Disclaimer. Fushigi Yuugi is the copywrite of Watase Yuu, Bandai, Tokyo Television, Pioneer, Viz Comics, and others. No infringment was intended in the writing of this fanfic.

She had been gone several weeks when we received the news. Things were heating up on the border by Kutou. They were gathering troups near our border. The threat was very strong and very real. The buzz was going around the court that Suzaku should be summoned to protect Konan. But without Suzaku no Miko that was impossible.

Hotohori-sama was under a great strain from it all. I rarely saw him, as he spent most of his time in the meeting hall talking with his advisors. And when I did see him, he was in deep dicussion with his advisors. Poor Hothoori-sama. If only I could comfort him. It pained me to see him like this.

Everyone still avoided me, but at least they didn't stare at me and whisper as I walked by. Still, I had no one to talk to, so I stayed around Tama-chan. He was still as hopeless as ever. I was glad to be needed, even if he didn't know that he needed me. I kept him from falling down stairs, eating anything that wasn't edible, and various other things that he was too oblivious to notice.

One night, after I had seen him safely to bed, I started for my own chamber. I saw Hotohori-sama walking alone and followed him. He left the court area heading for the pond. Tentatively, I followed. The moon was out and cast an unearthly glow on the water. I was entranced by the beauty of the place. As a lady of the court, I was never allowed to leave the court, so I had never been to the pond. I forgot all about Hotohori-sama as I watched the moonlight dance on the surface of the pond.

"Nuriko?" I jumped and spun around to see Hotohori-sama standing behind me. Shimatta! I lowered my head and brought my cloth-draped hands to either side of my face. I didn't know what to do. I was caught in a place that I shouldn't be!

"S-s-sire," I stammered. "Forgive me, I didn't mean to come here. I know I'm not allowed here, but you have looked so troubled lately and I was worried about you, and I saw you alone and couldn't help but follow."

I hear him chuckle softly and looked up to see a faint smile on his lips. I almost swooned! "Nuriko," he said. "You needn't appologize. You are no longer a lady of the court and are free to move about as you please." Oh, yeah, I kept forgetting that. "Thank you for being concerned."

He walked up next to me and stared out at the pond. I turned to look at the pond myself, but kept sneaking glances at Hotohori-sama. The moonlight made his face even more beautiful! I had to force myself not to reach out and touch him to see if he was real.

After a few moments of silence, I spoke. "Emperor. You should get some sleep."

"I can't sleep, Nuriko. The threat to Konan is too great. If only we had Suzaku no Miko. Then we could gather the seishi and summon Suzaku."

Suzaku no Miko. Hmph! Always Suzaku no Miko! I balled my hands into fists. Why did everything have to center around that girl! It was always "Miaka this" and "Suzaku no Miko that"! I was sick of hearing about Miaka!!

"Nuriko." Eh? I looked at Hotohori-sama, but he continued to look at the pond. He reached up and pulled down his collar a little. His character shown brightly on the side of his neck. "Do you know what this says." Nani? "It says that I am a Suzaku Seishi!" He turned to look at me. God, he was so beautiful! "Just as you are a Suzaku Seishi."

I turned to look back at the pond. "I didn't choose to be a seishi," I said angrily.

"None of us chose it, Nuriko. We were chosen. Suzaku chose us, out of all the rest of Konan to be the seishi for his Miko." I turned back to him. The intensity in his eyes took my breath away. He looked so proud. "It is our destiny to protect and help his chosen Miko. We were given our powers for that reason." He put his hands on my shoulders and looked deep into my eyes. "Don't ever forget that, Nuriko. It is our destiny. Our purpose in life."

He let go of my shoulders and walked past me back towards the court. A few moments later, I started back to my chambers. When I entered my chambers, I dressed for bed and sat in front of my mirror. Picking up my brush, I brushed out my hair but a moment later I set in back down as the words finally hit me.

I was a Seishi! I had a purpose in life. Before than, my only concern was trying to get Hotohori-sama's attention. But now, I had a calling. I was one of the ones chosen by Suzaku. I felt the pride well up in me. Reaching up, I pulled back part of my robe to reveal my character. Willow. The sign of a Suzaku Seishi. And my duty was to assist Miaka in any way I could. "Don't worry, Miaka," I said to my mirror. "When you come back, I'll never give you reason to hate me. I'll make you proud that I'm your seishi. I will even lay down my life for you. Just you wait and see, Miaka."