chichiri nodded once.

Nuriko pensively studied the grain of the wooden table. "That’s true, when you think about it."

Miaka started.

"Ano Sunakebabaa—I mean, Taiitsu-kun—gave Shijintenchisho to all four countries."

Nuriko cocked one eyebrow at the immobile girl, wondering at her unfocused eyes and dazed expression. He leaned to her. "Hora, Miaka, doushita no? What’s with the face?"

Miaka snapped awake. She jerked herself upright with a bright, forced smile. "Nan demo nai!" she haltingly laughed and jumped out of her chair. "I’ve got something to do. I’m going out for a bit," she quickly informed them. She whirled about on one foot, snatched up her pack, and shot out the door.

"Miaka!" Tamahome called after her, the three Shichiseishi amazed at her unexpected departure.

*******

Miaka strode down the path, and this time it was Chichiri’s words that echoed through her. "There will be vicitims because of you, no da."

Eyes narrowed, she walked determindedly forward, her jaw clenched in resulotion. "I have to go to Kutou!" She inwardly saw the tangled bodies of the men from the prior night, murdered in her place just afer Chichiri had yanked her away to safety.  At the memory of Tamahome's stricken and completely innocent family, her heart hardened into a pure ball of strength. She began to run.

"I must find Yui-chan! I don’t want anyone to be in danger because of me!" She closed her eyes, sending tears trailing along behind her. I don’t want anyone else dying because of me. So then, I have to go alone!

*******

Within the library, Keisuke read the next sentence from Shijintenchisho with disbelief.

"Suzaku no Miko planned to go to Kutou Country knowing that she would not have the protection of Suzaku’s Shichiseishi."

The drawing on the opposing page showed Suaku no Miko running forth down the road.   Once more, she was completely alone.

** end Chapter Nine **

This summary is based on the translation by Karen Duffy and Yamazaki Masatomo. Used with permission. Adaptation by Sailor Two Moons 3-2-03. Chapter Nine part two last tweaked on 12-12-04