Disclaimer: I wear pink and I don't own Fushigi Yuugi.
~AU please! ~
***
Evil Does Not Wear Pink
PinkVerse#1
by:omni82
***
"I am evil. I do not wear pink." Nakago adamantly stated as he pulled the rosy cloak off his wide shoulders. His wife, Soi, sighed wearily and put it back on him.
"You are not evil and it's not pink. It's light red. Please put that back on. You'll freeze without it. The wind is bitter today." She struggled with the clasp of the front of the covering but her husband swatted her hands away. His cerulean eyes bore into hers and he repeated his earlier statement more slowly, as if speaking to a very young child.
"I will not wear pink. I am leaving now, woman, but will be back soon. Stay inside where it's warm." Nakago laid the robe gently on a nearby chair, kissed his wife, and headed into the cold. Soi ran a delicate hand through her red hair. The man never took care of himself and hardly ever let her do it for him. It was as if Nakago wanted to be uncomfortable.
Shaking her head, Soi poured herself more coffee and settled in for the day. Despite her hatred of taking orders, she was willing to accept Nakago's last one. It was bone chillingly cold and she wasn't going out unless she had to. The search for the Shinzaho was going on despite the freezing climate. Priestess Yui insisted that all efforts be made to capture the object as soon as possible, even if it meant traveling in harsh weather. Soi snorted to herself and began to tidy up their tent. With a sigh, she realized she could not stay in the comfort of a heated room forever. Soldiers had to be briefed, travel zones set, and preparations made for the following day. And she had to find those annoying little brats before Tomo did.
It wasn't motherly, she knew, to think of her own sons as annoying little brats but the truth was the truth and she had to face up to it. Her sons, Amiboshi and Suboshi, were the most irritating creatures to be spawned off a woman. It was a shame that it was she who would probably bear the shame of her sons misdeeds on this little adventure. Nakago was too much of a hero in Kutou to ever be held responsible for his sons setting the horses loose, switching the maps so half of the regiment ended up somewhere in Konan, and for setting fire to Tomo. Which reminded her…
Soi threw on the same cloak that she had just been trying to get Nakago to wear and hurried outside. For their own protection, Soi had instructed her wayward sons to stick close to Lady Yui for the next day or so while Tomo's temper cooled. It would do no good for their mission if the painted seishi were to trap their minds in a terrifying illusion. Chances were that they would be too traumatized to focus their chi properly. Four-year-olds were so impressionable.
"Tomo, may I come in please?" Soi stood just outside her fellow warrior's tent and called in. Last time she had just walked in and almost had her head bitten off for seeing him with no makeup on.
"Are the evil ones with you?" a nasal voice inquired from within. Soi suppressed a smile. Brats, evil ones, and small hyper maniacs – her sons have been called just about everything. Only Lady Yui thought they were constantly cute. Soi agreed that her sons were adorable when they slept but when they were awake…well, that's something else entirely.
"No, I believe they are with Lady Yui today," Soi replied through the curtain that served as a door.
"I pity her," Tomo said sincerely and then sighed. "You might as well come in."
Soi stepped inside and immediately had to adjust her eyes to the darkness. "By Seiryuu, Tomo, don't you ever light a candle?" Fumbling in the dark, she managed to get some light in the small tent. To her left sat Tomo with full makeup on but no headdress. The remnants of it sat sadly in one corner of the room, half of its feathers burnt off with the other half drooping from the dunking it got.
"I can't believe that Nakago could possibly have sired such monsters." Tomo said in response to her assessing gaze. Soi bristled at the implied insult. She knew that Tomo was in love with Nakago but luckily, she was in the position to pity him.
"Oh but he did and with great vigor. You have to, you know, in order to get twins." Soi smirked at the expression on Tomo's face. He looked as if he had just bitten into a sour apple.
"Are you here for a reason Soi, or just to torment me?"
"Both. I came to tell you that Nakago has a job for you. But, if you're still feeling poorly I can just as easily send Miboshi out…"
"That ugly little twerp?! I think not. Tell me what Nakago wants me to do and I'll do it." Tomo swore. He was so gullible. All Soi ever had to do was threaten Tomo's esteem in Nakago's eyes and he caved.
"Are you sure? I mean, without your headdress and all. Aren't you feeling a bit impotent?" Soi teased. She couldn't help it. The relationship she and Tomo shared was complicated and paradoxical but she understood it well enough to know just how far she could push him.
"Soi, you bitch, just tell me my orders." Ah, there. That was as far as she could go before it came to blows.
"Go out and find the Priestess of Suzaku. Catch her in one of her illusion snares and convince her that the only way to get the Shinzaho back from Nakago is to sleep with him." Tomo just stared at her.
"You're going to let your husband sleep with that celestial slut?!" he exclaimed incredulously. Soi sighed; she hadn't liked the plan either but if Nakago was willing to take one for the team, who was she to judge? Besides, it would never happen. She had her own plans.
"Are you going to go or what?"
Tomo grumbled a bit but ended up wearing a dark cape with a deep cowl in place of his headdress. Soi would have it repaired while he was gone to make up for any ruffled feathers her progeny caused. In the mean time, she had to go protect Ashitare from Nakago's wrath. The smart-mouthed wolf-man always irritated her husband unnecessarily. It was up to her to make sure that Nakago didn't kill him while he was still useful as a babysitter.
"What's the matter Nakago? No thank you? I think that it brings out that ever so lovely shade of red in your eyes." Soi could hear Ashitare's mouth before she even entered the tent. He really was a smarmy bastard.
Clutching Nakago's hand in between hers, Soi's touch was a warning to her husband that he had to let the wolf-man live. The glowing, blue energy dispersed as Nakago reluctantly turned away from Ashitare. He held up a rather gaudy necklace.
"The shinzaho."
Soi nodded, entranced by the power radiating from the piece of jewelry. Nakago pressed it into her hands. "Make me a copy," he said. "When the Priestess of Suzaku comes to visit, she will be allowed to steal the forgery from me. You will keep the original. I hope I don't have to remind you to keep it away from those terrors."
Soi made a face at him. "Don't worry, I'll make sure to keep it away from your sons," she replied, stressing the last two words. When the kids were bad, they were his sons.
Nakago sighed and dismissed her.
Preparing to go into the nearest city took more time than Soi had expected. When she returned to her tent, she found the twins sitting together on her bed with muddy clothes and bloody knees.
"Mama, we fell." Amiboshi sniffled. Soi groaned. With their luck, it was probably off a cliff. She patted him on the head and began pulling their dirty clothes off. Lady Yui apparently had enough of them and deposited them back here. Soi couldn't really blame her; sometimes she wished she was able to do the same. Using a damp washcloth, she washed the crud off her babies and wiped away their tears. After a few cookies, they were laughing again and giving her slightly sticky kisses.
"Mama has to go into town. If I take you with me, can you be good?" Soi asked in resignation. She couldn't very well ask Tomo to take care of them and last time Ashitare babysat, Suboshi came back with an inordinate amount of slobber on him.
"Yes, Mama! We won't get lost like last time!"
"Or break anything!"
"Or set anyone on fire!"
"Or hit anyone with sticks!"
"My kids are monsters," Soi sighed but she nodded her assent anyhow. She really didn't have a choice.
For the general populace's safety, she tied Amiboshi and Suboshi together at the wrists. They did less damage when not in two different groups. She listened with half an ear as they tottered cheerily behind her, pretending to be Lord Nakago and the evil Suzaku seishi. She only had to separate them once when Suboshi made his brother play the part of Suzaku no seishi Tamahome and get hit by flying pebbles. They sat docilely while the jeweler gave her a time and dollar estimate.
"We have three hours to wait, boys. What would you like to do?" Soi asked, turning away from the wizened old craftsman.
But they weren't there.
"Amiboshi? Suboshi? Where are you? Come out right now!" Dashing out into the street, Soi frantically looked for them. The road was crowed with people passing shopping and talking loudly. Her sons were no where in sight.
"If you come out of hiding right now, I'll buy you two cookies!" Bribery was usually an effective way to get them to pay attention but still they didn't come.
"Oh my god," she moaned. "What if someone grabbed them? They could be hurt or dead. My babies… I want my babies!"
Soi grabbed the arm of a passing man. "Please can you help me? You're tall enough to see over the crowd. Can you see a pair of small boys, twins tied together at the wrist?" Instead of looking at the mob, the man stared at her. In a flash, she recognized his face.
"Tamahome…"
"Soi." His voice was cold and his expression menacing. There was no chance of getting him to help her now that she was identified. Tamahome grabbed her wrist almost cruelly, his fingers biting into her tender flesh.
"Where's Nakago?" He demanded. The look in his eyes promised swift and brutal retaliation if her answer didn't please him. While in Hokkan her powers were practically useless. She was, unfortunately, at Tamahome's mercy.
When she didn't answer, his eyes narrowed. "So be it," he pronounced. His grip tightened; she could feel the bones in her arm start to give under the pressure…
Suddenly his grasp ceased and Tamahome howled in pain. He stumbled backward and Soi got a glimpse of her sons attached to her enemy's knees by their teeth. They were sinking their sharp baby teeth into Tamahome's skin and thrashing about. A spray of small pebbles peppered the Suzaku seishi's back as soon as Suboshi thought of using his celestial powers. Tamahome came crashing down.
"Tamahome no da!" That was the voice of the mage, Chichiri. Soi's stomach dropped as she recognized the approaching Suzaku seishi. On his heels was Tasuki, fan unsheathed and flashing.
"Get away from him Seiryuu scum!" Tasuki cried. "Rekka Shinen!" A burst of red hot flames soared at them. Soi managed to summon a small dervish that sucked up the fire before it hit her and her sons. But the force of it drove her back where she tripped over Tamahome, landing in an ungraceful heap on the ground. The boys floundered under her voluminous robe.
"Would you really hit someone's mother?" She pleaded as way of diversion. Chichiri looked torn, giving her the chance to sweep his legs out from under him and grab her children. Their squirming weight hampered her movements and Tasuki grabbed hold of her soon after that. Soi accidentally dropped Suboshi as she was whipped around. He went crashing into the stand of the dye-seller with a yelp. She didn't have time to worry about him as she turned her back to the young Suzaku seishi in order to protect Amiboshi from a blow that never came.
When she turned back, she saw Nakago standing over three unconscious Suzaku seishi. He gave her the once over to make sure she wasn't injured before going to retrieve Suboshi from the wreckage of the dye stand. The little boy was covered head to toe with a muted rose color and wearing a giant grin. The blonde seishi held his son up before him for scrutiny.
"I was wrong," he commented. "Evil does wear pink."
End
~Why you're down here, why don't you review? ~
~AU please! ~
***
Evil Does Not Wear Pink
PinkVerse#1
by:omni82
***
"I am evil. I do not wear pink." Nakago adamantly stated as he pulled the rosy cloak off his wide shoulders. His wife, Soi, sighed wearily and put it back on him.
"You are not evil and it's not pink. It's light red. Please put that back on. You'll freeze without it. The wind is bitter today." She struggled with the clasp of the front of the covering but her husband swatted her hands away. His cerulean eyes bore into hers and he repeated his earlier statement more slowly, as if speaking to a very young child.
"I will not wear pink. I am leaving now, woman, but will be back soon. Stay inside where it's warm." Nakago laid the robe gently on a nearby chair, kissed his wife, and headed into the cold. Soi ran a delicate hand through her red hair. The man never took care of himself and hardly ever let her do it for him. It was as if Nakago wanted to be uncomfortable.
Shaking her head, Soi poured herself more coffee and settled in for the day. Despite her hatred of taking orders, she was willing to accept Nakago's last one. It was bone chillingly cold and she wasn't going out unless she had to. The search for the Shinzaho was going on despite the freezing climate. Priestess Yui insisted that all efforts be made to capture the object as soon as possible, even if it meant traveling in harsh weather. Soi snorted to herself and began to tidy up their tent. With a sigh, she realized she could not stay in the comfort of a heated room forever. Soldiers had to be briefed, travel zones set, and preparations made for the following day. And she had to find those annoying little brats before Tomo did.
It wasn't motherly, she knew, to think of her own sons as annoying little brats but the truth was the truth and she had to face up to it. Her sons, Amiboshi and Suboshi, were the most irritating creatures to be spawned off a woman. It was a shame that it was she who would probably bear the shame of her sons misdeeds on this little adventure. Nakago was too much of a hero in Kutou to ever be held responsible for his sons setting the horses loose, switching the maps so half of the regiment ended up somewhere in Konan, and for setting fire to Tomo. Which reminded her…
Soi threw on the same cloak that she had just been trying to get Nakago to wear and hurried outside. For their own protection, Soi had instructed her wayward sons to stick close to Lady Yui for the next day or so while Tomo's temper cooled. It would do no good for their mission if the painted seishi were to trap their minds in a terrifying illusion. Chances were that they would be too traumatized to focus their chi properly. Four-year-olds were so impressionable.
"Tomo, may I come in please?" Soi stood just outside her fellow warrior's tent and called in. Last time she had just walked in and almost had her head bitten off for seeing him with no makeup on.
"Are the evil ones with you?" a nasal voice inquired from within. Soi suppressed a smile. Brats, evil ones, and small hyper maniacs – her sons have been called just about everything. Only Lady Yui thought they were constantly cute. Soi agreed that her sons were adorable when they slept but when they were awake…well, that's something else entirely.
"No, I believe they are with Lady Yui today," Soi replied through the curtain that served as a door.
"I pity her," Tomo said sincerely and then sighed. "You might as well come in."
Soi stepped inside and immediately had to adjust her eyes to the darkness. "By Seiryuu, Tomo, don't you ever light a candle?" Fumbling in the dark, she managed to get some light in the small tent. To her left sat Tomo with full makeup on but no headdress. The remnants of it sat sadly in one corner of the room, half of its feathers burnt off with the other half drooping from the dunking it got.
"I can't believe that Nakago could possibly have sired such monsters." Tomo said in response to her assessing gaze. Soi bristled at the implied insult. She knew that Tomo was in love with Nakago but luckily, she was in the position to pity him.
"Oh but he did and with great vigor. You have to, you know, in order to get twins." Soi smirked at the expression on Tomo's face. He looked as if he had just bitten into a sour apple.
"Are you here for a reason Soi, or just to torment me?"
"Both. I came to tell you that Nakago has a job for you. But, if you're still feeling poorly I can just as easily send Miboshi out…"
"That ugly little twerp?! I think not. Tell me what Nakago wants me to do and I'll do it." Tomo swore. He was so gullible. All Soi ever had to do was threaten Tomo's esteem in Nakago's eyes and he caved.
"Are you sure? I mean, without your headdress and all. Aren't you feeling a bit impotent?" Soi teased. She couldn't help it. The relationship she and Tomo shared was complicated and paradoxical but she understood it well enough to know just how far she could push him.
"Soi, you bitch, just tell me my orders." Ah, there. That was as far as she could go before it came to blows.
"Go out and find the Priestess of Suzaku. Catch her in one of her illusion snares and convince her that the only way to get the Shinzaho back from Nakago is to sleep with him." Tomo just stared at her.
"You're going to let your husband sleep with that celestial slut?!" he exclaimed incredulously. Soi sighed; she hadn't liked the plan either but if Nakago was willing to take one for the team, who was she to judge? Besides, it would never happen. She had her own plans.
"Are you going to go or what?"
Tomo grumbled a bit but ended up wearing a dark cape with a deep cowl in place of his headdress. Soi would have it repaired while he was gone to make up for any ruffled feathers her progeny caused. In the mean time, she had to go protect Ashitare from Nakago's wrath. The smart-mouthed wolf-man always irritated her husband unnecessarily. It was up to her to make sure that Nakago didn't kill him while he was still useful as a babysitter.
"What's the matter Nakago? No thank you? I think that it brings out that ever so lovely shade of red in your eyes." Soi could hear Ashitare's mouth before she even entered the tent. He really was a smarmy bastard.
Clutching Nakago's hand in between hers, Soi's touch was a warning to her husband that he had to let the wolf-man live. The glowing, blue energy dispersed as Nakago reluctantly turned away from Ashitare. He held up a rather gaudy necklace.
"The shinzaho."
Soi nodded, entranced by the power radiating from the piece of jewelry. Nakago pressed it into her hands. "Make me a copy," he said. "When the Priestess of Suzaku comes to visit, she will be allowed to steal the forgery from me. You will keep the original. I hope I don't have to remind you to keep it away from those terrors."
Soi made a face at him. "Don't worry, I'll make sure to keep it away from your sons," she replied, stressing the last two words. When the kids were bad, they were his sons.
Nakago sighed and dismissed her.
Preparing to go into the nearest city took more time than Soi had expected. When she returned to her tent, she found the twins sitting together on her bed with muddy clothes and bloody knees.
"Mama, we fell." Amiboshi sniffled. Soi groaned. With their luck, it was probably off a cliff. She patted him on the head and began pulling their dirty clothes off. Lady Yui apparently had enough of them and deposited them back here. Soi couldn't really blame her; sometimes she wished she was able to do the same. Using a damp washcloth, she washed the crud off her babies and wiped away their tears. After a few cookies, they were laughing again and giving her slightly sticky kisses.
"Mama has to go into town. If I take you with me, can you be good?" Soi asked in resignation. She couldn't very well ask Tomo to take care of them and last time Ashitare babysat, Suboshi came back with an inordinate amount of slobber on him.
"Yes, Mama! We won't get lost like last time!"
"Or break anything!"
"Or set anyone on fire!"
"Or hit anyone with sticks!"
"My kids are monsters," Soi sighed but she nodded her assent anyhow. She really didn't have a choice.
For the general populace's safety, she tied Amiboshi and Suboshi together at the wrists. They did less damage when not in two different groups. She listened with half an ear as they tottered cheerily behind her, pretending to be Lord Nakago and the evil Suzaku seishi. She only had to separate them once when Suboshi made his brother play the part of Suzaku no seishi Tamahome and get hit by flying pebbles. They sat docilely while the jeweler gave her a time and dollar estimate.
"We have three hours to wait, boys. What would you like to do?" Soi asked, turning away from the wizened old craftsman.
But they weren't there.
"Amiboshi? Suboshi? Where are you? Come out right now!" Dashing out into the street, Soi frantically looked for them. The road was crowed with people passing shopping and talking loudly. Her sons were no where in sight.
"If you come out of hiding right now, I'll buy you two cookies!" Bribery was usually an effective way to get them to pay attention but still they didn't come.
"Oh my god," she moaned. "What if someone grabbed them? They could be hurt or dead. My babies… I want my babies!"
Soi grabbed the arm of a passing man. "Please can you help me? You're tall enough to see over the crowd. Can you see a pair of small boys, twins tied together at the wrist?" Instead of looking at the mob, the man stared at her. In a flash, she recognized his face.
"Tamahome…"
"Soi." His voice was cold and his expression menacing. There was no chance of getting him to help her now that she was identified. Tamahome grabbed her wrist almost cruelly, his fingers biting into her tender flesh.
"Where's Nakago?" He demanded. The look in his eyes promised swift and brutal retaliation if her answer didn't please him. While in Hokkan her powers were practically useless. She was, unfortunately, at Tamahome's mercy.
When she didn't answer, his eyes narrowed. "So be it," he pronounced. His grip tightened; she could feel the bones in her arm start to give under the pressure…
Suddenly his grasp ceased and Tamahome howled in pain. He stumbled backward and Soi got a glimpse of her sons attached to her enemy's knees by their teeth. They were sinking their sharp baby teeth into Tamahome's skin and thrashing about. A spray of small pebbles peppered the Suzaku seishi's back as soon as Suboshi thought of using his celestial powers. Tamahome came crashing down.
"Tamahome no da!" That was the voice of the mage, Chichiri. Soi's stomach dropped as she recognized the approaching Suzaku seishi. On his heels was Tasuki, fan unsheathed and flashing.
"Get away from him Seiryuu scum!" Tasuki cried. "Rekka Shinen!" A burst of red hot flames soared at them. Soi managed to summon a small dervish that sucked up the fire before it hit her and her sons. But the force of it drove her back where she tripped over Tamahome, landing in an ungraceful heap on the ground. The boys floundered under her voluminous robe.
"Would you really hit someone's mother?" She pleaded as way of diversion. Chichiri looked torn, giving her the chance to sweep his legs out from under him and grab her children. Their squirming weight hampered her movements and Tasuki grabbed hold of her soon after that. Soi accidentally dropped Suboshi as she was whipped around. He went crashing into the stand of the dye-seller with a yelp. She didn't have time to worry about him as she turned her back to the young Suzaku seishi in order to protect Amiboshi from a blow that never came.
When she turned back, she saw Nakago standing over three unconscious Suzaku seishi. He gave her the once over to make sure she wasn't injured before going to retrieve Suboshi from the wreckage of the dye stand. The little boy was covered head to toe with a muted rose color and wearing a giant grin. The blonde seishi held his son up before him for scrutiny.
"I was wrong," he commented. "Evil does wear pink."
End
~Why you're down here, why don't you review? ~