Disclaimer: I do not own Fushigi Yuugi, nor do I plan to. Sorry.
Notes: Extereme AU- Everyone exists on the same plane of existance, but there are differences in who they are (at least not in character... hopefully!). As the story goes on, you'll learn more details, since this **does** start smack in the middle of things.
Italics mean thoughts... and enjoy!
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"You made the final cut?!" The young harem girl pushed her long purple hair back as she looked down the hall anxiously, making sure no one was looking as she let the soldier beside her into her room. As soon as she shut the door, she pushed the table next to her in front of the door, taking time to make sure that the door could not be opened.
"I made it, thank god." The warrior stood proud in the room, before smirking gallantly and pulled off his helmet, letting his long, brown hair fall down his back, it's cut and style giving the man a feminine look.
"How did you do it?" The man smiled at the woman, without saying a word. "Miaka!!! Tell me!"
"You know not to call me Miaka!" The man snapped.
"Sorry... It just slipped... But please, tell me." The woman pleaded with him, her eyes growing soft, and her lips curving as her hands intertwined, hoping her look of pity would help persuade the man.
"Fine... But, honestly Kourin," the man continued as he pulled off his armor, "I'm not sure. I thought that they would have picked others, such as the men who excelled at multitasking. You know for a fact that I can't walk and hold a tray at the same time; it's a wonder I'm still in the harem." As he shoved the armor under the bed, he began to pull of his pants, and then replaced them with a long skirt. "I think it was because I beat almost everyone at fencing, and I came in first when we were racing."
"You beat almost everyone?! That's amazing!" The man sighed, then tightened the skirt before continuing.
"First of all, it doesn't matter. What matters is protecting the emperor." He stopped for a moment, looking pensive as he remembered his day, and what trials he went through.
"Yeah, yeah, I know. You have to protect the emperor... I know this! I've heard those words so many times!"
"Sorry if it gets repetitive... And do you know where my shirt is?"
"I left it in the closet... Let me get it. You get out of that sweaty top!"
"Alright Kourin, I will." The warrior listened, and pulled off the shirt, the only thing underneath it a huge bandage, wrapped around his entire chest, covering his ribs and heart. "But why did you have to tie the bandage so tight?!"
"Today was an important day- if they saw you, you could have die-"
"I always could have died! It's a risk I was willing to take!" Kourin's face fell as she heard the words. "Ko- Kourin... I'm sorry. You always know how obsessive I am when I hear people go on about how risky life is. I'm sorry."
"It's ok, don't worry about it... No worries." She gave a small smile to her friend, before realizing something. "You really need to pull off that bandage! It looks ridiculous with that skirt darling!" As she laughed, her companion looked down, and joined in, agreeing with the statement. "Here, let me pull it off!" Kourin placed the shirt next top her, and began to unravel the bandage.
As the bandage became looser, and the amount of skin covering the chest began to grow, the warrior's chest slowly became less flat and more pronounced. Finally, as the bandage was removed entirely, it was proved that the person in front of Kourin was not, in fact, a man, the curves proving that the warrior was a woman, just on the brink of reaching full womanhood. As she pulled on the shirt, covering her now exposed cleavage, the look gave her a more delicate and pure look than the armor, which had always been drenched in pride, had done.
"Oh, Miaka..." Kourin gushed over her friend, looking her deep in her eyes. "You're so gorgeous! It's just... You look so different in that damn armor! Why do you have to go out and act like a man? I don't understand..."
"You wouldn't understand... It means so much to me because of the people I love... I have to do this." Miaka finished her statement as she slid into her slippers, and walked over to her dresser, atop it a mirror and seemingly thousands of makeup items, jewelry and hair clips. "Plus," She noted as she pulled her hair into a simple knot in her head, "I want to do this. And the head of guards is always looking for willing soldiers to become one of the emperor's guards. Why not?"
Oh, Kourin... there's so many things I wish I could tell you... such as old heartaches, and him... Maybe someday, however. You're not ready to hear everything I've been meaning to say to you for so long now...
"Because the head guard wants men to protect the emperor! Not women- especially not someone who's on the emperor's list to be his wife!"
"We're all on the emperor's list! Isn't that the point of the harem?" Miaka glanced into her mirror, and nodded at her reflection. "I need to get out of this room... Want to take a walk with me?"
"Suuure... why not? There is nothing better that I would like to do than take a walk with my best friend..."
"Kouriiiiiin..." As Miaka whined, Kourin hushed her teasing remarks, not wanting to see her friend upset.
"Fine, I shall go with you on this walk of yours." Miaka's eyes widened, and she rushed towards her friend, reaching out and grabbing her in a huge hug.
"If we see anyone I know, I'll point him out... especially if he's cute!"
"What about that one guy you don't like..." Miaka backed away as her face took on a less than pleasant hue, her face scrunching up.
She brought him up... great. The last person I want to even think about is the main subject now...
"I haven't pointed him out yet? If I see him, I'll try to point him out. I don't want to seem weird, and scare him."
"Thank you. Now I can see if he's worth the criticism you've given him before!"
"Believe me," Miaka noted under her breath, "He's worth all of it and more." Turning, she walked to the door, and unlocked it, the entire time muttering about her hatred of the man Kourin had just brought up. Suddenly, after her feet left the room, she turned. "Kourin, come on! I want to walk, not stay in my room all day!"
"Miaka! I was coming!"
"Oh really?" Miaka said with a smug look on her face. "And you are still in the room because..."
"Oh shut up!" And with that, Kourin stepped out of the room, and walked away, Miaka trailing after her.
"Kourin! Why didn't you wait for me?!" Miaka whined at Kourin, who paused after hearing the question. She then turned to Miaka, with a funny look upon her face.
"You know... I hate to say this, but you change so easily and quickly..."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"When you are... umm... you know what I mean... you act so... different." Miaka stared at her, with a serious look in her eyes.
"What do you mean by that? Is it bad?"
Is she serious? I mean... I know that I need to concentrate on the soldier, but is it that big of a difference from now?
"No, it's not bad! It's just... different." Kourin slung her arm around Miaka, giving her dearest friend a hug as she continued to explain. "When you... yeah... It's like your lost to me, like you're someone else. Then you come back, and it's like you're you again; There's no part of you that says you want to be a... I don't get it. It's a complete mind change." Kourin let out a sigh, and walked down the hall, as Miaka slowed down, thinking of what she just heard.
"Kourin... I guess you're right," Miaka admitted slowly. "This has been going on for so long now... I guess I'm just used to ignoring that part of me that loves to run around with a sword in my hand, fighting for the sheer thrill of it when I'm in a dress."
"Lucky..."
"Kourin! What, so now you want to be in my shoes!"
"No, silly, because your shoes are too small for me!" Miaka's jaw dropped after hearing the smart remark.
"Not by much!"
"It does get painful after a while..."
"Oh shut up," Miaka commanded after crossing her arms and turning away.
"What, so now we're throwing a hissy fit?"
"Kourin!" Miaka raised her voice, stamping her foot. She turned, and looked deeply in Kourin's eyes, but her frown weakened considerably as time went on, and finally her fierce demeanor broke away, and she couldn't help but laugh hysterically. Kourin joined in, as Miaka's fearless giggles didn't stop.
"Miaka... we need to calm down. We're getting looked at," Kourin managed to push out between hysterics.
"Who cares?"
"Apparently not you." By now, Miaka had stopped her giggles, and looked up at the person, whose deep voice had just commented on her eager snicker.
"Kishuku!! That's not fair!" Miaka whined, standing up straight, and looking the man in the eyes, challenging his every word and action. She then put on a cocky smile, and tried to retort back at him, but was interrupted.
"Ahh, fairness... We've discussed this before, haven't we Miaka?" The man edged forward, gray eyes staring down Miaka. "A woman is-"
"Ok, I've heard that part before." Miaka turned sulking, avoiding Kishuku. "Wait... why are you here?"
"Isn't that what a guard does?"
"True..." Miaka agreed, turning as tried to keep the subject alive, but the words died on her lips when she saw the man who was in Kishuku's place only moments before, his lips open wide as his voice projected farther out than it should have. Her jaw dropped daintily as she noted the familiar tone of voice, one she it seems had always heard.
Is it... does he know anything? I swore... It is him, yelling like he always is... but has he figured anything out? Will he? And how am I going to act?!
"Genrou, chill! I keep telling you to back off, so do it!" Kishuku turned, eyes looking sheepishly at Miaka and Kourin, then opened his mouth again. "I apologize-" He gestured toward his friend, "For his rude behavior."
"What rude behavior?" He looked at Kourin and Miaka. "Who are you?" The man's amber eyes shined with confusion as he stared ahead, particularly at Miaka.
Why is he looking at me?
"We're just ladies of the harem, sir, nothing mo-" Kourin frantically said, before Miaka interrupted her.
"Her name is Kourin, mine being Miaka," She said swiftly, trying to pull out any sort of loathing out of her voice.
"Ohh! Forgot about that part! This is Genrou." Kishuku pointed out the man, who gave a one-fanged smirk at the two.
"Well, I'm sorry to say, but we really must be going now, so until next time!" Miaka grabbed Kourin's arm, and waved to Kishuku before walking away. However, her other arm was no longer swinging free by her side, but was held tightly in the strong hand of Genrou. Before she could pull her hand back, he had whipped her around, looking over her
His eyes... I've never noticed how pretty they are...
"Goddamn, you look familiar."
He can't... could he?
"What do you mean by that?" Miaka asked in a low voice.
"Your eyes... the shape of your face... Have we met before?" Miaka's eyes widened slightly as she saw an unfamiliar look in his eyes, one she had never seen before.
"I- I have a brother." She pushed the words out quickly, panicking.
"Wait, is your brother..." Trailing off, Genrou understood why she was so familiar. Miaka nodded, and lowered her eyes, avoiding contact with him.
"He never told me that he had a sister... Especially one such as you..."
Does he want to say more? And what's with those looks? You've never look at me unless I snapped at you... or is the dress that I'm wearing?
"Is that good or bad?" Genrou smirked at Miaka.
"Whatever you want it to be." His words, softer than a feather, made Miaka's jaw drop. He then let her hand go gently, and backed away, his eyes searching deep into hers.
"What was up with him?" Kourin whispered lightly to Miaka, as she stood rooted to the ground. Finally, Miaka nodded slightly, and raised her voice.
"Well... We really have to go now... sorry to leave you both so soon..." Miaka backed up a bit, holding onto Kourin's arm, waving. "Good day!" From there, she rushed away, not bothering let Kishuku or Genrou say anything.
"Wait, Miaka! Slow down! You're a lady, remember? Miaka!" Kourin yelled, trying to stop the running girl. Miaka heard none of it, as her mind was currently on the flame-haired man she had just encountered.
He couldn't have... What was with those looks? I've never been looked at in that way before... have I? He looked so... different, other than his usual growl and sharp eyes... Does he...
"Miaka, wait! Who was he?" Miaka stopped suddenly, causing Kourin to run into her. However, Miaka stood rooted to the ground. "Is he that bad? You know hi, right?"
"Kourin, do you remember how I said earlier I beat nearly everyone this morning?" She received a nod. "Well... he was also the same person who beat me today at most things I just missed coming in first."
"That's not so bad, is it?" Miaka shook her head.
"It's not horrible, but he's also hated me since day one."
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