I do not own Fushigi Yuugi, I do own Karen Ha (which in Japanese means: Sweet Tooth)

This story takes place in ancient China---after Eikoden

Read on and tell me what you think, thanks!

A Sweet Tooth

Ch. 1

Miaka was eating and eating and eating some more as Karen watched her with a dull expression. She agreed to come by and meet with Miaka to eat together but this was ridiculous!

"Suh! Yah unna oooo secket!?" Miaka looked at Karen with a mouth full of food.

"Miaka, I can't understand you." Karen said dryly.

So…of course, Miaka scarfed the food down and gulped down some soda. She smiled at Karen, "Do you want to know a secret?!"

Karen sighed and nodded to Taka, "That you are so in love with this guy? Sorry, I knew that." she sighed and looked out the window bored.

"No, that's not it! Ever wonder where this guy came from?!" Miaka smiled widely.

Karen turned to her and got up, "Sorry Miaka, I don't need to hear the talk of the birds and the bees. Mom has given it to me already." She walked out and sighed at the cars driving by. 'I wonder what it would be like to be without all this technology.' she thought as she walked down towards the library.

At the Diner

Miaka was too busy staring into Taka's eyes to realize what had just happened. Taka tilted his head, "Miaka…"

"Yes, Taka?" she said in a dreamy voice, with hearts for eyes.

"What is the talk of the birds and the bees?"

Karen walked in the library and sat in a desk and started to read a romance novel by Sherrilyn Kenyon, one of her favorite authors who wrote of her favorite beings…dark-hunters.

( I don't own Sheerilyn Kenyon/Kinley Magregor…if you like romance novels, I suggest: Dara Joy, her, Connie Mason, or Sandra Hill, just a suggestion.)

A red light started from the top of the staircase and came towards Karen's back. She got a cold chill and looked around and a red wind enveloped her, "UGH!"

She could see the staircase and the door that said 'Restricted Area' and then the open book and that was all she remembered as she plummeted through a brighter red light. She screamed as she saw a roof and covered her face as best she could as she fell through the roof but no pain came as she fell on a thin piece of carpet.

She opened her eyes and looked around. There was a man in a red robe like thing that looked down at her, "Who are you?" he asked, his brown hair flowing, tied up to the side as what seemed to be his hat was sitting on the throne behind him.

"I'm…Karen Ha…" she said cautiously and got up into a standing position as he walked towards her.

"How did you get here?" he asked, his eyes never leaving hers. He looked at her frame. A small girl, around 5'2 with reddish light brown hair and hazel eyes. Her eyes were more green than anything though as he circled her. She had blue jeans and a black shirt under a lavender sweater that was about ten sizes too big for her tiny frame.

"I'm not really sure…a red light came and engulfed me and then I was brought here…and um…yea." she sputtered out and he smiled some.

"A red light, of Suzaku no doubt. Do you know a girl by the name of Miaka?"

"Yes, actually, I do. I was just with her a few minutes ago." Karen said and looked around, "She was with Taka and--"

"Taka? Oh yes, Tamahome. It is hard for us to think of him as anyone else but Tamahome." the man said.

"Oh…um ok, now about who you are…"

"I am Emperor Sitei, ruler of Konan." he smiled, "You may call me Hotohori since Suzaku brought you here."

"Em…emp…EMPEROR?!" Karen passed out.

"She must have been caught off guard by my elegance and beauty." Hotohori said proudly and lifted her up and carried her to a guestroom. He had Houki stay with her and walked to the throne again. "Boushin?" he called out and his son came into view. "Send guards out to get the Suzaku warriors, my son."

"Yes, father." Boushin nodded and walked towards the guards in the other room to relay the message.

Chichiri's message: The emperor sends for you about Suzaku…

Chichiri scratched his head and sighed, "I hope everything is alright at the castle, you know?" and took off his cape and disappeared to the castle.

Mitsukake's message: The emperor needs you because of Suzaku

Mitsukake patted a child on the head and smiled, "I must be off, little one." and started his journey with Tama, the cat.

Chiriko's message: You must go to the palace for more information of Suzaku

Chiriko sighed and closed his book, "I suppose I can always learn more of Suzaku." and bid his parents farewell and mounted his horse and rode off.

Nuriko's message: Your presence is needed at the palace on account of Suzaku.

Nuriko blushed, "Oh! His majesty must have figured out that he doesn't want Houki and wants me!" and HE ran towards the castle.

Tasuki's Message: You need to go to the palace because the emperor said so.

Tasuki spit off a few curses, "Kouji, take care of da bandit leader stuff! I'll be back as soon as I see wha' 'is majesty wants t' talk 'bout!" he took his harisen and got onto his horse and galloped towards the palace. "If 'tis 'bout some wom'n, I'll skewer 'im! I had enough a them!" he muttered in his mountain bandit, priceless language…if that's what you want to call it.

(Kouji is still alive cuz I said so…and that was an illusion so I still say he's alive lol).

Karen stirred some and then opened her eyes. She looked at a woman with purple hair tied up gracefully. She was wearing a crown and her eyes were such a beautiful color. They were green with tiny specs of blue and yellow in them. She blinked and remembered the crown. "I um…hi…and--"

"You are Karen Ha?" the woman asked and Karen nodded. "I am Empress Houki."

She thought for a moment. "Emperor Sitei and Empress Houki…OH!" her hands flew to her mouth as Houki backed away some in confusion, "YOU MUST BE MARRIED TO THE EMPEROR!"

Houki blinked and then smiled warmly, "Yes, Highness is my husband." she nodded.

"Highness? Why not just call him Sitei…or um…oh what did he call himself?" she scratched her head.

"Hotohori, you know!" a blue haired man literally 'poofed' into the room. Karen gasped as she looked at him. The man had a smile all the time it seemed and his eyes were closed. She tilted her head as she looked at his hair. The back was tied back nicely however the front was just downright peculiar. It spiked but looked as if it were 10 feet long!

"Um…excuse me, how do you do that?" she asked, not even caring about who he was.

"This is Chichiri, one of the warriors of Suzaku, Miss Karen Ha." Houki smiled as Chichiri walked towards them.

"No…I mean, sure yea, but how does your hair stick up like that?" Karen lifted a brow, "Do you use some kind of special gel or hairspray?"

"…" Chichiri's face seemed to be confused and he shrugged, "I don't know, you know?"

"No, I don't…" Karen said and blinked.

"He says 'you know' on many occasions. You will get used to it." Houki smiled.

"Ah…um ok." Karen shrugged, "Now…aside from your hair, do you know of why I'm here?"

Chichiri's face was smiling…more. "The emperor said that you were brought here by the red light of Suzaku, the God of Konan."

"Um…" Karen felt as if a 747 just flew over her head.

"Suzaku is the guardian of the south. Konan is the southern region of China and--"

"CHINA?!" Karen squealed, "I'M IN CHINA?!"

"Why, yes…" Houki nodded.

"This is just like when Lady Miaka and Lady Mayo came here, you know?" Chichiri asked and sighed, "You are in, what they called, ancient China but it is modern for us, you know?"

Karen rolled her eyes heavenward and sighed, "Why me?"

"I don't know, you tell us." another purple haired…shim said. Karen couldn't tell if they were a boy or girl and blinked. They had pink eyes that had little specs of purple in them and a smile on their face. "I'm Nuriko." they said.

Karen still couldn't tell if it was a boy or girl since their voice didn't help much. "I'm sorry…are you a male or female?"

Nuriko's smile turned to a frown, "I'm a guy…unfortunately." he said.

Karen looked to Chichiri and Houki for an answer and they just shrugged. "Nuriko has always had an eye for his majesty however it just wouldn't work out because--WAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!" Chichiri was punched through the roof by a very pissed off Nuriko.

Karen got off the bed and stormed over to him, slapping him, "HOW COULD YOU DO THAT?! HE'S NICE!" Karen glared at Nuriko.

Nuriko felt his face and then glared back at Karen and slapped her across the face. "DON'T SLAP MY BEAUTIFUL FACE!"

"DON'T MAKE ME KICK YOUR ASS!" Karen countered.

"BRING IT!" Nuriko yelled back.

This went on for a few minutes, neither of them noticing that a reddish orange haired bandit stepped in and lifted a brow. Sneaking over to a battered Chichiri, he whispered, "Da' gay boy find a new wom'n t' fight wit'?"

"Yes, you know?" Chichiri sighed and rubbed his sore chin.

"Wha' da' heck happen'd t' ya?" the boy asked Chichiri.

"Nuriko…"

"Ah…" the boy nodded and walked up to the bickering 'women.'

"I SAID I WAS A PRETTIER GIRL THAN YOU!" Nuriko cried.

"YOU AREN'T EVEN A GIRL, MORON!" Karen squealed.

"KNOCK IT OFF!" the boy yelled over them both and they both stared at him, confused. Karen's jaw dropped. His golden colored eyes were mixed with a tint of brown and orange. His ears were pierced and his necklaces looked real nice on his strong neck. Not to mention his hands, enough said. ;;

"AHA!!!!!!!" Nuriko pointed to the boy, "THE FLAMING BANDIT!!!"

"Bandit?" Karen blinked.

"Yes. He's a bandit but also another member of the Suzaku Seven. He is Tasuki." Houki's presence was known once again. (DUN DUN DUN!!!!!!!! I tell ya people! She pops about like Chichiri!)

"Suzaku Seven?" Karen asked and turned to Houki.

Houki sighed as Tasuki started going on in his broken language and accent that Karen just didn't quite understand. "SHUT UP!" Nuriko yelled and hit Tasuki on the back of the head, flinging the bandit into a nearby wall.

Karen blinked and looked to Nuriko, "Um…nice hit…"

"Nuriko has great strength." a teenage boy of about 17 walked in with his hair sticking up in a hair band.

"This is Chiriko, you know?" Chichiri said.

"How do you do?" Chiriko asked and smiled.

"He's got better grammar than I'll ever have!" Karen pointed, astounded.

"I am one of the Suzaku warriors chosen in the stars. My character means wisdom." Chiriko said and showed Karen a symbol on his foot.

"Wow…" Karen blinked, "So…do all you guardian people have those?" she asked them all.

"Yea." Nuriko nodded and pulled down his shirt some to show his symbol on his chest. "It means strength."

Tasuki pulled up his sleeve, now fully recovered in some bizarre way, and showed Karen his. "Speed."

Karen giggled and then busted out laughing. The others tilted their heads, "Is she alright?" Chiriko asked Houki.

"I think so…" Houki blinked.

"Sorry…" Karen let out a few more giggles, "Speed, in my country is a drug that makes you do some weird things…it makes you crazy."

"We don't have to worry about Tasuki going insane, you know?" Chichiri smiled with his smiling mask. (Wow! A smiling mask smiles!)

"WHAT'S THAT SUPPOS'D T' MEAN?!" Tasuki yelled, pulled out his harisen and aimed it at Chichiri, "I'll barbeque you, Chichiri!"

"What's that?" Karen pointed.

"It's a metal fan that Tasuki has fun with." Nuriko muttered.

"Oh…" Karen blinked and then turned to Chichiri, "Where is your symbol?"

Chichiri lifted up his pant leg and showed her his symbol on his knee. "There, you know?"

"And…?" Karen asked.

Nuriko laughed, "His basically means monk."

"He's a monk?" Karen asked and looked at Chichiri's clothes, "He doesn't look like the ones in books and movies."

"Movies?" Chichiri asked.

"Um…yea. Moving pictures?" Karen asked to see if anyone understood.

"It must be something from her time." Chiriko said wisely.

"OH!!!!!!!" Tasuki gave a fanged smirk, "Wom'n, gotta be complicated n' stuff!"

"Um…sorry?" Karen said slowly.

"Don't worry about him." Nuriko shook his hand around, "He's just mad because he was taken from his home and could be drowned." he laughed.

"Drowned?" Karen asked.

"Tasuki can't swim." Chiriko smiled, "He's lived in the mountains all his life."

Tasuki muttered and sat in the corner, away from everyone.

"Uh huh…alright." Karen shrugged and looked to Houki, "What about the emperor? What's his symbol thing mean?"

Houki smiled, "Great swordsmanship." she pointed to the side of her neck, "Right here."

"Oh…," she nodded, "But…aren't there seven of you all?"

"Yes." Chiriko said and named everyone off, "As you have met: Hotohori, Tasuki, Nuriko, Chichiri, and me." he smiled, "The other two are Tamahome and Mitsukake."

"Tamahome? Why does that sound familiar?" Karen asked herself.

"Taka, as you know him now." Hotohori stepped in with his son, the spitting image of his father. Boushin stepped to his mother, Houki, and stayed silent.

"OH! TAKA! MIAKA'S HUSBAND!" Karen exclaimed.

"Yes, Miaka's husband." Hotohori said and nodded.

"But what about Mitsukake?" Karen asked.

The door opened and a tall man with a green and blue outfit and matching headband walked in, smiling. A few strands of black hair fell from the band as he stepped closer to Chichiri.

"This is Mitsukake, you know?" Chichiri said.

"Oh…wow." Karen looked up to Mitsukake, "You are really tall."

Mitsukake chuckled and sat down in a nearby chair. "You called for us, Sire?" he looked to Hotohori.

Hotohori nodded, "Yes, I called for all of you. The red light brought Karen Ha here to Konan and I must say, I do not like the feeling which I have now. Seiryuu has been sending threatening letters here and ordering that we engage in war."

Karen raised a hand as if she were in school and got some strange glances and looks, "Um…sorry." she lowered her hand and continued, "What or who is Seiryuu?"

"Seiryuu is the guardian of the Northern region, Kutou." Hotohori said calmly, "For every region, there is a God. Therefore four gods."

"The Universe of the Four Gods…" Karen remembered the name of the book that sucked her in.

"If I'm not mistaken, that's what brought Miaka here," Chiriko said and thought a moment, "Yes, it must have been."

"It brought me here too." Karen thought and then shrugged, "But why me? Why not Miaka…or Mayo, didn't you say Mayo was here too?"

"Yes…but they have already been priestesses. Miaka is the true priestess however Mayo came as well." Hotohori said.

"Whoa…this will take some big explaining." Karen said and held her head, "My pickles, some things are just meant to be left alone."

The others looked at each other and shrugged. "We will begin training tomorrow." Hotohori said finally.

"Training?" Karen asked, confused.

"To strengthen our powers from Suzaku." Hotohori said and started to walk out.

"What about me? I don't have no powers." Karen said.

"You don't have any powers…not I don't have no.'" Chiriko pointed out.

"What I tell ya?! He has better grammar than I'll ever have!" Karen said, a bit embarrassed.

"You will watch at what we can do." Hotohori said, answering her question, and during our breaks, we will tell you more about ourselves. You must be familiar and know your warriors good to become a priestess or at least help us."

"I thought you said Miaka was the true priestess."

"She was and still is. However, you can still summon Suzaku with her help, and believe me, if Miaka can, she'll do anything she can to help." Nuriko said.

"Ok…" Karen shrugged, "Sure."

"Get some rest." Hotohori said to Karen and the others, "We will start at dawn." he walked out, followed by Boushin.

"I will stay here to get her situated." Houki said as the warriors walked out.

"Mrs. Houki?" Karen asked and Houki turned to her with a polite smile, "I just wanted to tell you that I'm glad there is another girl here. It would be quite scary to be the only girl with lots of guys around."

Houki smiled more, "Lady Karen, you will be alone with the warriors for some time. They are all very honorable and will not take advantage of you in any way, you have my word."

"Won't you come too?" Karen asked, a bit alarmed.

"No, my place is in the palace with my son, Boushin."

"But what about Hotohori?" Karen asked.

"Highness will be with you all in disguise while Boushin and I run the country while you are away."

"Oh…"

"Yes, now, get some rest." Houki stood up as Karen laid down and looked at her. "Do you need anything?"

"No." Karen shook her head and stretched some.

"If you do, just find a guard or someone, they are all around the palace and will be glad to help. I assure you that you will come to no harm."

"Thanks." Karen smiled and closed her eyes.

Houki nodded and left the room, closing the door and walking to her chamber to Hotohori and smiled, "She is resting, Highness."

Hotohori turned to her in his white pants, shirtless and his hair held back in a string. "That is good, thank you Houki." he nodded and laid his sword down.

She smiled to herself as she watched his muscles flex some. She nodded once and changed into a less heavy set of garments and climbed into her side of the bed. "Sweet dreams Highness."

Hotohori frowned some. He didn't ever expect the one that he would fall in love with would call him 'highness.' He didn't want her to, for once, he wanted her to use his real name…Sitei…was that too much to ask? He shrugged off that feeling and laid down on his side of the bed, facing away from her.

As he slept, Houki laid awake with tears streaming down her face. Perhaps…perhaps if she said something, just maybe he'd hold her affectionately. She felt more like a child bearer of a stranger than a wife and mother of her husband.

Later in the story, there will be a reason why Karen was chosen to come into the book…don't fret, I didn't forget to go into that.

Looks like the 'happy family' idea for Hotohori and Houki isn't what they seemed to think it was…but when is it ever?

Reviews please.

Genbu's and Byakko's story is in the making!!! Yes! You wonderful fans of Fushigi Yuugi and Yuu Watase!!! The moment is here! They are already talking of translating the stories!!!

The site that has this info will be posted in a few days under my profile!!! I cannot wait to see them!

In the next episode of the mysterious play (Fushigi Yuugi), Karen will watch and learn more about the warriors. Some things she really doesn't want or need to know and other things she must know. What journey awaits this modern day girl is still a mystery but will be a strange one indeed.

Kage1586