The almighty disclaimer- Alright, I don't own any of the original characters in this fic. In fact, I own Nikki. Tsunoiya owns herself, Tsurai owns herself, Nimue owns herself, and Kai-chi owns herself. They are all real life friends of mine. The bad guys that eventually show up, I kinda own them, but the people they're based after can keep them. Except Tyche. Tyche owns Tyche. This is a fic I wrote in school over a period of weeks. The way the characters act and such are exactly as they do in reality, or would, should this circumstance occur. Now, onto the show!

The Honor of Suzaku

Nikki – Blue eyed brunette with hair a bit longer than shoulder length. About 5'6, 16 years old. Likes an

adventure but doesn't want to hurt anybody.

Nimue – Black hair cut to shape with her head, brown eyes. About 5'7, 16 years old. Likes to wreck havoc

but is also willing to help someone in need.

Tsunoiya – Blonde, almost white hair cut a bit shorter than shoulder length, blue eyes. About 5'5, 16 years

old. Will wreck havoc at all costs and doesn't stop to think before she acts.

Tsurai – Hair same as Tsunoiya's except with purple at the top, just past shoulder length, purple/violet

eyes. About 5'2, 16 years old. Sensible unless it comes to someone she cares for (Tasuki).

Kai-chi – Same hair color as Tsunoiya mid back length, green eyes. About 5'8, 16 years old. She doesn't

like to get too involved in things, but loves to get a laugh out of Tsunoiya.

"Taiitsukun what are we supposed to do no da?" Chichiri questioned the old goddess as Nyan-Nyans ran amok. "We didn't expect Kutou to try again no da. We can't expect Houki and Boushin to handle a siege like the last one no da."

Taiitsukun sighed and looked out over the land she made her home on. She was silent for an awkward moment after.

"You all had known most of your lives…" she said quietly. "I had never thought it would come to them…they don't even know…"

"What do you mean by 'they' Taiitsukun no da?"

Taiitsukun faced her old student.

"There are five others Chichiri, five who bear symbols chosen by Suzaku. They are…have been…back ups of sorts, in case of an emergency. They aren't the same symbols you know, but they're Suzaku's all the same."

"W…where can I find them no da? If I have to I will no da!"

"They're in a while different world from this and Miaka's. I'd have to send you right to them and it could be dangerous."

"Taiitsukun…"

"Alright then, if it's alright with you, clear your mind. I'll send ya through." Taiitsukun gave a secretive grin. "Don't worry though," she said as she began, "the girls should be relatively easy to find."

"Girls no da?!" Before he could say anything else, he was gone.

~Meanwhile, in a mall in a small town in Florida…~

"BREAK!" Tsunoiya made a dive for the glassware store. Nikki and Kai-chi had to act fast to grab and restrain her.

"No Tsunoiya! Bad kitty!" Nikki scolded.

"Aw, lighten up guys, I wasn't really gonna break anything…" Tsunoiya protested.

"You sure Tsunoiya?" Tsurai questioned.

"Positive."

Kai-chi hesitated then let go. Tsunoiya immediately flew forward, dragging Nikki to the door until the girl tumbled off. Behind Nikki, Kai-chi, Tsurai, and Nimue stared as Tsunoiya disappeared in dust and resounding crashes as glass vase after glass figure fell to the floor faster than the girl could move.

"I think….we let the bull…in the china shop…" Nimue muttered, aghast. All four were sweatdropping, wide eyed. Finally, the echo of breaking glass stopped reverberating and the dust began to settle. In the middle of the shop sat Tsunoiya, tiger chibi tail waving happily. Not a single piece of glassware was intact.

"Tsu…noi…ya…" Kai-chi twitched. The group remembered Tsunoiya's last escapade when Kai-chi had to shell out for everything. Now they were broke and the situation was much worse.

"Meow?" Chibi neko Tsunoiya asked innocently. That's when the manager came running in. When he saw the destruction, the cat girl in the middle of it all and four girls staring at the whole thing, his face turned red, then blue, then purple.

"Someone…is going….to pay for this!" he hollered. Security had already come and were behind the four at the door.

"Run!"

Whether it was Nimue, Nikki, Kai-chi or Tsurai that gave this order, they all ran. Tsunoiya caught up quickly. The mall was crowded so losing security for a short time was easy. But they had to be safe. Nimue, who was in front of the group, looked back to see if they were still being chased and…

BAM! All five toppled over like dominoes.

"Hey, watch…" the person began.

"We didn't do it! We're innocent! We never did a thing! It's…it's all her fault!" Nikki pointed at Tsunoiya.

"It was an accident! I swear it!"

"We tried to stop her! Honest!" Tsurai protested.

"We're not with her," Nimue said simply.

"I'm BROKE! Don't make me pay again!" Kai-chi whined.

"Um…why don't you just watch where you're going no da?"

The group paused and gave surprised glances.

"Na…no da?" Nikki said, stunned.

"No da?" Tsunoiya said, just as stunned. Slowly the five girls raised their heads up to the cause of their collision.

"Hole–"

"Y–"

"Shit!" Nikki, Nimue, and Tsurai said on right after the other.

Chichiri looked down at the group of girls who had run into him. Five, the exact number he was looking for, and all girls. Plus it seemed like they knew who he was. He glanced down at the mirror in his hand, the same one Taiitsukun had given Miaka a few years ago. It was going crazy, flashing five symbols so fast they were unreadable.

Taiitsukun was right… he thought. They were easy to find.

"I think you five are exactly who I'm looking for no da."

"W…What…? Us? How…?" the five girls stuttered.

"That's them!"

The store manager's voice echoed at them. Nikki, Nimue, Tsurai, Kai-chi and Tsunoiya turned their heads. The security guards were coming with the store manager and fast. The five girls jumped up and behind Chichiri.

"If we're the ones you're looking for then get us out of here!" Nikki begged.

"If you say so no da."

There was a red light, then a flash as the six disappeared. As they left, their last glimpse was of the security guards skidding to a stop, one right after another.

"Fuck it that was NOT fun…" Tsunoiya grumbled, rubbing the back of her head. She had found herself flat on her back in Taiitsukun's palace, along with her friends.

"Watch your mouth Tsunoiya," Kai-chi warned.

"How? Take my fuckin eyeballs out and turn 'em around?!" Tsunoiya yelled.

"Um, Tsunoiya, it's a figure of speech…" Tsurai sweatdropped.

"Tell that to my eyeballs!"

"Hello…would anyone else like to know what's going on here?" Nikki waved her hand in her friends' faces. All eyes turned to Taiitsukun and Chichiri.

"Here's the story girls. You are five chosen by Suzaku to take the places of the five…absent without leave…seishi. Am I correct in saying you are familiar with this story?"

"WHERE'S SUBOSHI?!" Tsunoiya screeched.

"I WANT TASUKI!" Tsurai hollered.

"Tama…home…WHERE IS HE?!" Kai-chi added. Nikki and Nimue sweatdropped.

"I'll take that as a yes…Either of you two have anyone to declare your love to?"

"I don't know the story too well, but Tamahome's my favorite…" Nimue said.

"HE'S MINE!" Kai-chi countered. Nikki just shook her head quickly. Taiitsukun looked at her suspiciously.

"You sure kiddo?"

"That is my final answer."

"She likes Ch–" Nikki slammed a hand over Tsunoiya's mouth.

"Haven't you done enough damage for today?"

Tsunoiya shook her head. Nikki glared at her.

"Say no more than you have."

"Well, back to topic…" All attention was on the aged goddess again. "Tamahome is gone, married to Miaka."

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO…"

"Chiriko is dead. Mitsukake is dead."

"OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO…"

"Nuriko's dead and Hotohori is dead."

"OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO…"

"Take a breath will ya no da?" Chichiri asked, sweatdropping.

"OOOOOOoookay."

"Anyway…" Taiitsukun was sweatdropping as well, "you five have been chosen by Suzaku to take their places. Only question is, who is who and who are you. And what can you do."

"That's three questions."

"Don't correct me Missy."

"Er…yes Ma'am…"

"She's right, we haven't formally introduced ourselves yet."

"I'm never formal."

"Shut up Tsunoiya."

"Whaaaaaat?"

Nimue went first.

"My name's Nimue," she said. "I like to fight and read manga and fanfiction. I like long haired guys with a sense of humor and who are fighters."

"My name's Tsurai. That's all you need to know. Now where's TASUKI?!"

"My ear Tsurai…" muttered Kai-chi. "Anyway, I'm Kai-chi and I really like sensitive guys."

"I'm Tsunoiya! I'm a tiger demon and I love Sake and breaking thinks and Suboshi and food and torturing people and Suboshi and more sake and…did I say Suboshi?"

"Many, many times…" Nikki told her.

"By the way, she's not a tiger demon, she just really wants to be," Nimue informed Chichiri and Taiitsukun.

"I'm Nikki. I'm a writer and an actress. I also like to think I'm the most restrained in the group. That about sums me up in a nutshell."

"But you're more than that…" Tsunoiya started, then she smacked herself. "Argh! You're making me want to think and I'm killing brain cells! Thanks a lot Nik!"

Nikki grinned.

"Welcome."

"Enough of this silliness!" Taiitsukun shouted. "Now kneel you five! We've got more to do!"

As a group, the five knelt to the group, despite the fact that Tsunoiya needed a tug of inspiration from Kai-chi.

"Now to see who you've taken the place of. Chichiri, gimme the mirror."

Chichiri handed her the mirror and looked over her shoulder to watch, not that this was a hard task. Taiitsukun stood in front of Nimue first. The mirror began to reflect a single sign.

"Pride no da…" Chichiri said, reading the symbol.

A red glow surrounded the mirror and Nimue. The girl closed her eyes tightly as a burning sensation rose on her neck.

"That's where Hotohori's sign was no da."

"Which means, Nimue, that you're in the emperor's place."

"Awesome!"

"Congrats, Nimue," the girls said. However their thoughts were the same. Who would take Tamahome's place?! Tsurai was next in line.

"Innocence."

"What?!" Tsurai shouted. "I am NOT innocent! Nothing like it!"

"Well that's your symbol." The mirror and Tsurai glowed red. A deeper red glow came from her upper left chest.

"I got Nuriko's place! Kewl!" Tsurai said happily. Just out of curiosity, she tried to pick up Nikki and succeeded well.

"Tsurai! Put me down!"

Tsurai shrugged and dropped her.

"I…didn't mean like that….owww…"

Taiitsukun moved in front of Kai-chi. The symbol for rose reflected in it, and the mirror glowed, but Kai-chi didn't.

"What…but…I don't….I'm not….?"

Nimue tapped her on the shoulder then pointed at her foot. There was a dim red glow coming from her shoe.

"Oh. I got Chiriko's place. Never mind." Kai-chi grinned.

"Yep, Chiriko no da."

Only Tsunoiya and Nikki were left. Neither of them seemed likely for Tamahome's place: quiet, controlled Nikki or loud, sake and Suboshi loving Tsunoiya. Considering the choices though, Tsunoiya seemed to be most likely. Her turn was next.

"Tsunoiya, your symbol is…what in the?!"

"Saké no da?!"

"Whoohoo! Saké!"

As Tsunoiya punched the air, a red glow shot from her clenched fist. Slowly, she opened it. The symbol for saké glowed on her palm, Mitsukake's symbol location. That meant…

"Nik, you must have…Tamahome's place…" Kai-chi said quietly.

"Me?" Nikki asked, stunned and blinking.

"Angel no da…"

"What?"

"Your symbol…Angel."

A warm red sensation engulfed Nikki. She closed her eyes from the bright red glow on her forehead. The symbol flickered for a second, then stayed, and the glow vanished.

"Angel, Pride, Innocence, Rose and…Saké…so those are the chosen symbols of Suzaku. The Suzaku seven is complete again."

"I'd rather be Seiryuu with Suboshi…" Tsunoiya pouted.

"Talk about sleeping with the enemy," Nimue stated. Nikki laughed. Kai-chi smacked Tsunoiya.

"Whaaat?"

"We're Suzaku's Tsunoiya. Suboshi and Seiryuu are our enemies."

Nikki nodded. "You'll be out to glomp him while he'll be trying to kill you."

Tsunoiya continued to pout. Silence followed it. Then, her nose raised up into the air. She sniffed it.

"CAT-NIP!"

The girl dove at Kai-chi. Kai-chi ducked and Tsunoiya landed…on all four feet.

"What the heck?! Tsunoiya!"

"You…you're…"

I'm what? Tsunoiya looked around. Shit! Y'all grew!

"Tsunoiya, you shrunk…look at yourself…you're a tiger!"

Tsunoiya looked at her feet.

Striped paws… she swished her tail. Striped tail…Sweet Suzaku I'm a tiger!

"Really now?" Nikki grinned.

"Kai-chi, why do you have cat-nip with you?" Tsurai asked.

Kai-chi flashed the bottle. "Bought some for my neko from the pet supply store."

Tsurai and Nimue pulled Tsunoiya away from Kai-chi. With the tiger away from the smell of the cat-nip, a quick transformation took place. Within seconds, Tsunoiya was human again. That is, a girl with a tiger tail and ears.

"Tsunoiya, you still got the tail…"

"And ears."

Tsunoiya was too busy running around the room cheering, "I'm a tiger demon, I'm a tiger demon!"

A burst of lightning blasted the tiger girl. Tsunoiya was frozen in mid-step, electrified. She spit out a small cloud of smoke.

"That…hurt…"

"Soi! She's come to get me no da!" Chichiri shrieked, diving behind Taiitsukun. Nikki giggled. All eyes turned to her. The brunette stood back from the group, a smug grin on her face.

"I'm gonna enjoy this…" she grinned.

"Nikki, you can throw lightning no da?" Chichiri asked, coming out from behind his miniature shield.

"Lightning fire and ice," she answered, still grinning.

"How do you know?" Taiitsukun asked.

"Easy. Suzaku told me. He's on his way to you four too."

Tsurai gave a twitch then raised her hands up to shoulder height. A green light glowed on her hands and shot into a perfect ball. The ball flashed and Suboshi appeared in front of them.

"SUBOSHI!"

Tsunoiya made a flying dive and slammed into the ground. The Suboshi had disappeared into the green ball. The ball solidified and landed in Tsurai's hands. She held the ball carefully.

"I have image magic…"

"SHOW ME SUBOSHI!!!" Tsunoiya screamed, shaking Tsurai.

"Hey, look at Kai-chi!"

"What?" Kai-chi looked at them. Then she realized she was hovering in mid-air. "All the abilities I could have gotten I had to get levitation…" she muttered.

"It's got advantages. You can toss Tsunoiya around and she couldn't do a thing about it!" Nikki said. Almost instantly, Tsunoiya's feet left the ground. The girl began zooming around the room, again. Finally, after a minute, Kai-chi let Tsunoiya drop. Her eyes were swirling and her tail was waving. Nikki zapped her again.

"I'm up, I'm up!" a slightly electrified Tsunoiya screeched.

"Could ya stop doing that Nikki no da? It's too much like Soi no da…"

"Okay Chichiri," she said, smiling. Tsunoiya snickered.

"I'll switch to fire." Tsunoiya shut up. "Smart kitty."

"I know this is unlike me but…would you like me to heal you Tsunoiya?" Nimue asked. Tsunoiya nodded. Her tail was poofed out and her hair was standing on end. Nimue moved down to the ground near Tsunoiya and held out her hand. There was a green glow from her symbol to her hand. Tsunoiya's hair and fur straightened out and she lost her charred look.

"Who woulda thought, Mitsukake being healed by Hotohori no da."

"That is…an odd way to look at it," Nikki agreed.

"Well that solves everything then," Taiitsukun said.

"I can turn into a tiger," Tsunoiya sung cheerfully.

"Our own little Ashitare," Nikki said just as cheerfully. Tsunoiya grabbed her by the neck.

"Say…that…again…"

Nikki smiled more and pointed at Tsunoiya. "Our own little Ashitare…" A burst of flame shot out of her finger and engulfed Tsunoiya. "Extra crispy."

Tsunoiya coughed out a puff of smoke and put out her tail.

"That's IT! This is WAR Nikki!"

"Whatcha think you can do to me?" Nikki taunted.

"Well…I can't physically attack you…so…"

"SO?" a smug smile rested on Nikki's face.

Tsunoiya took a deep breath.

"NIKKI LOVES CHICHIRI!"

Nikki's smirk was gone in seconds and replaced by a red blush. It was Tsunoiya's turn to smirk.

"Sleep with one eye open cat-girl…you are gonna die…"

"Oh it was so worth it."

"Did I miss anything no da? Nyan-Nyan needed a hand with something no da." Chichiri walked into the room.

"When'd you leave?" Tsurai asked.

"Right after Nimue healed Tsunoiya no da. So did I miss anything?"

Nimue, Tsurai, Kai-chi and Taiitsukun burst into laughter at Tsunoiya's face. As she opened her mouth to yell again, a white flash issued from Nikki and Tsunoiya's mouth was frozen shut.

"Nope, nothing," Nikki said innocently.

"O…kay no da…What'd Tsunoiya say no da?"

"Nothing."

"I heard," a Nyan-Nyan poked her head in.

"What no da?" Nikki, standing behind Chichiri was signaling for the girl to keep quiet.

"That girl behind you who's trying to tell me to stop talking likes you…Oh, wait. I wasn't supposed to say that was I? Oh well!" she skipped off.

"I can't win…" Nikki groaned, leaning against Tsunoiya. Her lips had finally melted.

"Make that we."

Nimue, Tsurai, and Kai-chi were still cracking up. Nikki and Tsunoiya shared looks of defeat. Chichiri had a look of mixed amusement on his masked face and Taiitsukun just smiled.

"Alright you five, time to go home. Thanks for the laughs." There was a flash of light and the room was empty of everyone but Taiitsukun. The goddess sighed, laughing a bit.

"Saké…what in the world were you thinking?"

A voice seemed to answer back, "Don't ask."

The five girls found themselves on the Konan palace grounds.

"I thought she said we were going home," Kai-chi protested.

"This is your home…for now no da. I know it's not what you're used to but we really need you no da."

"For what exactly do you need us?" Nikki asked.

"Kutou is trying to take over Konan no da. The emperor of Kutou is coming close to his goal too no da. That's why we had to get you all no da. You're the next Suzaku's chosen no da!"

"What the fuck are you talkin about?" a familiar redhead popped around the corner.

"DUCK AND COVER!" Tsunoiya shouted. Nimue, Nikki, Kai-chi and Tsunoiya jumped to the ground as a flash shot right where they had just been and latched onto Tasuki. It was Tsurai.

"Tasuki!!!"
"AGH! LEECH!!"

"No, girl no da."

"WORSE!!"

Tsurai squeezed Tasuki.

"Aw you know you love me. I love you!" Tsurai squealed.

"Tsurai, be a good seishi and let him go…" Kai-chi said.

"I DUN WANNA!!"

"Tsurai you're gonna strangle him. Let him go!" Nimue ordered.

"Oh…no! I won't!" Tsurai pouted and clung tighter.

"Let him go or you're gonna get Soid," Nikki threatened.

"Soid no da?" Nikki's hand crackled. Reluctantly Tsurai let go. Tasuki took in gulps of air.

"Chichiri…what the fuck are you doing with five GIRLS?!"

"Um…they're…our replacement seishi no da?"

"You're fuckin kidding me…"

"No no da."

"You mean these five….are taking the places of the five others who are fuckin DEAD or something?"

"Na no da."

"DAMN IT! I am NOT living with five fuckin GIRLS for however long this Damn siege lasts!"

"Tasuki-chan, don't be so stubborn. We aren't all like Tsurai…aka leech," Nikki assured him.

"Yeah, one of us has self control," Tsunoiya jabbed Nikki with her elbow, grinning. Nikki pushed her away.

"Can it cat girl."

"Anyway, Tasuki, these are Kai-chi, Nimue, Tsunoiya, Nikki, and Tsurai no da."

"Leech."

"NIKKI!"

"Hey, lighten up Tsurai," Kai-chi protested, smiling.

"Leech."

"DON'T YOU START NIMUE!"

"It's fun!" Nimue grinned.

"Chichiri? Tasuki?" A woman with a child holding her hand came around the corner. "Oh, I didn't know we had guests."

"They're more than guests you highness no da. These are the five other seishi no da. Nikki, Tsurai, Nimue, Tsunoiya, Kai-chi no da. Empress Houki and Crown Prince Boushin no da."

"Highness," Nikki said politely, beginning to bow. Tsunoiya whacked her.

"Don't be so damn formal. You make me look bad."

"I hope you can help us. Kutou's so close to getting in…I wish Hotohori were here again. We'd have some idea what to do." Houki's face radiated trust, even towards the five complete strangers.

"Houki…we'll do our best!" Nimue assured her.

"That's what we're here for, right?" Kai-chi agreed.

"We'll save Konan if it takes us our lives!" Nikki spoke for the group.

"Says who?" Tsunoiya muttered. Kai-chi and Nikki smacked her.

"I'll save Tasuki!" Tsurai got whapped by four hands. "Okay, okay! And Konan!"

~Later that night, after being situated…~

There was a knock on Tsurai's door.

"Come in!"

Kai-chi peered in.

"Hey Tsurai." She stepped into the room.

"Yo Kai. Sup?"

"Not much. I'm just…wondering…"

"Wondering what?"

"Why us?"

"Huh?"

"Why're we the ones to take the places of the others?" Kai-chi asked. "And why did we get the places we got?"

"I've been thinking about that too," Nimue said, appearing in the doorway before walking in. "And I think I have an answer."

"Well spill it sister!" Tsurai ordered.

"Haven't you realized how opposite we are from the others?"

"Huh?" Kai-chi didn't understand.

"I think we were selected because of our differences. The most obvious difference is we're all girls. We come from a whole different time period. Bet you if we have a Miko she's from here. Plus, we already know the past of this place."

"Good point, but what about the one's we replaced?"

"Same thing. Look at Mitsukake, the quiet guy who wouldn't ever do anything wrong. Then look at Tsunoiya, loud, sake and Suboshi loving Tsunoiya. Total opposites."

"That's right! Chiriko's the smallest of the seishi, but I'm the largest of our group!"

"Nuriko was bi, but I'm straight as a line…and I wasn't the strongest person back home either."

Nimue nodded.

"I've never been conceited and I'm terrible with a sword unlike Hotohori. And Nikki? Money doesn't matter to her, she's an only child, and she's no fighter. She prefers to hang with us and be playful. We're all the opposites of who we are!"

"That makes…more sense than I expected…" Kai-chi admitted. Tsurai nodded in agreement.

~Meanwhile…~

Nikki was a few doors down in her room. She had gotten Miaka's old room and was gong through the closet filled with interesting things left behind by the girl, and a few clothes. The only problem was the door. It just wouldn't stay open. There was a single box that Nikki just couldn't reach without moving her foot away from the door. Happily, she heard Tsunoiya passing by. Tsunoiya had a very distinct footstep, heavier than everyone else.

"Tsunoiya?" the footsteps stopped. "Could ya give me a hand here? Hold this door for a sec?" The footsteps came over to the door and she felt it leave her foot. She stepped away and smiled at Tsunoiya. "Thanks."

"Nooooo problem…" Tsunoiya then proceeded to hiccup. Nikki turned and took two steps towards the box. Then, all light in the closet dimmed and the door clicked shut.

"Tsunoiya?" Nikki heard a thud on the ground. "Tsunoiya! Tsunoiya?! Tsu, let me out! Are you okay?! Tsunoiya?!" There was no reply. Nikki began to panic. "Tsurai! Nimue! Kai-chi! Someone get me out of here!" There were no sounds of anybody. "Anybody?" Still no answer. Knowing that there was no way to open the door from where she was, Nikki desperately threw her shoulder into the door. It didn't budge. She cringed a bit. "Damn, that hurt…" Ignoring the pain, she tried again. She thought she felt it weakening a bit. As she went for the third time, the door opened. Instead on hitting the door, she sent herself and her rescuer flying.

"Nice to see you too no da…" Nikki flushed as she and Chichiri stood up.

"Um…s…sorry…"

"It's okay no da. What happened here?" Tsunoiya was flat on the ground, a bottle nearby. As Nikki picked up the bottle to examine it, Chichiri formulated what may have happened. "Perhaps a Kutou spy got in and locked you in there then hit Tsunoiya and ran no da…"

Nikki giggled a bit.

"Way off, Chichiri."

"Then what…?" Nikki held up the bottle for him to see.

"Saké bottle. She was drunk and I asked her to hold the door."

Chichiri paused to think about this.

"You know, that makes a lot more sense no da."

Nikki looked over at Tsunoiya.

"Could you help me get her to her room? She's way too heavy for me."

"I can do it no da." He lifted the tiger girl over his shoulder. Tsunoiya muttered something about pink bunnies and purple elephants.

"Must remember to tell someone to lock the saké cabinet. Now…I think she got Nuriko's old room."

There was silence a bit of the way there

"How old are you five anyway no da?"

"We're all sixteen, but Nimue's birthday is in a few days."

"I see no da…is this her room no da?"

Nikki looked in.

"Yeah. She was griping about the room color before." Chichiri walked in and placed Tsunoiya on her bed.

"Mommy save me! The purple elephants are hitting me with empty saké bottles!" Tsunoiya's hands shot out and grabbed Chichiri's arm.

"Daaa…"

Nikki laughed.

"Don't laugh, help me no da!" Nikki, still smiling, walked over and took Tsunoiya elbow. Whatever she did next, the arm let go. She did the same for Tsunoiya's other arm.

"Arigato no da…"

"It was nothing," Nikki smiled, then walked out of the room.

"Nik, what're you doing in Tsunoiya's room?" Nimue asked curiously, stopping in front of Nikki.

"Huh? Oh hey Nimue."

Nimue peeked into the room and saw Chichiri in there too, massaging his arm. Tsunoiya had a strong grip. She smirked.

"Oh, I see…"
Nikki's eyes narrowed.

"Pervert. We were just bringing Tsunoiya back after she got too drunk and collapsed."

"Uh huh, sure…" Nimue nodded, still smirking.

"Aw, go ask Tsurai to lend ya a Duo image for the night," Nikki said, trying to get Nimue's mind elsewhere.

"Hey….that's not a bad idea! Tsurai!" Nimue turned and ran towards Tsurai's room again.

"Do I wanna know no da?"

"Trust me, you don't….well," Nikki faced Chichiri. "Thanks again for helping me. I'm gonna go to bed."

"Okay, sleep well no da."

She smiled at him one more time before walking off to her room.

~Next morning…~

Tsunoiya's eyes opened drowsily.

"Oh…man, what an awesome dream….I coulda sworn that Tsurai and the gang and me got taken to…" wide-eyed, she looked around the room. Outside a servant girl shrieked as five screams echoed around her.