"Is he really the emperor Saihitei?" Asked one of the advisers.
"Of course he is you idiot!" Houki retorted. "What, you think I don’t know how my own husband looks like?"
"No, of course not empress but, I mean, we don’t know if he is an impostor or not." The adviser said nervously.
Houki watched Hotohori play with their son happily. This was the first time he has even touched his son other than the time that Tamahome had loaned Hotohori his body so he may hold his son who so dearly called out for him.
"Listen," Houki sighed, "I finally get my husband back and my son finally gets his father back. Don’t you dare try to ruin this moment." She paused a minute then continued. "But if you truly believe that he is an impostor…. Well why do don’t you have him try to enter Suzaku’s screen. If he can’t pass then he is, but if he can, than he is my husband Saihitei and the Suzaku Shichi-sei Hotohori."
The adviser nodded. He knew that all though the empress Houki was a bit ill tempered, that she was wise when it came to decision making. "This way please your highness" The advisor motioned for Hotohori to follow him. Hotohori, hearing the whole conversation between his wife and the adviser followed silently holding his son’s hand.
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"I don’t mean any disrespect your highness, but you have to understand that these times we can’t trust just everybody and you being dead… and now alive…." One of the advisers stammered.
"Yes I know." Hotohori reassured him with a faint smile.
Suzaku’s screen. Only trusted people from Konan country and Suzaku Seishi can pass through this screen. Hotohori knew that if he didn’t pass he’d be beaten and thrown out of the country. He peered inside the Hall, and saw almost everyone’s gifts--the gifts that were given to them by Taitsu-kun. Nuriko’s bracelets, Mitsukake’s pouch, Chiriko’s scroll where Seiryuu has been sealed, and his deity sword was there in the center. Sculpted out in bronze was a remake of Tasuki’s tessen and Chichiri’s staff. They’re still alive, and using their weapons. Hotohori thought with a smile.
"Your highness…" A voice interrupted his thoughts. "If your please.." One of the many advisers that had gathered there beckoned him to enter.
He stepped into the hall and a red light shone out. It engulfed him and for a few seconds his body glowed with red energy. His form has been restored and he knew that now he was completely alive. His seishi mark appeared again and glowed brightly for everyone to see.
"I knew I was right!" exclaimed Houki as she ran towards Hotohori engulfing him in a huge embrace. Hotohori laughed and returned her hug. "I missed you so much." She said nearly in tears.
"I know." He replied and kissed her forehead.
"What the f*ck… Ho-Hotohori you’re alive!!" A frantic Tasuki screamed interrupting the embrace that Houki and Hotohori shared.
An amused Hotohori looked up at the three seishi that just arrived. "Tasuki, you sound like you’ve seen a ghost." He grinned.
"Well I am seeing a ghost…. Kuso, Hotohori is haunting the palace! Chichiri, hayaku ne, say a prayer so he’ll stop haunting the place! HAAYYAAKKUU!!" Tasuki yelled.
"Sumimasen, Koute-sama, these three young men say they are Suzaku seishi!" said one guard who was Trying to hold Tasuki down.
"Let him go." Hotohori commanded and the guard obeyed. "They are who they say they are."
"Hotohori-sama, gomen na no daa! We didn’t mean to interrupt anything, but something told me to come here to the palace…" Chichiri apologized.
"Chichiri, you don’t have to apologize, I am so glad to see all of you." Hotohori smiled warmly. "Please step inside Suzaku’s hall." He commanded.
The three obeyed and the red light of Suzaku shown again and surrounded each person. Just like what happened to Hotohori, the three men’s bodies glowed with red energy for a few seconds. Chichiri and Tasuki’s sheishi marks glowed. But what surprised everyone was that the ‘Oni’ character on Taka’s forehead appeared. Since Tamahome appeared in Miaka’s world as Taka, his seishi mark barely ever appeared. It only appeared when he remembered something from his past. This time however, Taka knew that the mark was there permanently.
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"What??!!? Taka is where??" Keisuke’s voice cracked as Tetsuya and Yui filled him in on what happened.
Miaka who seemed to have calmed down was sipping tea. She was listening to the three’s conversation.
"…The book wouldn’t open until Yui-chan approached…… and she read it like she was in a trance.."
"hontou?"
"Yes and then when Tetsuya screamed ‘What’, the book closed…."
Yui, Keisuke and her brother’s voices seemed to disappear in the back ground and Miaka was lost in her own thoughts. Yui was able to open the book when Tetsuya couldn’t, Seiryuu’s light glowed as she approached… could Taka have been taken by Seiryuu?
"…. Weird! You sure u can’t open it again Yui-chan?" Keisuke asked and Yui shook her head.
The book shone with a bright warm bright, red light and opened. Miaka was surrounded by the red light too. As though possessed, she took the book and began to read.
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