8   Evil Black Bird

The Emperor's subordinates were rooted to the spot as they comically pointed at the 3 who had suddenly appeared.

Taka exchanged glances with Tasuki and Chichiri and stepped forward toward the throne with the 2 following him.

"Your majesty, these 2 are the Suzaku Seishi, Chichiri and Tasuki."

"......Those 2 are?"

Chichiri and Tasuki came before Reizeitei and squinted their eyes in admiration.

"You look a lot like Hotohori-sama no da..."

"Oh? This is that Boushin brat... mff mff mff mff." Tasuki struggled as Chichiri covered his mouth.

"I learned that the only way to save the country is to summon Suzaku again. We're going to set out on a journey to find the remaining Suzaku Seishi now."

Reizeitei tilted his head at Taka's words. "But, the rest of them should all be dead..."

"Yes. We'll be looking for their reincarnations."
Translation by Tasuki no Miko
"Reincarnations..." The young Emperor's gaze suddenly wandered far away. "Then, I could see my father?..."

Taka looked down and shook his head. "Unfortunately, except for Seishi, the reincarnated cannot come in contact with those they had a relationship with in their previous life, including family."

"I see... Then my mother cannot see either my father or Nuriko..." Reizeitei lowered his eyes sadly.

Taka sympathized with the Emperor's feelings and bowed his head. Then he said. "In order to find their reincarnations we need the hint sphere we got from Taiitsukun long ago. We returned here to get it. It should be in the Suzaku shrine."

The Emperor nodded. "Alright. You may take it." And then he silently exchanged glances with the aides at his side. "Though we are fighting against time, it is already too late to set out this evening. We will have to supply you with equipment for the journey and it would be advisable for you to prepare and rest for the night."

"......Yes." The 3 Suzaku Seishi exchanged glances and nodded.

"Boushin-sama is level-headed no da..."

"Kounan Country'll be at peace now! ...Won't it?..."

A maid kneeled before Taka, Chichiri, and Tasuki.

The hippo-like maid said in an extremely businesslike voice. "Well then, I will show you to your rooms. This way please."

As they followed the maid, Taka said. "Uhh, you also took care of us before, didn't you?..."
Translation by Tasuki no Miko
"Yes, I did." The fat maid spat out. "When Miaka-sama was Miko."

"What? This woman's pissed. What's wrong?"

At Tasuki's voice the maid turned around and said to Taka. "You should ask your heart that."

Taka hung his head. Chichiri and Tasuki shrugged their shoulders.

Now that he thought of it, Reizeitei's attitude earlier wasn't all that friendly either. And the eyes of the aides that surrounded the Emperor were somehow cold.

Chichiri and Tasuki decided that it must be because of Taka dumping Miaka and being with another girl.

The maid, walking quickly, suddenly stopped and told the guests behind her. "This is the room of our new Suzaku no Miko. Sukunami Taka-sama, please stay in this room."

"W-wait a minute." Taka waved his hands about frantically. "If it's possible, could I have another room?..."

"What are you saying?! Aren't you married to Mayo-sama!?"

"Huh?... Well, yeah but ...actually we've already lost interest..."

The maid voraciously finished off the faltering Taka. "Please don't say such foolishness! And when she's with child. How irresponsible!" Steaming and scolding, the maid gave Taka a threatening glance.

Tasuki chuckled. "Taka, give in already."

"Give up no da." Chichiri also muttered sympathetically.
 
 

Youtaikou quietly came out of Mayo's room at that moment. When she saw the 3 who had been brought by the maid, her eyes widened. "Oh... Chichiri and Tasuki...! You have been well?"
Translation by Tasuki no Miko
"Yes. Houki-san, you haven't changed either no da." Chichiri squinted his eyes.

Tasuki said nostalgically. "Whenever I see ya Houki-sama, ya look just like Nuriko." He said and hit his hand. "Oh yeah. Why don't we have ya take Nuriko's place?... One less person to look for."

Taka's elbow slammed on top of Tasuki's head.

After hearing from Taka what had happened up until now, Youtaikou gave a slight nod.

"I see..." She said. "So, if you find the other 4 Suzaku Seishi and recover their memories then you can summon Suzaku again, right?"

"No, no, we can't. The problem is Mayo in there... mff mff."

Chichiri covered Tasuki's mouth and grinned.

Youtaikou gave a sad smile. "There's no need to worry about Mayo-san's baby."

".........I see." Taka replied as he looked down.
Translation by Tasuki no Miko
Youtaikou said to Taka. "I will pray for the birth of a healthy baby." And then turning to Chichiri and Tasuki she said. "Please, go on and greet the new Suzaku no Miko."

Sakaki Mayo was lying on top of the bed using her elbow as a pillow. When she saw Taka enter the room she jumped out of bed. "Waah, Taka. You've come back!" She then boldly wrapped her arms around Taka's neck. "Hey, listen. Do you know what that Youtaikou woman came here to ask me just now? She wanted me to explain why you dumped Miaka and picked me."

"........."

"How rude. So I told her all kinds of things. What an indecent glutton Miaka is, and that even though she's been in the cooking club for 3 years she can't make anything right..." Then after hearing several clearing of throats, Mayo finally let go of Taka. "Huh? Could they be?"

She came before Chichiri first. "A~h, you're Chichiri, right?! Oh--, the real thing is even better."

"...Nice to meet you, no da..."

Mayo clapped her hands in delight. "That's it. That no da! Hey, could you take off your mask?"

Seeing Chichiri obediently comply, Mayo crossed her arms. "Ye~p, your real face is quite nice."

Then the girl came before Tasuki. "Uwah. Your fangs and beady eyes are more than I imagined. Scary~."

"Wha..." Tasuki faltered.
Translation by Tasuki no Miko
"Oh, where is it, where is it? Is this the halisen?" She took the tessen from his back with a swish.

After a moment, Tasuki returned to his senses. "Son of a bitch! What're ya doing~?"

"Ohh! There it is! Your thick Kansai accent."

"Shuddup." Tasuki snatched the tessen away and turned the other way sulkily.

"By the way" Mayo asked Taka. "Have you found a solution? Will the country be OK now?"

Taka shook his head. "We'll talk about that when we're alone."

The maid called out then. "Well then, Chichiri-sama and Tasuki-sama, I will take you to your rooms. This way please."

"Hey Moomin." Mayo called to the maid. "Don't let anyone in this room tonight. The 2 of us want to be alone. We're newlyweds in love. Alright?"

".........Yes." Moomin sulkily said and left the Miko's room taking the 2 guests who said good-bye to Taka.

The palace chimes announced it was midnight.
Translation by Tasuki no Miko
"Taka...... why won't you come here...?" Lying on the bed wearing a long sexy silk robe, Mayo said to Sukunami Taka, who sat in a chair a little bit away from her with his arms crossed. "Hey. Aren't we husband and wife?" Mayo said and got up.

Taka asked her. "Do you really believe that...?"

"............"

"You're just trying to believe that, aren't you?"

"......No..."

"You know everything so all you're doing is making up a story..."

Mayo frowned then glared at Taka. "Well then, what's this baby inside my stomach...?"

"That's probably...the work of the negative energy that you have..."

"Negative energy?" Mayo raised an eyebrow. "How is my loving you negative energy?!"

Taka hurried over to the agitated Mayo. "Listen. You came here because you wanted to escape from your difficult reality. Your feelings of wanting to escape that reality and your feelings of wanting to deny Miaka's existence..."

"..............."

"Mayo-chan..."
Translation by Tasuki no Miko
"I have always loved you..." Mayo muttered as she looked down. "You don't remember, do you? Everyday I came to the parlor you worked at and I always ordered a chocolate parfait..."

"........."

"Though I was always looking at you, you were only looking at someone else." Mayo laughed. "When I entered Yotsubadai High School and you became the basketball coach, even though you looked at my face, you didn't realize anything."

"........."

"When you were Tamahome and when you were Taka, Miaka-san was always with you... Though I loved you, you never knew I existed... You never knew how I felt..."

"...Mayo-chan..."

"If I had been the one to go into the book back then I probably would have been the one to get together with you... It could have been anyone. That girl was destined to fall in love with Tamahome."

"That's not so." Taka shook his head. "I fell in love because it was Miaka... If it had been another girl who had become Miko it would have become a whole other story..."

"If so, then I'll create this story." Mayo took Taka's hand. "The story of you and me getting together--------" Then Mayo threw herself at Taka. "Taka... ...I love you... to death..."
 
 

"Ohh... Wh-what're we gonna do? Taka... can't resist the seduction of a nubile girl..."

"Shh-- Be quiet no da..."

Listening carefully in front of Mr. and Mrs. (?) Sukunami's room, Tasuki and Chichiri looked at each other.

"All we can do is believe in Taka no da..."

"Yeah but, it'll be really bad if he makes her angry."

Chichiri said to Tasuki. "I believe it was...about 2 years ago. ...I heard Taka and Miaka exchange vows of eternal love no da."

Tasuki hit his hand slightly. "I heard it too... Miaka said 'We'll be happy'..."

"That was the wedding ceremony of that world no da."

Tasuki silently nodded.
Translation by Tasuki no Miko
"It's OK no da. There's nothing that can destroy Taka and Miaka's love no da..."

And then the 2 put their ears to the wall again.
 
 

Taka gently untangled himself from Mayo and said. "We have to summon Suzaku in order to save the country. We were told by Taiitsukun that to do that we need Suzaku no Miko, the child, and the Suzaku Seishi. Tomorrow the 3 of us are going out to look for the remaining 4 reincarnated Seishi. And then when we've gathered all the Seishi and recovered their memories, we'll come back here. Until then, I want you to think things over."

".........Taka..."

"Even if we gather the Seishi you can't summon Suzaku..."

"............"

Taka looked at Mayo. "Please, won't you give Miaka back our child?... If you don't..."

"No!" Mayo turned her body sideways. "Why do I have to give it back?! This is our baby!"

Taka put a hand to his forehead and looked down. "Kounan Country will disappear. You'll disappear, Mayo-chan. Do you want that?"

Mayo got silent.

"You have the scrap of handkerchief that Keisuke-san gave you, right? That's a mediation. So you can use it and return to the real world. At any rate, think it over..."

Mayo raised her face. "I told you what will happen if you upset me, didn't I?" And then her eyes went down to her stomach.

The life that resided there emitted a slight red light as if emphasizing its existence.

Mayo suddenly raised a hand.
Translation by Tasuki no Miko
Taka grabbed hold of her arm. ".........Stop..." Then Taka moaned. "If... anything happens to our child. Miaka and I probably won't survive..."

"......Taka..." Mayo's shoulders shook.

"And Kounan Country will disappear too..."

There was a long silence between the 2.

"If..." Mayo said gravely. "If I give back the child and save the country then would you listen to what I have to say?"

Taka answered. "Alright."

"Really...?"

"Yeah."

Mayo's face suddenly lit up. "Then would you stay with me forever?"

Taka nodded.

"Really!?" Mayo grabbed hold of Taka. "I'm so happy..."

"I will if you tell me to. I'll stay with you my whole life." Taka said. "But I'll leave you with just this. The only person I'll love... is Miaka."

At those words, the strength in Mayo's arms weakened.

Her eyes vacantly looked at Taka's neck. "This... this chain..."
Translation by Tasuki no Miko
Taka gently took out the chain from his chest and held the ring that was on it. "You heard about this too, right...? A cheap ring bought at a street stand... Before the final battle with Nakago... when we were truly bound together from the bottom of our hearts...... This is my real wedding ring..."

"............"

Mayo's arms dangled as she leaned her body against Taka's chest. Taka quietly withdrew from her. On his left hand the platinum wedding ring emitted an empty light.
 
 

"...Sukunami-kun, what a sinful man you are, senor..." Tasuki sighed outside the room.

"I hope Mayo-chan reconsiders no da but..." Chichiri also gave a similar sigh.

The next morning, Taka, Chichiri, and Tasuki gave their farewells to the Emperor in the hall.
Translation by Tasuki no Miko
"We'll be going now."

"Um-hm..." Reizeitei nodded with a solemn expression. "I want to help the country in this crisis somehow..." And then the Emperor extended a sword before the 3. "Take this."

"This is...!?" Taka said in a surprised voice. "Hotohori-sama's divine sword..."

Reizeitei nodded. "I am sure it will be of some use."

Taka reverently took the sword.

"Thank you." The 3 thanked the Emperor for his thoughtfulness.

Then Taka looked at Youtaikou who lingered at the side of the Emperor.

When she met Taka's eyes she suddenly averted her eyes.

Taka said. "Empress. We'll be going now but please take care of Mayo. Because the Shinzahou that Suzaku no Miko left behind is in her body..."

Hearing that, Youtaikou looked back at Taka with a gasp.

Taka silently gave a slight smile and bowed his head deeply.

And then the 3 quietly set out on their journey as the people in the palace watched over them.

Sakaki Mayo stayed in her room all by herself. She thought of the 3 setting out on their journey and took out the scrap of Keisuke's handkerchief from her uniform pocket.

"Mayo-chan, can you hear me?!"

Suddenly hearing a voice from somewhere, Mayo wrinkled her forehead.

"Won't you think over what Taka said? Please, come back here and return the child to Miaka~. Please." Keisuke said in a tearful voice. "Hey, why would you want that kind of man~? He has a wife and kid~. Adultery is no good. Right? So come back here and live a cheerful high school life~."

Another voice said. "I'm Hongo Yui! Can you hear me?"
Translation by Tasuki no Miko
Mayo raised her head.

"I also hated Miaka for a long time. Why did everything go Miaka's way? I was jealous of her for a long time. But having seen me like that, Miaka was hurt and wounded more than me. She's that kind of girl. Hey, did Miaka do anything to you Mayo-chan? Those 2 love each other with all their hearts. Please understand! Taking their baby is too much."

"I'm Tetsuya. At any rate, what you need to do now is to calm down a little more and think things through. Listen, you being able to go there in itself is extraordinary..."

Not letting Tetsuya finish, Mayo turned to the mediation and said.

"There isn't anything there for me anymore..."

The 3 in the real world gasped when they first heard the voice from the book.

Woken by a call from Keisuke first thing in the morning, Tetsuya had run to the hospital with Yui, not even taking anything with them.

"Mayo-chan." The 3 shouted at the book at the same time.

A voice replied again. "There isn't anything there for me anymore. So I won't go back there. I won't... I won't let those 2 be happy..."

Then she grabbed the handkerchief and roughly stuffed it in her pocket. "Letting those 2... be happy?... Happy?..." Mayo muttered the same words over and over again. A dark mass that seemed to boil began to reside inside Mayo.
Translation by Tasuki no Miko
As if it disagreed with that, the faint red light that colored Mayo's abdomen disappeared.

Mayo twisted her face a bit.

She slanted her eyebrows and deep wrinkles etched her forehead.

A low ominous voice resounded inside her mind. New Suzaku no Miko------- The voice called Mayo.

Who are you?... Mayo asked.

I am------- Suzaku.

Suzaku...!?

Yes. Your master.

Mayo gulped.

You wish to win the heart of that young man named Sukunami Taka, do you not? The voice said to Mayo. If so then you must not let go of that child. That is your trump card. Do you understand that?

Mayo gave a small nod.

But if the Suzaku Seishi are gathered, that child will return to Miaka no matter how much you resist.

What?...
Translation by Tasuki no Miko
The voice continued. For you to win Taka's love, you must give birth to the child here.

......If I do then Taka will accept my feelings?...

Yes. The voice answered. Now you understand what you must do?

But before that, the destruction of the country...

Do not worry. I will hold that off.

Mayo stood up.

She narrowed her eyes and muttered in a low voice. "Think I'll allow the Suzaku Seishi to get together?..."

A black shadow towered over Mayo's back.

It had the form of a bird with it's wings spread wide.

To be precise, it had the form of Suzaku that it professed to be.

But anyone who saw it should know that the shadow of the evil thing was completely different from Suzaku.

Of course, Mayo wouldn't know that.

Why? Because that bird had been born of Sakaki Mayo's heart--------.

"It's... a fake Suzaku... This is bad..." Keisuke held his head. "No wonder repairing the book didn't stop the destruction... That girl's impure twisted heart gave birth to a fake Suzaku and the destruction... is continuing to expand..." Keisuke's eyes fell on the Universe of the Four Gods that had returned again to its original form.

"What will happen?..." Yui said in an anxious voice.
Translation by Tasuki no Miko
"Keisuke. You wouldn't happen to like that Mayo girl?..." Tetsuya asked him.

Keisuke shook his head. "......Don't be ridiculous. I'm an old fart to her, and I'm just her basketball coach..."

Tetsuya tilted his head.

Keisuke hung his head. "She's like a little sister......"

Tetsuya chuckled. "Don't strain yourself..." And then he muttered. "But this time...... Kounan Country may be in its biggest crisis..." He narrowed his eyes behind his sunglasses.

At a loss, the 3 stood motionless in the hospital room.

"Everyone. Please..." Yui called out to the picture of the Suzaku Seishi smiling together.

And then she took Miaka's hand. "Miaka... Help Taka..."

But Miaka just slept on peacefully, unresponsive to Yui.

The 3 left the palace on their horses and quickly went down the road of swirling dust.

Taka was in the lead. His left hand held Taiitsukun's sphere and at his waist was the divine sword that Reizeitei had given him.
Translation by Tasuki no Miko
At that moment, a small black cloud was born high over the palace.

But upon a closer look, it wasn't a cloud.

"Caw caw caw..." A large flock of ravens continued to circle as they gave ominous cries.

Sakaki Mayo spread open both arms.

At the same time, the huge black shadow of the fake Suzaku behind her spread open its large wings.

"Now, my children. Go."

With that voice the large flock of birds simultaneously flew away from high above the palace toward the direction of Taka, Chichiri, and Tasuki.

"I can't allow what those people are thinking. I can't allow anyone to interfere. I am the one who is creating the story." Sakaki Mayo verified that the ominous envoy flew away.
 

"I am the one who is Suzaku no Miko----------------"