"Tamahome!"
she gaped at him in surprise, then twisted about on her bed and stared down at the rumpled
sheets, embarrassed at her behavior. "What the hell are you doing in my room?"
The Seven Shichiseishi of Suzaku
Yuuki Miaka-sama was an ordinary ninth grader. She was lured by an ancient Chinese book, The Four Gods' Sky and Earth, and was sucked into its pages. Accidentally, she visited the capitol of Konan, a country in an unknown world. Miaka-sama's classmate, Yui-sama, became fascinated by The Four Gods' Sky and Earth.
Tamahome, a strange man with a Chinese character on his forehead, found Miaka-sama. The Emperor, Hotohori, ordered his soldiers to arrest them. "This is the girl who shall obtain the power of Suzaku. She is our country's protector, SUZAKU NO MIKO!" Hotohori declared to his subjects. "Thank you very much, Suzaku no Miko-sama!" the bowing masses responded with absolute trust. Thus, Miaka-sama was declared the legendary Suzaku no Miko, savior of Konan.
Yui held The Four Gods' Sky and Earth in her arms, eyes intent on the pages. Her back against the book-filled shelves of the forbidden Important Documents Reference Room, she continued to read.
"The girl became Suzaku no Miko. "At the Emperor's palace, she fell asleep and dreamed."
*******
"Miaka!"
Miaka stirred in her bed, unable to block out the insistent voice shouting her name. Over and over it was cried until she tiredly opened her eyes. Before her, standing over her bed inside Hotohori's palace, was a man incongruously clad in jeans and a jacket.
"Onii-chan?"
"Miaka."
"Onii-chan!" Miaka gasped. She reached out and grasped her brother's hand in her own. "I want to go back!" the girl pleaded. "Onii-chan! Hurry, please! Take me back to my world!"
He stared impassively into her begging eyes and said nothing.
"Onii-chan! Onii-chan!" Miaka's voice trembled at her brother's frightening silence.
His lips finally moved. "I am not your brother."
Miaka's heart froze. Everything around her faded into black.
"I am not your brother."
Miaka blinked, then started when she realized the hand she clutched so desperately in her own belonged to Tamahome. She dropped it as if it were poisoned and clutched her hands to her breast.
"Tamahome!"
she gaped at him in surprise, then twisted about on her bed and stared down at the rumpled
sheets, embarrassed at her behavior. "What the hell are you doing in my room?"
"Don't say it like that." He defensively responded with a dirty look. "I came in here because you're depressed. The Emperor's worried about you."
"The Emperor?" she asked, surprised. Hotohori-sama is worried about....me?
*******
Tan eyes silently stared back into their mirrored reflection. In his red and gold imperial robes, Hotohori turned his head slightly to the side, then back the other direction. His eyes never left his face. After a long pause, he sighed in resignation and finally closed them.
"I am so beautiful it is frightening."
Behind him, his royal advisors bounced off the walls in exasperated disbelief.
*******
The knowledge that Hotohori was thinking of her made the girl inwardly blush. She eyed Tamahome for a moment, then nerved herself to softly ask, "And were you worried about me?"
"Yes."
"I'm happy."
Tamahome spoke with a smile. "You're news all over the country."
"News?" Miaka turned to Tamahome where he had settled, perched next to her on the edge of her bed.
"Because Suzaku no Miko has appeared...." He looked out across the room, a satisfied grin spreading across his face. "...I can live in this incredible palace."
Miaka scowled at the
unwelcome return of his customary selfish nature. Obtuse idiot. She twisted away.
The last thing she wanted to listen to was him crowing about his new home. "Don't
bother yourself with me. I'm not lonely."
At her words, he silently watched her over his shoulder. The sight of Miaka's hurt and frustrated body language made him realize his error.
She curtly said, "If I were going to be worried and depressed about anything, it would be about where I'm going to get fresh underwear." Her next words were cut off with a gasp when Tamahome pulled her into his arms. He held her against his chest, his face buried in her streaming, fragrant hair.
"Don't be unreasonable," he softly admonished. "When you feel the need, cry."
Wide-eyed, all Miaka could manage to say was a faint, "Hai."
"As an exception, I'll be your brother, free of charge."
Amazed and gratified by his unexpected--and most generous--offer, Miaka felt herself relax in his arms. Her left hand gently grasped a loose fold in his clothing and pulled him closer. At the sound of his strong, steady heartbeat beneath her ear, her eyes closed. So warm...
After a precious moment, Tamahome spoke. "I've been thinking."
Miaka pulled away to find him as wide-eyed as she was. "Huh?"
"The power of Suzaku might help you get back to your world. It can make your wishes come true."
Miaka stared up at Tamahome for a moment, then suddenly grinned. "You're right!"
She leaped out of her bed, yanked on her school uniform, shoved her feet into shoes and socks, and careened out into the maze of hallways, tying up her hair in buns as she ran.
"Hotohori-san!!!!"
Behind her, Tamahome's voice fell on deaf ears. "Miaka!"
"Hotohori-saaaaaan!!"
*******
His hair once again free of the red and gold cap, the Emperor of Konan turned when he heard the pounding of quickly approaching footsteps.
Miaka dove into his room, lost her footing, and fell face-first onto the floor in front of Hotohori.
"Miaka," he said in surprise.
She raised her head, slightly bedraggled. "Hotohori-san....um, no...Emperor."
He smiled warmly down at her. "You look cheerful! I have been administrating. That is why I have been unable to take care of you. I am sorry."
Tamahome gave Miaka a hand in climbing to her feet. The eternally cheerful girl bowed. "That's okay, I'm sorry, too."
"What is going on?" Hotohori asked her.
"Frankly speaking, I want to ask you how I can get the power of Suzaku." Miaka held her hands behind her back and grinned confidently at the Emperor.
"About that..." Hotohori lifted a long, red scroll, cradled in his protective grasp. "It is written here."
"Eh?"
"Do you know this book?"
A vision of Yui, reading the book in the dim room of the library, flashed through Miaka's mind. "I don't know the contents. I've only seen it."
"The Four Gods' Sky and Earth," Hotohori stated with great respect.
The girl smiled, eyes closed. "Yes, that's the one!"
"What is it?" Tamahome asked.
"Taiso-sama."
Miaka cracked open one eye to curiously regard Hotohori. "Taiso-sama?"
"The first Emperor of Konan," he answered. "He was given this book by Taiitsu-kun, who manages this world."
"Manages it?"
"In truth, the four gods are twenty-eight constellations, divided into East, West, South, and North. Each has seven Shichiseishi. Ours, Suzaku, is in the Southern sky. It is the name of that quadrant of the sky."
Tamahome and Miaka listened, entranced, by the Emperor's explanation.
"Its seven shichiseishi are Chichiri, Tamahome, Nuriko, Hotohori, Chiriko, Tasuki, and Mitsukake. They are Suzaku's seven Shichiseishi."
The man reached up with one hand to the collar of his white shirt. He moved the material aside, revealing the left side of his strong neck. Before their astonished eyes, a gleaming character appeared, shining forth in a blazing sea of red light.
"I am Hotohori, the Sea Snake." The Emperor's voice was calm and self-assured.
As if called, Tamahome's own red Shichiseishi character shone on his skin. He stared, wide-eyed, at Hotohori, unmoving.
"Tamahome is the Crab. He is Suzaku no Miko's guardian."
Miaka looked back and forth between the two Shichiseishi of Suzaku. The men stood, facing each other.
Hotohori held out the scroll to the overwhelmed girl. "The Four Gods' Sky and Earth is about a girl who obtains the seven Shichiseishi of Suzaku. It reveals that everything she wishes comes true."
Her breath frozen in shock, Miaka tried to comprehend what she was hearing.
Tamahome finally found his voice. "That means, if you find five more men with characters on their bodies..."
Miaka finished his sentence. "Then everything will become true?"
"But you have to find the five men first," Hotohori qualified. "Without all seven Shichiseishi together, the power of Suzaku will be unable to appear."
Miaka looked over her shoulder. "Tamahome, did you know?"
"What?"
"That your name is one of the seven Shichiseishi?"
"Yes."
She moved her gaze to the other man. "Hotohori--I mean, Emperor--did you?"
"Of course I knew."
The girl slowly lowered her head, a chill racing through her thoughts. Oh, of course. That's why they were nice to me.
"Why are you disappointed?" Tamahome asked, reading her dejected expression.
Miaka started, sweat drops prominent. "Oh, nothing!" she brightly answered. She solidly planted her feet, dismissed the depressing thought from her mind, and grinned. "Yoshi! Only five more to go!"
******
"Assemble, men who are academically and physically competent!" Hotohori's powerful voice boomed out over the courtyard. Ranks of soldiers in armor, faces grim and serious, waited for the judgement of their Emperor.
One of Hotohori's advisors spoke. "Emperor! Suzaku no Miko! By your orders, we have assembled the best men."
Miaka cheerfully stood between her two Shichiseishi, Tamahome slouched on the steps of the dais before the Imperial palace, and Hotohori gracefully sitting in his chair. She lifted her right arm high in the air. Might as well try it the easy way! "Raise your hand if you have a character on your body!" Miaka gaily called out to the masses.
Silence was the only answer.
"Huh?" Miaka asked, uncertain why there had been no eager choruses of "Hai!"
His chin resting on one hand, Tamahome informed the girl in his normal, self-assured tone, "The character won't appear by just wanting it to. One might not even know it's there. So--"He jumped off the step with a grin and cracked his knuckles. "I'll test them for ya." His smirk growing wider, he walked towards the soldiers. "I hope the other five are beautiful girls!"
Miaka watched him, most annoyed. "I hope the rest are handsome guys."
"Are you ready?!" Tamahome shouted at the soldiers, then instantly leaped. Fists and feet flying, he laid into the ranks of men. In mere seconds, they were all soundly defeated. He struck a dramatic pose.
Hotohori raised one eyebrow. "Tamahome...why do you show off your strength?"
With one hand patting her coiffure, Miaka dismissed Tamahome with a hmph.
"Finding Suzaku's Shichiseishi is my territory!" She declared.
Tamahome turned and looked at her, doubt written all over his face. "And how are you going to do that?"
Miaka grinned evilly. "Really strong men, no matter what happens, would never hurt a girl." She shed her uniform's jacket. "It's just like how a strong dog doesn't need to bark and threaten. You'll see what I mean."
*******
Hidden behind a fat column of the palace, two meticulously dressed women watched the affair before them.
"Kori-sama, let's go back," the servant girl pleaded in a desperate whisper. "If someone finds you here, you'll be scolded."
"That's the Suzaku no Miko everyone has been talking about?" the other woman doubtfully asked her maid.
"Hai."
"Even though she is not a princess, she is close to the Emperor." The woman's gaze fixated on Tamahome, who was watching Miaka intently. "Who is the man next to her?"
"He's the man who protects Miko-sama," the maid whispered. "One of the seven Shichiseishi, Tamahome-sama."
"Tama...home..." Kori slowly echoed.
*******
Miaka stood, legs spread and arms crossed, in front of the soldiers. "Feel free to attack me," she boldly stated.
The men stared at her uncertainly.
"What's stoppin' ya?"
One of the guards hesitantly spoke. "Suzaku no Miko-sama, we can't be so disrespectful."
"That's what you say, but..." Miaka scrunched up her face in derision of the ranks of men before her. "You're just cowardly because I'm from another world! You consider yourselves stronger than you really are!"
The soldiers began to murmur.
"Hey hey, you chickens! Those beards and armor are deceptive!" Miaka continued making faces at the men, who were growing more and more upset with each word she spoke. "Stupid! Baka! Fools!"
The men were trembling with the effort of holding back their anger.
"If you're frustrated, attack, you won-ton guys!!"
Fists clenched, one guard snarled, "What's that supposed to mean...'won-ton' guys?!"
Faced with rows upon rows in incensed male faces, Miaka suddenly realized her predicament. "What? All of them became angry?!" Her blood ran cold.
The soldiers charged, brandishing weapons and bared teeth. Miaka spun about and ran, shouting out at the top of her lungs, "None of them are Shichiseishi!!"
Tamahome watched her with disbelief. "Anyone would get angry if insulted that much."
Miaka dove for cover beneath an Azumaya structure, enraged soldiers close behind. With a growl of feral anger, one guard heaved a heavy wooden mallet after the insolent, insulting little kono ama. The weapon smashed into a column of the structure. The stone ominously cracked.
Tamahome thundered after them. "You bastards! Don't be so serious against a girl!" He snarled in fury and knocked the guards away with one fist.
The column cracked even more, then suddenly gave.
"Miaka! Get out of there!" Hotohori shouted, jumping out of his chair.
Tamahome ran for the girl.
Frozen in place, she screamed as the heavy ceiling crashed down towards her.
"MIAKA!!" the Emperor's bellow was drowned out by the sound of the roof's smashing impact.
*******
"Suzaku no Miko was buried beneath the collapsed structure."
Heart pounding in fear for her friend, Yui had to stop reading. She swallowed, then suddenly jerked. My uniform is wet! She moved The Four Gods' Sky and Earth aside to stare down at her skirt. Where the cloth draped over her thigh, it was damp with the dark stain of red blood.
She gasped in horror. "W-what?"
*******
Itai, Miaka inwardly groaned. My leg's injured. But....at least I'm still alive. Miaka's eyes focused, and she stared above herself, dumbfounded. Above her, straining against the incredible weight, Tamahome held the stone away from her with the strength of his body alone.
*******
"M--masaka!" Yui cried with disbelief. She read the passage again. "Suzaku no Miko's clothes were colorfully dyed by the blood of her injured leg." Staring up into space, the realization hit her. "Whatever happens to Suzaku no Miko, I experience it too!"
*******
Hotohori's voice rang out through the blackness. "Hurry! Remove the debris!" He struggled against his retainers, angered by their fear for his safety.
"The soldiers were all knocked out by the crash!" one advisor yelled. "There's nothing we can do!"
"Then I'll take care of it myself!" Hotohori shouted.
"Emperor!"
Underneath the mass, Miaka worriedly cried up to Tamahome, "You can't keep this up! Stop!"
Eyes closed from the strain, Tamahome's character blazed upon his forehead. He slowly opened his eyes. "Baka. I said I'd protect you. So, no matter what the cost, I'll do just that."
Trembling, Miaka was speechless.
This summary is based on the translation by Karen Duffy and Yamazaki Masatomo. Used with permission. Adaptation by Sailor Two Moons on 12-10-98. FY Chapter Three part I last tweaked on 11-15-01, when I tweaked links to bypass the problematic code.