Fushigi Yuugi
Mysterious Play
The EmperorI found the guy with the ogre symbol on his forehead but I still couldn’t find Yui and worse the guy is not willing to help me find her. He already saved me twice and my instinct tells me he’s a good guy but he’s not willing to help me find Yui and I don’t know what to do anymore.
The guy started leaving but I couldn’t just let him so I followed him everywhere he went until he got annoyed. “Why can’t you just leave me alone?” he said.
“I won’t leave until you help me find Yui.”
“I have more important things to do and I don’t have time for those things.”
Suddenly an idea came to my mind. I faked a tear and started shouting, “Help! Everyone! This person is a slave trader!” That caught everyone’s attention.
He panicked. “Fine! Cut it out. I like your guts so I’ll help you find your friend.”
“Really??”
With a lot of effort he finally said “Yeah.”
“I’m Miaka Yuuki,” I said with a smile.
“I’m Tamahome.” He has a weird name but oh well, I’m in a weird place after all.
At that moment there was a sudden commotion and I wondered what caused it. What I saw amazed me. There was a long line of carriage and soldiers. It was a beautiful sight. “What’s going on?” I asked Tamahome.
“It’s the emperor,” he said. “If only I could have even just a piece of ornament in his crown…”
The emperor? I wonder what kind of person he is. “Then if I could get one piece of ornament from his crown, will you promise me you’ll do everything to help me find Yui?”
Absentmindedly he said, “Sure.”
I made my move and before I left I told him, “Don’t forget you promised!”
“W-what??” I heard him call behind me.
I approached the carriage but it was closed and I couldn’t see the face of the emperor but it didn’t stop me from doing what I want. “You’re highness,” I said. “My name is Miaka Yuuki and I wonder if I could have a piece of ornament from your crown?”
“Despicable!” someone shouted. It happened so fast and the next thing I know the guards were all over me and pointing their spears at me. “Do you want me to cut your head off?” one of them said.
“W-why do you want to cut me off again?” With spears pointed at me and Yui gone I thought my day wouldn’t get any worse but I was wrong. The next thing I knew Tamahome was fighting the royal guards and I…
I feel like floating and then suddenly I saw Yui back in the library reading the Universe of the Four Gods. She went back home safely. Thank goodness. I tried to talk to her but I realized I couldn’t. I was like a spirit floating in midair and the next moment I was back in Tamahome’s arms with spears still pointed at us.
Tamahome and I were thrown in the palace’s dungeons and I feel really bad for causing trouble to Tamahome. All he ever did was to help me and in return I made him become a prisoner.
“What was that strange red light just a moment ago?” Tamahome asked me.
So it happened again? That red light was the reason I’m in this kind of place. “I saw Yui,” I told Tamahome. “She’s back at home.”
“Then that’s good news.” Tamahome said trying to cheer me up. I realized he was right. At least Yui went back home safely. Then all I have to do is to make sure Tamahome and I can get out of here safely then I can go back home too.
I realized I was starving and then I remembered I had gums in my pocket. I gave some to Tamahome. The guards saw me eating and asked, “What did you just put in your mouth lady?” For godsake, don’t they even have gums in this kind of place? When I looked at Tamahome he was also amazed. An idea suddenly came to me. I blew hard and the gum popped. The guard was so surprised that he dropped the key. Tamahome was able to get hold of the key and we were able to get out.
The guards went after us so we hid inside a shrine and there I saw the bird in my vision. It’s exactly the image of the red bird I saw in the library. “W-what’s that?” I asked Tamahome. “That’s Suzaku.” When he noticed my confused expression he explained, “Suzaku is one of the four gods that protects our word. He appears with the image of a phoenix.”
A phoenix… It’s so beautiful. I was still thinking about it when I absent-mindedly wandered around the palace. When I looked back I realized I was lost and I couldn’t see Tamahome anywhere. That’s when I began to panic. I have to go back to the shrine but I don’t know how. The palace is so big after all.
I heard a laughing voice behind me and when I turn around I saw the most beautiful human being I’ve ever seen. I panicked. If this stranger called the guards then I’ll be back in the dungeons.
“Don’t worry, I’m on your side,” the stranger said. “What’s your name?”
“Miaka Yuuki.”
“You wear strange clothes. Where did you come from?”
I don’t know what to say. I’m not even sure if they’ve heard a place called Japan what more of Tokyo? “I came from someplace faraway.” I managed to say.
“If you’re looking for the exit, it’s that way.” I looked at the direction the stranger was pointing but before I could move I heard the guards approaching and I realized they caught Tamahome.
“Miaka, run!” he said. But I can’t just leave him. One of the guards caught my arm and for some reason, Tamahome got really pissed. Then I saw it again, the red symbol on his forehead which lights up everytime he fights.
“Halt!” The stranger who pointed the way out said. “I command you to stop.” And then suddenly the guards bowed down in front of the stranger. “Your highness,” every one said in unison. I noticed Tamahome was also surprised for a minute but he eventually bowed down and even forced me to do the same. I hesitated. Tamahome whispered, “He’s the emperor…”
The emperor?! But he’s so beautiful that I almost thought he’s a woman!
To be continued…
