“Yui-chan!,” Miaka exclaimed running towards her friend. Yui looked up from her book and took a bite of her apple. After swallowing, she smiled and said,” Miaka, Taka, how are you doing?” Miaka put on a serious face,” Yui-chan, I’ve seen that look before, what’s wrong?” Yui raised an eyebrow. I thought she wouldn’t pick up on that. “Nothing Miaka, I’m fine. Why do you ask?,” she replied back setting her book down. Miaka frowned,” Yui-chan! I know you’ve been down lately, please, I’m your friend, what ever it is, you can tell me.” Yui grit her teeth, and forced a smile to come up to her face. “Miaka, nothing’s wrong,” she commented while standing up with her book and apple,” I’m only stressed out about one of my upcoming tests, that’s all. See you around Miaka, Taka.” She began to walk away. Miaka took a step after her. “But Yui…,” she said,” I’m only trying to help.” As Yui walked away, she frowned slightly. “Miaka, gomen ne.,” she muttered and stopped. The setting changed and Yui gasped dropping her book and apple. Towering before her was Seriyu. He glanced at her, and flew towards her. Yui screamed and dropped down to her knees and covered her head, quivering. No, not again! Please! I don’t want to go there! Seriyu flew over Yui’s head and went off in the direction of the National Library. And finally, the scenery turned back to normal and Yui found Miaka grabbing her in a hug and Taka standing beside her. “Yui-chan! Calm down!,” she yelped,” What happened!? Yui-chan! Please don’t hide it any more!” Yui shuck, fear grasping her body. It had been this way; every time she had seen him summoning her, trying to beckon her towards the library. “Yui, please,” Taka said,” We’re only trying to help. What did you see?” Yui gulped. How? How could I tell them Seriyu’s been calling me? “No,” Yui finally said. Miaka was taken a back by this, almost sure her friend would explain. Yui had recovered her calmness and stood up, almost pushing Miaka away. “I said I was fine Miaka, I only felt faint earlier.,” she lied gathering her items. Taka grabbed her hand,” Then why did you scream frightened like that?” Yui glared at him and pulled her arm,” Let go!” Taka let go and Yui started to storm off flustered. Miaka stood up and started to walk after her.
Yui turned the street corner and made her way into the park. She was positive Miaka hadn’t came after her. Gods, why do you keep appearing! Leave me alone Seriyu! She flopped down on a park bench and slouched, rubbing her temples. “I thought I escaped that damned book.,” she muttered. She knew Seriyu was beckoning her; she’d been trying to avoid the library at all costs. Avoid the book, she told herself. But he had been coming more frequently now, and it was getting harder to try and resist temptation to follow the blue dragon. A bush rustled near a tree and Yui glanced over there, and quickly concluded it was only the wind. Miaka held her breath until Yui turned her head back to staring at the ground. “Come on Yui-chan,” she muttered,” I wanna help” And if spying was the only way to do it, then she would, despite her guilty feelings about it. The scenery once changed again for Yui, once again unexpectedly. Miaka watched Yui with questioning eyes as she watched her friend suddenly get worried. She watched as Yui bolted up from her seat and shout at the air. “Damn you Seriyu!,” she shouted. Seriyu? Why is Yui shouting that? “You will never ever get me to go into that book!,” she continued,” There was nothing there for me but fear, and anguish, and loneliness, and hatred! I won’t go through that hell again!” Yui…? Why are you saying this? “I’ll never go back! Never go back!,” she finally shouted falling to her knees and crying. Miaka jumped from her spot behind the bush and ran to Yui. “Yui-chan! Why are you thinking about the book? What’s wrong? Please, Yui, please tell me!,” Miaka pleaded hugging Yui again. Yui still wasn’t aware of Miaka yet, she just kept crying over and over, ranting about never returning to the book. Miaka frowned unsure of what to do.
“Did you find out what was wrong with her?,” Taka said walking into the guest room of their house. Miaka looked up from the bedside. Yui had cried herself into a sleep and when she was knocked out, Keisuke had helped bring her here. “No, it was so weird Taka, she kept yelling at Seriyu-“ “Seriyu? Did Yui see Seriyu?,” Taka said. Miaka frowned,” Maybe. Suzaku had led me to the book, Seriyu might be doing the same with Yui, ne?” Taka frowned,” Yui doesn’t mix well with that book.” Yui groaned and stirred slightly. Miaka got up and pushed Taka out of the room and closed the door gently. “Let’s talk about this in the kitchen.,” she finished.
“If Seriyu is calling Yui, why is she needed in the book?,” Miaka asked. Taka set down two glasses of water. “Each Miko was supposed to improve their country. I don’t-“ the sound of a door being closed cut him off. Miaka jumped up and out of the kitchen just in time to see the glimpse of Yui leaving through the front door.
Yui sat up in bed panting heavily. She closed her eyes shut tightly and wrapped her arms around her. “God no, he’s even coming to me in my dreams.,” she whimpered cradling herself. Yui gulped trembling and stood up from the bed. 2 in the morning her clock read. She took a glance at the mirror near the far wall and vaguely made out her dim reflection. She fumbled for a light switch and when it was on, she realized her hair was a mess of tangles. Shaking her head, Yui went over to the vanity and quickly pulled a brush through her hair, tying it back loosely with a pink ribbon. Again she stared at her self, bags were under her eyes, and she knew that getting back to sleep was unlikely. She gulped and closed her eyes, it was just becoming too much for her. “Damn it.,” she muttered,” Why am I constantly being tortured like this?” She grumbled and glanced out the window towards the library. Slowly she walked towards the window and in the distance she saw the blue shimmer of Seriyu. Yui shuttered and ran from the window.
Taka muffled a yawn from his car. Why was he parked outside near Yui and Tetsyua’s house again? Oh yeah, to see if Yui went to the National Library. Miaka shifted in the passenger’s seat. She’d knocked out long ago. He remembered the first time Miaka brought up her worries about Yui. At first they only thought it was relation problems. Keisuke had informed them that they were fighting, but they figured they’d worked it out by now. The front door of the house opened and it snapped Taka out of his thoughts. Yui walked out and closed the door; she was in her school uniform, which made Taka wonder. She then turned around and started at a brisk pace towards the library. “We were right.,” he muttered and then reached a hand out to Miaka. “Miaka! Wake up! Yui’s heading to the library!,” he hissed quietly. Miaka muttered a few things about not going to school, but snapped awake slowly. “Huh, Yui-chan? Oh Yui-chan!,” she said snapping back to reality. Taka started the car and soon they were off.
Yui breathed in deeply when she reached the Important Document’s Reference Room. You’re here; you might as well go through with it! She gulped and opened the door. She stepped inside, remembering how musty the air was. Step by step, she knew exactly where the book was. But as she got closer to the book, her pace slowed. Again Yui gulped, her hand quivered as it rose to the book. “Yui!,” Taka shouted bursting into the room. Yui jumped and turned around surprised,” Taka!? What are you doing here!?” Taka gulped. “Yui… I know what you…are doing…Seriyu’s been…calling you.,” he gasped while catching his breath. Yui gulped, he knew. Taka caught his breath and held out a hand,” Yui, I know you’re going through a lot. I’m just saying, if you plan on going there, please let Miaka and I help you. We’ll go with you.” Yui gulped and half smiled. “Taka, if I don’t Seriyu will keep appearing, and I’ll go crazy.,” she muttered,” Please go get Miaka, I just couldn’t bring myself to asking her to help me.” Taka smiled,” Yui. I’ll be right back.” He turned on a dime and headed out of the room. As he left, the smile faded. She grabbed a note from out her pocket and placed it on the ground, and then she grabbed the book and opened it.
“We’re going to help Yui-chan,” Miaka said happily as she walked up a few steps. And she was bathed in a blue glow, Miaka’s eyes grew wide and her mouth dropped. Taka smiled and he saw the blue light too. “Yui-chan!,” Miaka shouted running up the stairs, Taka following. She burst into the room to see the book, opened, on the ground beside a note:
Miaka, Taka, Arigato for being concerned, but I have to do this by myself. The best thing you can do for me is to be my link to the real world if I need one. Arigato -Yui
Miaka glanced back at the book. Taka bent down and picked it up. “The Seriyu no Miko found herself once again in the land of Kotou, but her arrival was not very welcoming…”
(From Yui)
My head, I thought, the pounding in my head bringing me to. Groggily I forced my eyes open. Where- where was I? It was definitely down town Kotou, I was positive of that. But there was something, a miss. The people weren’t there usual selves. I pushed myself to my feet and began to brush the dirt off of my uniform. And then I felt the bump in my legs and I teetered backwards. I groaned as I hit the ground, what hit me? After I rubbed my bottom and I opened my eyes and glanced to my left to see a little girl on her belly. Her kimono was elegant and flowers had been placed in her purple reddish hair. She was beautiful, and I hadn’t even seen her face. “Are you all right?,” I asked nudging her arm. I rolled her over, she had fainted. “Poor thing,” I whispered. “There she is!,” some one yelled. I jerked my head up and saw three men of reasonable size point in my direction. My eyes grew wide. God no, not this! I grabbed the girl, not enough time to carry her a piggyback. No anything but this! I started running. It can’t happen to me a second time! Hard right, no wrong way! More men were down the alley I turned. No! They started after me. No, no, no! Please no! I wish Suboshi were here! He’d have gotten me outta here! I was panting hard now. The little girl was dead weight. “Ulck!,” I spat out. My head felt like it had been torn apart. Someone threw something at me. The pain was messing with my vision. No! No! Don’t black out! Please don’t! I don’t want to be raped! Please no! Damn you Seriyu!
The light touch shuck me arm. A groan escaped my throat, but it seemed far away. A tiny hand brushed over my forehead. Finally, I was able to force my eyes open. A roof…? Walls? And a face appeared over mine. The lighting was bad, only a couple of small candles were lit. But I could still make out the face. Warm lavender eyes stared half saddened at me. Pale skin lightly atoned with a small amount of blush, tiny lips glossed over with makeup. Her face gave back a small smile of relief. The little girl…? She bent down and hugged my shoulders. Slowly I pushed myself up in a siting position. My arms were bound. Oh God! The thugs! Was I…? No please no! The little girl smiled back at me, she was remarkably pretty despite the melancholic look. The door flung open to my right, and a man stepped in. The little girl quivered. The man chuckled while closing the door. “Eh, I suppose I should test the merchandise before the sale.,” he chuckled. My eyes grew wide and I felt the blood run out of my face. The little girl quivered, but remained silent. He took a glance at me and I glared back repulsed. “You two are in a brothel, now if you do as I say, everything will go by quick.,” he said casually walking up to me. He placed a hand and lifted my chin. “Shall I work with you first?,” he asked. I cringed my nose; his breath revealed he had been drinking. “Give me a kiss, woman.,” he said moving his face closer. I panicked, instantly struggling. “NO!,” I shouted jerking my head. His hand pulled my chin closer and our lips met. I struggled desperate now. No! I don’t want to live with this! He jerked back and pulled his face away in pain. The little girl had latched onto his arm, biting and scratching. “Get off!,” he shouted bringing his hand down on her face. My eyes grew wide. Her mouth gasped open, but not a sound came out and she hurtled to the ground. The man moved over to the girl. “No! Leave her alone!,” I shouted getting to my feet. He turned around back to me too late, I had plowed into him, and both of us fell to the floor. “The merchandise is feisty!,” he said pushing me off of him. He grabbed the back of my hair and pulled up. I groaned, hearing the sound of cutting and my head jerked to the ground. I looked up to see him holding what used to be my long hair. “That’s what you get for not following orders.,” he said and walked back over to the girl. No not her! I lunged for his legs and he tripped. He glared back at me angered now. Standing up he grabbed my arms violently and dragged me to a wall. Rings were attached to the wall used for slaves it looked like. Baka! Why didn’t I see them earlier! He tied my hand to the rings. “I’ll deal with you later.,” he said and forced another kiss, I bit down. And my head jerked from his slap. Then he turned and headed towards the girl. She was just starting to stir. “No! Please no!,” I shouted. He ignored me and grabbed the girl forcefully. She struggled and tears fell, but not a sound. No please, not the girl! She doesn’t deserve this! The fabric ripped, her naked little body struggling. A slap met her face. A tear dropped from my eyes. NO! Seriyu please have mercy! The girl pounded her fists on him tears and fear clutched her face and she shuck with fear. And then I felt the air seem to bubble up. Sparks seemed to build up around the man and girl. And a brilliant light shot out from nowhere, I jerked my head and closed my eyes, so bright! After a brief moment, I dared to open my eyes. The man had been flung from off the girl and he had landed on the other side of the room. He didn’t move. I glanced over to the girl, she lay on her back, panting. On her left thigh, was the blue glowing character. “Soi…?,” I whispered in disbelief.
(in third person)
“The Seriyu no Miko stared in disbelief at the young girl with the character meaning tassel. Her eyes filled with concern and fear.,” Taka read. Miaka threw her arms around Taka’s waist. “We should’ve gone in there to help her! It’s just not fair!,” she exclaimed,” What if they’d raped her while she was knocked out!” Taka shock his head,” You would’ve felt it; you’re wearing the same thing as Yui. If anything happens, this time we’ll know.” Miaka half smiled and Taka rubbed her head and smiled at her. “Please read me more Taka,” she said now slightly calmer. He nodded and turned to the book. “The girl with the character regained her strength and managed to untie the Miko. The Miko embraced her shichisieshi in a motherly hug. And there, the little girl cried…”
continued in episode 2....
