Les jeux mystèrieux: The mysterious games
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Ok, let's get this straight before you start reading. This story is self-insertion to a certain degree. You don't have to know who the characters are to read this story, as you'll understand their personalities soon enough. Detailed bios are available in Chapter 21, but don't read that until you've…read Chapters 1-20. Duh.
But there is a reason I'm writing this. If I found a fanfic that was self-insertion, I would most likely just turn and walk away, feeling sad for the poor ego-less fool who decided to write the story. But this isn't the case for this story. I'm not going to lie and say that the main characters aren't based on real people. But I do want you, as the reader, to know that this story is not the typical self-insertion story. It actually has a plot, and is not simply created to take the author on a jaunt with the FY characters. In fact, the majority of them don't even appear in this story.
Well, enough of that. I'll stop pleading for your readership, and just let you read the damned story already. All I ask is that you read the story and don't let any bias that you may have for stories of this caliber to discolor your opinion of this story. In short, give it a chance. Done. Now, the disclaimer and then the story itself.
I do not own Fushigi Yuugi or the characters contained within, nor do I profess to. Fushigi Yuugi and everything related to it is intellectual (and I'm sure copyrighted) property of Yuu Watase. All other characters are of my creation, although they may be based off persons living or dead. The plot elements used in this story are not those of Yuu Watase, blah blah blah…just don't sue me, for any reason. Or I'll kill you, slowly, and throw your remains into the cafeteria meat grinder at school, where they will fit in perfectly. Got it? On with the show.
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Janna: Nee, nani ga iimasu ka, atashi-tachi wa? (So, what are we gonna say?)
Jeff: Saa, boku wa…e? Doshite nihongo de hanasu ka? (I dunno…huh? Why are we speaking in Japanese?)
Kat: So da! Eigo no kotoba wa doko? (Yeah! Where are the English words?)
Chris: Nick! Eigo o! (Nick! Get the English!)
Nick: Gomen kudasaaaaai. Boku wa yappa shiranai, sono koto no. (Well, sooooory. I don't have any idea about it!)
Max: Etto…sore wa…nani? (Hm…what's this?)
Luna: "English Language Switch" 'tte… ("English Language Switch…")
Anne: Puressu! (Pressing!)
*308q42725897014p7851-7843-57184375843-75349857-4975--------------------
English Language Switch on.
Jeff: God! That was weird.
Luna: Why was it in Japanese?
(Everyone looks at Nick)
Nick: Hey! I didn't do it!
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Episode 1: Ano Fushigi na Hon (That Mysterious Book)
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(A book opens over a dark background. Sparkles fly out as the pages turn. They are white sparkles. An old woman's voice begins to speak)
Old Woman: This is the story of a girl who gathered the seven seishi of Byakko. She obtained omnipotent power and made her dreams come true. The story itself is an incantation. Whoever finishes reading it will receive that power. As soon as the first page is turned, the story will become real and begin…
(Zoom out far away to the globe, then zoom quickly into the area of Minnesota. A nice, quiet house on a quiet street is shown. The mailbox says "Goetz Family Mailbox.")
Anne: JOOOOOOOONNNNNNNNN!!!!!!!!
(Inside the house, a small boy runs down the stairs, carrying a wooden stick. He is also carrying a portable phone while whooping like crazy)
Jon: (while running) Hello? Anne can't come to the phone right now. Can I take a message?
Kat: (From the phone) Jon, give the phone back to Anne!
Anne's Mom: Can you two keep it down????
(Jon runs into the kitchen, followed closely by Anne. He runs to the other side of the table.)
Anne: Give me the phone back!
Jon: No!
Anne's Mom: Jon, give your sister the phone back.
Jon: Buut…
Anne: Yes! Give!
(Jon reluctantly hands the phone over to Anne. He walks sadly out of the room, as Anne's sister Berit walks in.)
Berit: God, I swear he needs a tranquilizer. Who's on the phone?
Anne: Katherine, hold on. Berit, not now!
Berit: Fine. (goes and grabs an apple as Anne walks quickly up to her room)
Anne: Sorry. Siblings make talking on the phone so hard.
Luna: Yeah, tell me about it. At least Jon doesn't bite like Kelly does.
Anne: He does. (silence)
Kat: Sooooo…I was calling to see if you guys wanna do something this afternoon.
Anne: Sure! I'm not busy.
Luna: Let me check my daily planner…nope, I'm free until 2007.
Kat: What's in 2007?
Luna: High School Graduation.
Anne: So, what did you have in mind?
Kat: Well, the Minneapolis Institute of Art is having this cool exhibit on Ancient China…
Luna: Great, China. Just what I need.
Anne: That sounds fun! We should call other people to see if they can come.
Kat: Good idea! I'll call-
Luna: I'll call Daniel and Jeff!
Anne: I'll call both Nicks!
Kat: Um…ok…I'll call Eric then.
Luna: Ok, good luck! I'll call you back when I get through.
Anne: Yeah, talk to you two later!
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(A large pavilion on top of a mountain. An OLD and extremely ugly woman sits on an ornate throne, looking at a mirror. Three small, and extremely cute blue-haired little girls sit next to her, looking in the mirror. Inside the mirror, legions march across some plains.)
OLD Woman: The armies of Kutou are marching…
Blue-haired girls: (In unison) What does that mean?
OLD Woman: I do not know as of yet. The armies march toward Sailo, for no apparent reason.
(The mirror's face shimmers, and the scene changes to the same armies burning houses. The screams of people are heard over the crackle of the flames)
Blue-haired girl 1: Look!
Blue-haired girl 2: Fix!
Blue-haired girl 3: Heal!
OLD Woman: Yes…this situation does need remedying…
Blue-haired girls: (in unison) Actually, we were talking about your face.
OLD Woman: Why, you…(mutters something)
(The view zooms out to outside the pavilion. A huge explosion is heard and the little girls, screaming, are blasted out of the ceiling. The view returns to the old woman)
OLD Woman: But they are right. This situation calls for a miko…enough time has passed for the Byakko seishi to reincarnate, there should be no problem.
Little girl 1: (teleporting in with little pops) No, Tatara's spirit is in the other world!
Little girl 2: Impossible to reincarnate!
Little girl 3: Impossible to gather!
Little girls: (in unison) Impossible to summon…
OLD Woman: Ah, that is a valid point. But what should be done? The spirit of Tatara has vanished.
Little girl 1: Summon!
OLD Woman: What?
Little girl 2: With the Miko!
Little girl 3: From the other world!
OLD Woman: Hm…interesting idea. It just might work…I will have to try.
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(Kat's phone rings)
Kat: (answering phone) Hello?
Anne: Hi! I called the Nicks…Nick A can't do it, but Nick R can. He said he'd call Chris too.
Kat: Oh, great. Just who we need. Eric can't come. Oh, hold on, there's somebody on the other line.
Anne: No problem. I'll just see you at 3.
Kat: Ok, bye. (Presses button on phone) Hello?
Luna: Katherine?
Kat: Oh, hi Luna. Did you get anybody?
Luna: Jeff can come; Max is over there, so he'll tag along as well. Daniel's busy.
Kat: Sure. Nick R and most likely Chris are coming, but Eric can't.
Luna: Oh well. That's…seven! That's a lot of people.
Kat: Yeah…I guess I'll see you at three, then?
Luna: Sure! Do you know what this exhibit's about?
Kat: Not really. It's on ancient China…
Luna: That tells me a lot.
Kat: Well, sorry. If nothing else we'll have some friends along if it's boring.
Luna: Yeah…see you then, then.
Kat: Bye!
Luna: Bye! (hangs up the phone)
*************
(An imperial Chinese court. A young man sits on the throne. Several older men bow before him on one knee.)
Man 1: Emperor! We bring news.
Emperor: Report, then.
Man 2: The armies of Kutou have expanded into our eastern towns!
Man 3: They are conquering cities at a frightening pace.
Man 1: Shall we send out the army?
Emperor: No…Sailo has always been a peaceful country, and I wish to keep it that way. Besides, our armies have no chance against Kutou's military might; I have no wish to sacrifice thousands of lives for a lost cause.
Man 2: You intend to do nothing? Leave your country defenseless?
Emperor: (annoyed) Do you question my orders? (the men visibly shrink downwards) I understand your concern, but there is no hope for Sailo…unless…
Man 3: Unless what?
Emperor: That's it. Send word to the temples across Sailo. Tell them…to pray for a Miko.
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(It's three o'clock, and Kat, Luna, Anne and Nick are at the MIA)
Kat: Hi people!
Anne+Nick+Luna: Hi!
Luna: Hmm…who's not here?
Anne: Chris, Max and Jeff.
Nick: Big surprise.
(On cue, a car drives up. Jeff and Max get out.)
Jeff: Ok, thanks for the ride! See you at 6!
Winnie: Sure, whatever. (Drives off)
Max: Hi!
Anne+Nick+Luna: Hi!
Kat: Hi.
Jeff: Cheerful as always, huh, Katherine?
Kat: Look who's talking.
Max: Who are we waiting for?
Nick: Just Chris…sigh.
(In about five minutes, a large, decrepit van pulls up. Out steps Chris…and Janna!)
Chris: Hi everybody! Sorry we're late!
All: Janna!
Janna: Hi!
Chris: Nice to see you guys too…
Kat: Janna! What…a surprise!
Janna: Yeah, I wasn't invited…but I was with Chris today, so I decided to tag along. Hope you don't mind.
Nick: No, the more the merrier!
Luna: Now if you'd just leave, we'd be really merry!
Nick: Thanks.
Jeff: Come on, let's go in.
(The large group enters the MIA, entering for free. The exhibit is on the third floor, but the eight wander around for a while before finding it. The exhibit is pretty large, with lots of cool Chinese stuff. Jeff, Luna and Kat understand it, everybody else just looks at the pretty pictures.)
Nick: Oooh…this screen is pretty. I love the crane motif.
Max: (Looks at description) "Screen with Crane motif"…
Chris: Wow, it's a suit of armor!
Jeff: Yeah, this suit of armor was used in the Tang dynasty by the emperor's honor guard. It's specially designed to be usable while riding a horse and wielding a polearm.
Janna: Cool! You just know this stuff?
Jeff: Yeah, I guess…
Kat: No, that's just what the description says.
Jeff: Hush.
Luna: This exhibit sure is cool.
Anne: (hears a clinking sound) Oops, dropped a quarter. (She bends down to pick it up)
(As Anne raises her head, she hears a growl. The exhibit has disappeared, and is instead replaced by glowing white light. A huge white tiger stands before her, growls and then disappears, leaving a whole bunch of little white sparkles.)
Anne: WHAT THE HELL?????
(Everybody turns)
Chris: Um…Anne? Are you OK?
Anne: Didn't you see it?
Kat: See…what?
Anne: The huge white tiger!!! It was just over there!
Nick: Don't worry, Anne. We all saw the big, white tiger. Nothing to worry about…
Anne: I'm serious! I just saw it! It was…there!
(Anne points to where she saw the tiger. There is a book sitting on a nice-looking pedestal)
Janna: No offense, but that's not a tiger.
Jeff: (Looking at the book's description) Hm…this is interesting. Come see this.
(Everyone gathers around the book)
Max: (reading the description) Wow…this book was found off the coast of California, in nearly perfect condition. The cover is intact, the ink hasn't run…
Luna: (reading) It is a fictional story, called the "Shi Jin Ten Chi Sho," or "The Universe of the Four Gods." Cool! Can we touch it?
Chris: Do you know how incredibly stupid that sounds?
Luna: (eye roll) Yeah, I guess. But I wanna see if I can read it.
Kat: It's probably in ancient Traditional…
(Anne grabs the book and opens it)
Janna: Wow… The ink hasn't run at all.
Nick: Geez…I can't read even a single character.
Max: Maybe cause Japanese is a little different that ancient Chinese?
Nick: Shut up!
Luna: No…I can't read it at all.
Jeff: Oh well. Maybe there are pictures?
Chris: OK, now THAT was really stupid.
Anne: (reading from the book) "Thus, the girl from the legend opened the door to another world."
Kat: What??? How can YOU read it???
Anne: Well, I took this Ancient Chinese class…no, the first page is translated over there. (points to a page mounted on the wall).
All: Oh.
Anne: (turning the page) WHAT????
(everybody looks at her)
Anne: Look! This picture…It's of the tiger I saw!
(Everybody looks at the book. There is a picture of a majestic white tiger.)
Jeff: See! There ARE pictures!
Nick: Anne, you saw THIS white tiger?
Anne: Yes!
Janna: Maybe it was some other white tiger, and you just can't tell the difference.
Anne: I'm serious! This is really weird!
Max: Sure, sure…keep reading, this sounds interesting.
Anne: (sighing) "This is a story about a girl who gathered the Seven Stars* of Byakko. She obtained omnipotent powers, and made her dreams come true. The—"
Chris: You're supposed to turn the page now.
Anne: You don't know that!!!! Anyways, I'm gonna continue. "The story itself is an…incantation, and those who finish reading it will receive the power." (looks up)
There's no more translated.
Luna: Darn! I wanted to "receive the power!"
Kat: Interesting premise for a story tho. Sounds like a fantasy.
Jeff: Wish we could read it…it could become a best-seller.
(All eight friends, except Anne, walk away in small groups according to Dr. Burn's sage teachings**. Anne stands there, looking at the book.)
Anne: "As soon as the first page is turned, the story will become true and begin."
(Everybody whips back.)
Janna: What?
Anne: I…I don't know. I read it.
Luna: You read it? What do you mean by that?
Nick: Something weird is going on. First, Anne sees that tiger…
Max: Then there's that whole weird book…
Chris: Then she sees the tiger in the book…
Jeff: And now she can READ Chinese!
Kat: (pinching herself) Must be dreaming, must be dreaming.
(As Kat pinches herself, the book shimmers with white light. There is a clap of thunder, and the book emits an extremely bright white glow. Everybody starts screaming for absolutely no reason, and each of their screaming faces are shown being swallowed up by the bright light. The white tiger, over a background of a night sky, roars and jumps upwards, trailed by white sparkles.)
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(Another imperial court, this one patterned in blue rather than white. The last one was white. A rather old, and frankly, ugly man sits on the throne. A man steps out of the shadows to advise the man.)
Advisor: Emperor. I have news on the war's proceedings.
Emperor: Report. You are wasting my time.
Advisor: (getting a bit frightened) Yes, your majesty. The armies are so far meeting with no opposition from the Sailan military. It is as if they have not been sent out at all.
Emperor: Have they summoned a Miko?
Advisor: Um…excuse me?
Emperor: Have they summoned a Miko? That's all I care about!
Advisor: Not…to my knowledge, your majesty.
Emperor: Fine. Keep an eye on their temples. And…if your soldiers find a person with a white character on their bodies…bring them here.
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Anne: WHAT???? The episode's over ALREADY???
Janna: Talk about a cliffhanger! The least they could do is tell what happened to us!
Jeff: Actually, there's far less that they could do and still qualify for "least."
Kat: I am sooooo confused.
Luna: Me too. This whole thing about tigers….what's that all about?
Chris: I like tigers!
Max: Oh god…I hope Chris dies in this story.
Nick: Well, all of you all…stay tuned for Episode 2 of Les Jeux Mystèrieux: Ikai wa Hen!
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Footnotes:
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*: Seishi really means Star, so that's how the stupid translators would read it.