Priestess and Monk
Disclaimer: I do not own Fushigi Yugi or its Characters and plots. They belong to Yuu Watase only. Though...I would like to own Tasuki and Chichiri. *Hint hint, wink wink, nudge nudge*
Chapter 1
Danger and Surprise
Metal hoops jingling together and the whistled tune of a popular Honan love tune alerted the bandits of Mt. Reikaku of the impending arrival of a well-known, blue-haired monk with a perpetual smile. The three scouts whose shift it was to watch for intruders looked between each other and smiled. One of them slipped away and started sprinting towards the bandit's stronghold, going to alert their leader of the monk's return to the mountain. The remaining two whispered among themselves for a few seconds before one of them slunk off into the forest, resuming his duties as the other strolled out from behind one of the trees lining the path the monk was taking. He lifted a hand in greeting to the whistling monk, who returned the gesture.
"Hey there Chichiri-sama! Its been a long time since we seen you around here. What's it been...three or four months? Genrou's been almost insane with boredom since ya left." The bandit called to the monk, grinning good-naturedly at him.
"Hai. It has been a long time, noda. I had not meant my journeys to take as long as they did, but I got held up with several things, noda." The monk replied, his ever-smiling mask grinning even more with the thought of how bored Tasuki probably had been. And of all the creative things he had probably done to banish that boredom. "I take it your leader invented several new occasions to hold a drinking party to compensate for his boredom ne, noda?"
"Heh heh. You know Genrou. Better than anyone probably, save for Kouji. Yeah, he did. Ever hear of this insane "holiday" called Christmas? Cause he had us celebrate it last month. Who the hell would want to celebrate a holiday, whatever the hell a holiday is, in December? And then he said it had to be on the 25th exactly. Then he had, what he called, a "New Year's Eve" party." The bandit chuckled, shaking his head at the thought of his leader's outrageous behavior.
Chichiri too started laughing, but for different reasons. He too knew of those holidays. Miaka had gone into great detail in explaining all the customs and events, or holidays as she had called them, when she had been here. But she had been gone for almost four years now. Chichiri's grin vanished as did his laughter as he felt the familiar twisting pain in his heart that memories of Miaka seemed to invoke. He frowned as he tried to get his emotions back under the strict control he kept over them. Why did this always happen? He thought he had resolved his love for Miaka long ago, when he had seen her disappear with Taka three and a half years ago. Even now though, his heart would still twist painfully at the memory of her leaving and the knowledge that she was forever beyond his grasp. Besides all that, he was a monk, even though he had never formally taken the vows that go with it. The monk was torn from his thoughts by a joyous shout that brought the smile back to his face in record time.
"'CHIRI!! Where the hell 'ave y'been man!! Do y'know how bored I was without ya t'pick on!?" Tasuki demanded, using his seishi speed to reach Chichiri within moments. He grabbed the older man into a powerful hug, causing the monk's back to crack and a tiny squeak to escape him.
"T-Tasuki-kun..." He gasped. "I...I can't breathe, noda!!"
"Whoops! Gomen, 'Chiri." Tasuki smirked, releasing the monk and regaining his composure. As if Tasuki ever had any in the first place.
"It's nice to see you again too, noda. Though my back would say otherwise." Chichiri grinned ruefully, slowling stretching his back out. "So what's happened here since I left on my journey, noda?"
"The usual. Y'missed a battle between us an' that fuckin', pansy-ass gang of so-called bandits that's been tryin' to take over this area. It was a quick fight. They were no challenge an' very borin'." The fire seishi remarked, yawning and showing off his fangs. "What kept ya so long anyways? Ya said y'were only gonna be gone a few weeks."
"Ah. I went to visit Taiits-kun before coming back here, noda. I ended up getting special training from her." Chichiri sighed, closing his eyes. His "special training" had consisted of him cleaning her entire home from top to bottom.
Tasuki shuddered at the thought of the Creator. But his infamous bandit smirk soon reappeared. "Well, now that yer back, we gotta hold a welcomin' party!"
"Iie! Tasuki! I don't wanna drink, noda! Daaaaa. Tasuki, don't make me drink, noda. I'd really rather not!" Chichiri said desperatly, backing away from the younger man who only laughed and followed him. Slinging an arm around the flustered, and more than a little nervous, monk, he started leading Chichiri toward the hide-out.
"Sure ya do, 'Chiri! Who in his right mind wouldn't want sake!?"
"Me, noda." Chichiri muttered unhappily. But he gave no resistance to the firey seishi and soon started chatting with him once more, all thoughts of Miaka forgotten for the moment.
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"Miaka? How are you holding up?" Yui asked her friend anxiously. Today marked the sixth month anniversary of Taka's death. He had been killed in a traffic accident on his way to work. He had been hit head-on by a semi-truck. The odd thing was, he had been in the center lane of a three-lane wide highway. The truck had come out of nowhere.
Miaka raised her head to meet Yui's eyes with her blood-shot ones. "I'm doing alright I suppose." She said, a tear slipping from her eye to join its many brothers that had proceeded it. Her hand rose up to impatiently wipe it away.
"Are you sure you don't want to come and live with me? I don't like the thought of you here all by yourself. I worry about you." Yui asked the question, already knowing what the answer would be. She had made it a habit to ask her friend at least once a week to move in with her, but the answer was always the same.
"No Yui. Thank you, but I feel closest to him when I'm here." Miaka smiled sadly at her friend, knowing that she was looking out for her well-being.
A sigh broke free from Yui as the former Miko no Seirryu nodded. They spent several more hours sitting around and talking before Yui had to leave. She had the late shift at her job tonight and couldn't be late. "If you ever need anything Miaka, remember to call me." Yui said as she got ready to leave.
"I know Yui. I will if I do. I'll so you later then."
"Okay. Bye, Miaka."
"Bye, Yui."
As soon as the door shut behind Yui, the tears started flowing from Miaka's eyes once more. She slowly sat down in the couch in her living room, picking up a picture on the table next to it. It was of her and Taka at their wedding. She softly traced the picture with a fingertip, the edges blurring together in her vision as tears clouded her eyes. Numb fingers replaced the picture before it slipped from her grasp and broke on the floor. She had already broken four picture frames from that already. The former priestess buried her face in her hands, shoulders shaking with the force of her sobs. A soft meow, followed by a warm body rubbing itself against her legs made Miaka look up. Roki, her white and black alleycat, stared up at her, concern evident in his golden eyes. Swiping the back of one hand over her eyes and nose, she reached down and picked up the cat, stroking him slowly.
"I miss him so much, Roki. Why do these kind of things have to happen? After we fought so hard to stay together! Suzaku...help me..." Miaka whispered, eyes closed in pain as she hugged her cat and sent her prayer to Suzaku.
But, as it always was, there was no answer from her god. But even though he didn't answer her, she felt the flame in her heart that represented him and his love flare up briefly, offering her all the comfort that the great phoenix god could give to her. A small smile found its way to her lips as a contented feeling washed over her. It was nice to know Suzaku was still watching out for her. Her thoughts turned to her seishi, wondering how Tasuki and Chichiri, the only two still alive, were doing. She missed her friends at Honan and the death of Taka made her miss it all the more. Another tear slipped from her eyes, tracing a line down her cheek. She picked up another photo off the side table, the one she had taken of her and all her seishi together before they had left to go get the Genbu shinzaho. Her eyes trailed over all of their faces, staying on Tamahome's for several long minutes. If only she could go back there, if only to tell her remaining seishi about their brother sieshi's fate.
"Meow!" Roki called, nudging his mistress urgently. Golden orbs locked onto her own as he tried to comfort her.
"Thanks Roki. Come on. Let's go start dinner." Miaka smiled at her cat and got up.
Casting one final, wistful gaze to the photo, she set it back down in its place. Scooping her cat up and holding him against her, she started walking towards the kitchen. She never noticed the brief flash of red that radiated from the photo or the crimson feather that floated down from above, only to disappear when it touched the floor. Neither did she notice the sudden disappearance of the flame that meant Suzaku in her heart. Roki stared at where the feather had been, golden eyes blinking slowly.
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"DAAAAA!!! Kouji!! Tasuki!! I don't wanna drink, noda!" Chichiri cried, holding his hands in front of him as the two bandits kept trying to get him to join them in a drinking contest.
"Come on, 'Chiri! What'll one drink hurt?" Tasuki poured out some sake for the monk, shoving it into his hands.
"You're not talking about one drink, noda! You're talking about several dozen ones!" Chichiri argued, staring at the small handbowl of sake in bewilderment.
"We ain't lettin' ya outta this room till ya drink at least one." Kouji stated, pouring some of the sake for himself. And downing it in moments.
Chichiri heaved a heavy sigh as Tasuki and Kouji watched him expectantly. This was how it always started, the two of them forcing the monk into agreeing to have the one drink. But that one drink soon turned into two, then three, and onward until the monk was completely plastered along with them. Tasuki glanced at Kouji and they grinned at one another, knowing they had most likely won. Again. "Alright, noda. But only one drink!! If I drink this, you two promise to quit bugging me to join you in a drinking contest, noda." Chichiri stated, glaring at the two.
"Of course 'Chiri! Here ya go." Tasuki smirked as he filled the handbowl Chichiri was holding to the brim with the clear liquid.
Rolling his eyes, Chichiri lifted the bowl to his lips, intending to drink it quickly and get out of the room before the two could even begin to try to talk him into drinking more, when he felt and saw his symbol flare with a red light briefly, the light of it piercing though the thin material of his pants. Dropping the sake, he looked at Tasuki, who was staring at his arm in shock. His symbol, which hadn't shown itself in almost four years now, could now be clearly seen on his forearm. Quickly reaching down, the monk yanked the cloth of his pantleg up and gasped when he saw that his own symbol showed clearly once more. But why?! Had something happened to Miaka?
"'Chiri, what the hell does this mean?! Do ya think somethin's 'appened to Miaka?" Tasuki asked frantically, amber eyes cloudy with worry.
Chichiri slipped off his mask, thinking deeply on it. "I don't know. Allow me to go meditate for a few hours. Perhaps Suzaku will tell me what has happened." He quickly grabbed his shakujou, kesa, and kasa.
He placed a comforting hand on the flustered seishi before hurriedly exiting the room, and then the hide-out. He instantly sought the peace and tranquility of the small pond near the hide-out. Setting down the staff, kesa, and kasa, Chichiri seated himself next to the calm waters and turned his thoughts inward. Slowly he started to relax, muscles that had tensed at the arrival of the symbols gradually untensed. Within minutes, he had achieved the peace of mind that came easily to him now, after so many years of practise. Satisfied his thoughts and mind were now clear enough, he concentrated on reaching the warmth that was Suzaku. Only to find it was gone. No trace of it lingered. Maroon eye snapped open as Chichiri realized the implications this could mean. Never before had he ever met any difficulty in reaching Suzaku, until now. The sound of two startled screams interrupted his thoughts. Quickly gathering his things, Chichiri sprinted back towards the hide-out.
He almost collided with one of the bandits as he dashed through the door. Grabbing onto the wall to keep from falling down with one hand, he quickly slipped his paper mask on with the other. The bandit looked at him stupidly for a second and then shook his head. "Genrou sent me to find you. He said to hurry up and get back here. There's a really old hag that wants to speak to you and him. They're in the weapons room."
"Hai. Arigatou, noda." Chichiri took off in the direction of the weapons room, almost slipping while taking a corner too sharply.
Tasuki and Taiits-kun looked up as Chichiri stumbled into the room, panting slightly. The Creator raised an eyebrow at the sight, but said nothing. She motioned for him to go stand beside Tasuki. "So, y'gonna tell me why yer here now that 'Chiri finally got 'ere?" Tasuki asked her heatedly.
"Watch your mouth Fang-Boy. First off, did either of you two notice anything unusually today? More specifically, within the last few hours." She glowered at Tasuki as he continued to glare at her, arms crossed angrily.
"Yes, Taiits-kun. What has happened, noda? I am no longer able to reach Suzaku. And why has our symbols revealed themselves once more? Has something happened to Miaka?! Has she been hurt?! Is everything alright in her world?" Chichiri asked the Oracle desperately. Tasuki gave him a bemused look as a thought came to him. Could Chichiri be in love with...Naw! He was a monk.
"Perhaps if you would let me speak, I could answer your questions, Suzaku no Chichiri." Taiits-kun grumbled. "First off, it is as I fear. I sensed the silence and disappearance of the four gods several hours ago. Either someone is blocking them from me, and you apparently, or has sealed the four away. That is why you were unable to reach Suzaku, Chichiri. As to your symbols, I can not answer that. I do not know the answer myself."
"Lotta good you are." Tasuki muttered.
Taiits-kun glared at him once more, not releasing him from her stare until he had apologized. "Now then, if there are no more interruptions or comments from hot-headed bandits, perhaps we can get down to business." A sullen nod from Tasuki followed this. "Come, I shall transport us to my home." The Creator waved her hand and in a small poor of smoke, the three were gone.
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"Chichiri-sama's here! Chichiri-sama's here! Flame-Boy! Fang-Boy!!" Came the shrill cries of half a dozen little girls.
"Hello Nyan-nyan." Chichiri greeted the young girls politely, instantly picking out the true one. He tugged on one of her ponytails playfully before following Taiits-kun into her private chambers.
"Alright y'old hag, why'd y'bring us here?" Tasuki asked impatiently. Then cringed as the Creator's malevolent stare was directed his way.
"You haven't changed at all in three and a half years. However, I sense serious disorder in this world. A darkness is sweeping over the land and the four gods have gone silent. I have not determined whether they have been sealed away or not yet." She stated.
"What must we do to unseal them, noda?" Chichiri asked, a sick feeling washing over him.
"Only the power of a priestess can unlock the gods. I will be sending you two to retrieve Miaka back to this world. Along with Taka and Yui if they so wish to come." The Oracle answered, looking as though her answer should have been obvious.
"What the hell are y'talkin' about, y'old hag!? Miaka's already done her part, we can' ask her to go though it all again." Tasuki argued, angry at the thought that Miaka would once more have to go through all the hardships they had endured once more.
"Suzaku no Tasuki!! This is the only way! If we do not retrieve the priestess, then this world will fall into darkness." Taiits-kun argued right back, her normally level voice rising in anger.
Tasuki opened his mouth to argue with her again, but a staff thrust in front of him, cutting him off. "If this is truly the only way, then we will go to retrieve Miaka back to this world. But, Taiist-kun...with the gods sealed away, how will we be able to go there?" Chichiri asked, his face serious but his heart leaping with joy at the thought of seeing his miko once more.
"I will be sending you, baka no denshi." Taiits-kun scoffed. "Stand next to one another. I will be sending you two immediately."
"Wha'?! Right now!?" Tasuki sputtered, glaring at the Creator for a moment. "Damn hag."
"Tasuki-kun. Shut up, noda." Chichiri hissed between his teeth, seeing the annoyed look on Taiits-kun's face.
The bandit opened his mouth to argue with the monk, but was interrupted when a red light surrounded the two. Instead, the bandit snapped his eyes shut and gritted his teeth. He HATED traveling by magic. Anxiety and nervousness flooded his being as the fierey seishi realized he'd be seeing his priestess again in only a few minutes. Memories of him being possessed and getting Miaka drunk caused all the color to leave him. Would she be able to ever trust him again? Heaving a sigh, Tasuki muttered a quick prayer to Suzaku and waited for the inevitable encounter. Suzaku he hoped it would go alright.
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AN: My third FY fanfic. What do you all think? I know this chapter wasn't very good, but I promise it will get better. So please R&R so I can improve on my writing. Thanks!
Disclaimer: I do not own Fushigi Yugi or its Characters and plots. They belong to Yuu Watase only. Though...I would like to own Tasuki and Chichiri. *Hint hint, wink wink, nudge nudge*
Chapter 1
Danger and Surprise
Metal hoops jingling together and the whistled tune of a popular Honan love tune alerted the bandits of Mt. Reikaku of the impending arrival of a well-known, blue-haired monk with a perpetual smile. The three scouts whose shift it was to watch for intruders looked between each other and smiled. One of them slipped away and started sprinting towards the bandit's stronghold, going to alert their leader of the monk's return to the mountain. The remaining two whispered among themselves for a few seconds before one of them slunk off into the forest, resuming his duties as the other strolled out from behind one of the trees lining the path the monk was taking. He lifted a hand in greeting to the whistling monk, who returned the gesture.
"Hey there Chichiri-sama! Its been a long time since we seen you around here. What's it been...three or four months? Genrou's been almost insane with boredom since ya left." The bandit called to the monk, grinning good-naturedly at him.
"Hai. It has been a long time, noda. I had not meant my journeys to take as long as they did, but I got held up with several things, noda." The monk replied, his ever-smiling mask grinning even more with the thought of how bored Tasuki probably had been. And of all the creative things he had probably done to banish that boredom. "I take it your leader invented several new occasions to hold a drinking party to compensate for his boredom ne, noda?"
"Heh heh. You know Genrou. Better than anyone probably, save for Kouji. Yeah, he did. Ever hear of this insane "holiday" called Christmas? Cause he had us celebrate it last month. Who the hell would want to celebrate a holiday, whatever the hell a holiday is, in December? And then he said it had to be on the 25th exactly. Then he had, what he called, a "New Year's Eve" party." The bandit chuckled, shaking his head at the thought of his leader's outrageous behavior.
Chichiri too started laughing, but for different reasons. He too knew of those holidays. Miaka had gone into great detail in explaining all the customs and events, or holidays as she had called them, when she had been here. But she had been gone for almost four years now. Chichiri's grin vanished as did his laughter as he felt the familiar twisting pain in his heart that memories of Miaka seemed to invoke. He frowned as he tried to get his emotions back under the strict control he kept over them. Why did this always happen? He thought he had resolved his love for Miaka long ago, when he had seen her disappear with Taka three and a half years ago. Even now though, his heart would still twist painfully at the memory of her leaving and the knowledge that she was forever beyond his grasp. Besides all that, he was a monk, even though he had never formally taken the vows that go with it. The monk was torn from his thoughts by a joyous shout that brought the smile back to his face in record time.
"'CHIRI!! Where the hell 'ave y'been man!! Do y'know how bored I was without ya t'pick on!?" Tasuki demanded, using his seishi speed to reach Chichiri within moments. He grabbed the older man into a powerful hug, causing the monk's back to crack and a tiny squeak to escape him.
"T-Tasuki-kun..." He gasped. "I...I can't breathe, noda!!"
"Whoops! Gomen, 'Chiri." Tasuki smirked, releasing the monk and regaining his composure. As if Tasuki ever had any in the first place.
"It's nice to see you again too, noda. Though my back would say otherwise." Chichiri grinned ruefully, slowling stretching his back out. "So what's happened here since I left on my journey, noda?"
"The usual. Y'missed a battle between us an' that fuckin', pansy-ass gang of so-called bandits that's been tryin' to take over this area. It was a quick fight. They were no challenge an' very borin'." The fire seishi remarked, yawning and showing off his fangs. "What kept ya so long anyways? Ya said y'were only gonna be gone a few weeks."
"Ah. I went to visit Taiits-kun before coming back here, noda. I ended up getting special training from her." Chichiri sighed, closing his eyes. His "special training" had consisted of him cleaning her entire home from top to bottom.
Tasuki shuddered at the thought of the Creator. But his infamous bandit smirk soon reappeared. "Well, now that yer back, we gotta hold a welcomin' party!"
"Iie! Tasuki! I don't wanna drink, noda! Daaaaa. Tasuki, don't make me drink, noda. I'd really rather not!" Chichiri said desperatly, backing away from the younger man who only laughed and followed him. Slinging an arm around the flustered, and more than a little nervous, monk, he started leading Chichiri toward the hide-out.
"Sure ya do, 'Chiri! Who in his right mind wouldn't want sake!?"
"Me, noda." Chichiri muttered unhappily. But he gave no resistance to the firey seishi and soon started chatting with him once more, all thoughts of Miaka forgotten for the moment.
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"Miaka? How are you holding up?" Yui asked her friend anxiously. Today marked the sixth month anniversary of Taka's death. He had been killed in a traffic accident on his way to work. He had been hit head-on by a semi-truck. The odd thing was, he had been in the center lane of a three-lane wide highway. The truck had come out of nowhere.
Miaka raised her head to meet Yui's eyes with her blood-shot ones. "I'm doing alright I suppose." She said, a tear slipping from her eye to join its many brothers that had proceeded it. Her hand rose up to impatiently wipe it away.
"Are you sure you don't want to come and live with me? I don't like the thought of you here all by yourself. I worry about you." Yui asked the question, already knowing what the answer would be. She had made it a habit to ask her friend at least once a week to move in with her, but the answer was always the same.
"No Yui. Thank you, but I feel closest to him when I'm here." Miaka smiled sadly at her friend, knowing that she was looking out for her well-being.
A sigh broke free from Yui as the former Miko no Seirryu nodded. They spent several more hours sitting around and talking before Yui had to leave. She had the late shift at her job tonight and couldn't be late. "If you ever need anything Miaka, remember to call me." Yui said as she got ready to leave.
"I know Yui. I will if I do. I'll so you later then."
"Okay. Bye, Miaka."
"Bye, Yui."
As soon as the door shut behind Yui, the tears started flowing from Miaka's eyes once more. She slowly sat down in the couch in her living room, picking up a picture on the table next to it. It was of her and Taka at their wedding. She softly traced the picture with a fingertip, the edges blurring together in her vision as tears clouded her eyes. Numb fingers replaced the picture before it slipped from her grasp and broke on the floor. She had already broken four picture frames from that already. The former priestess buried her face in her hands, shoulders shaking with the force of her sobs. A soft meow, followed by a warm body rubbing itself against her legs made Miaka look up. Roki, her white and black alleycat, stared up at her, concern evident in his golden eyes. Swiping the back of one hand over her eyes and nose, she reached down and picked up the cat, stroking him slowly.
"I miss him so much, Roki. Why do these kind of things have to happen? After we fought so hard to stay together! Suzaku...help me..." Miaka whispered, eyes closed in pain as she hugged her cat and sent her prayer to Suzaku.
But, as it always was, there was no answer from her god. But even though he didn't answer her, she felt the flame in her heart that represented him and his love flare up briefly, offering her all the comfort that the great phoenix god could give to her. A small smile found its way to her lips as a contented feeling washed over her. It was nice to know Suzaku was still watching out for her. Her thoughts turned to her seishi, wondering how Tasuki and Chichiri, the only two still alive, were doing. She missed her friends at Honan and the death of Taka made her miss it all the more. Another tear slipped from her eyes, tracing a line down her cheek. She picked up another photo off the side table, the one she had taken of her and all her seishi together before they had left to go get the Genbu shinzaho. Her eyes trailed over all of their faces, staying on Tamahome's for several long minutes. If only she could go back there, if only to tell her remaining seishi about their brother sieshi's fate.
"Meow!" Roki called, nudging his mistress urgently. Golden orbs locked onto her own as he tried to comfort her.
"Thanks Roki. Come on. Let's go start dinner." Miaka smiled at her cat and got up.
Casting one final, wistful gaze to the photo, she set it back down in its place. Scooping her cat up and holding him against her, she started walking towards the kitchen. She never noticed the brief flash of red that radiated from the photo or the crimson feather that floated down from above, only to disappear when it touched the floor. Neither did she notice the sudden disappearance of the flame that meant Suzaku in her heart. Roki stared at where the feather had been, golden eyes blinking slowly.
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"DAAAAA!!! Kouji!! Tasuki!! I don't wanna drink, noda!" Chichiri cried, holding his hands in front of him as the two bandits kept trying to get him to join them in a drinking contest.
"Come on, 'Chiri! What'll one drink hurt?" Tasuki poured out some sake for the monk, shoving it into his hands.
"You're not talking about one drink, noda! You're talking about several dozen ones!" Chichiri argued, staring at the small handbowl of sake in bewilderment.
"We ain't lettin' ya outta this room till ya drink at least one." Kouji stated, pouring some of the sake for himself. And downing it in moments.
Chichiri heaved a heavy sigh as Tasuki and Kouji watched him expectantly. This was how it always started, the two of them forcing the monk into agreeing to have the one drink. But that one drink soon turned into two, then three, and onward until the monk was completely plastered along with them. Tasuki glanced at Kouji and they grinned at one another, knowing they had most likely won. Again. "Alright, noda. But only one drink!! If I drink this, you two promise to quit bugging me to join you in a drinking contest, noda." Chichiri stated, glaring at the two.
"Of course 'Chiri! Here ya go." Tasuki smirked as he filled the handbowl Chichiri was holding to the brim with the clear liquid.
Rolling his eyes, Chichiri lifted the bowl to his lips, intending to drink it quickly and get out of the room before the two could even begin to try to talk him into drinking more, when he felt and saw his symbol flare with a red light briefly, the light of it piercing though the thin material of his pants. Dropping the sake, he looked at Tasuki, who was staring at his arm in shock. His symbol, which hadn't shown itself in almost four years now, could now be clearly seen on his forearm. Quickly reaching down, the monk yanked the cloth of his pantleg up and gasped when he saw that his own symbol showed clearly once more. But why?! Had something happened to Miaka?
"'Chiri, what the hell does this mean?! Do ya think somethin's 'appened to Miaka?" Tasuki asked frantically, amber eyes cloudy with worry.
Chichiri slipped off his mask, thinking deeply on it. "I don't know. Allow me to go meditate for a few hours. Perhaps Suzaku will tell me what has happened." He quickly grabbed his shakujou, kesa, and kasa.
He placed a comforting hand on the flustered seishi before hurriedly exiting the room, and then the hide-out. He instantly sought the peace and tranquility of the small pond near the hide-out. Setting down the staff, kesa, and kasa, Chichiri seated himself next to the calm waters and turned his thoughts inward. Slowly he started to relax, muscles that had tensed at the arrival of the symbols gradually untensed. Within minutes, he had achieved the peace of mind that came easily to him now, after so many years of practise. Satisfied his thoughts and mind were now clear enough, he concentrated on reaching the warmth that was Suzaku. Only to find it was gone. No trace of it lingered. Maroon eye snapped open as Chichiri realized the implications this could mean. Never before had he ever met any difficulty in reaching Suzaku, until now. The sound of two startled screams interrupted his thoughts. Quickly gathering his things, Chichiri sprinted back towards the hide-out.
He almost collided with one of the bandits as he dashed through the door. Grabbing onto the wall to keep from falling down with one hand, he quickly slipped his paper mask on with the other. The bandit looked at him stupidly for a second and then shook his head. "Genrou sent me to find you. He said to hurry up and get back here. There's a really old hag that wants to speak to you and him. They're in the weapons room."
"Hai. Arigatou, noda." Chichiri took off in the direction of the weapons room, almost slipping while taking a corner too sharply.
Tasuki and Taiits-kun looked up as Chichiri stumbled into the room, panting slightly. The Creator raised an eyebrow at the sight, but said nothing. She motioned for him to go stand beside Tasuki. "So, y'gonna tell me why yer here now that 'Chiri finally got 'ere?" Tasuki asked her heatedly.
"Watch your mouth Fang-Boy. First off, did either of you two notice anything unusually today? More specifically, within the last few hours." She glowered at Tasuki as he continued to glare at her, arms crossed angrily.
"Yes, Taiits-kun. What has happened, noda? I am no longer able to reach Suzaku. And why has our symbols revealed themselves once more? Has something happened to Miaka?! Has she been hurt?! Is everything alright in her world?" Chichiri asked the Oracle desperately. Tasuki gave him a bemused look as a thought came to him. Could Chichiri be in love with...Naw! He was a monk.
"Perhaps if you would let me speak, I could answer your questions, Suzaku no Chichiri." Taiits-kun grumbled. "First off, it is as I fear. I sensed the silence and disappearance of the four gods several hours ago. Either someone is blocking them from me, and you apparently, or has sealed the four away. That is why you were unable to reach Suzaku, Chichiri. As to your symbols, I can not answer that. I do not know the answer myself."
"Lotta good you are." Tasuki muttered.
Taiits-kun glared at him once more, not releasing him from her stare until he had apologized. "Now then, if there are no more interruptions or comments from hot-headed bandits, perhaps we can get down to business." A sullen nod from Tasuki followed this. "Come, I shall transport us to my home." The Creator waved her hand and in a small poor of smoke, the three were gone.
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"Chichiri-sama's here! Chichiri-sama's here! Flame-Boy! Fang-Boy!!" Came the shrill cries of half a dozen little girls.
"Hello Nyan-nyan." Chichiri greeted the young girls politely, instantly picking out the true one. He tugged on one of her ponytails playfully before following Taiits-kun into her private chambers.
"Alright y'old hag, why'd y'bring us here?" Tasuki asked impatiently. Then cringed as the Creator's malevolent stare was directed his way.
"You haven't changed at all in three and a half years. However, I sense serious disorder in this world. A darkness is sweeping over the land and the four gods have gone silent. I have not determined whether they have been sealed away or not yet." She stated.
"What must we do to unseal them, noda?" Chichiri asked, a sick feeling washing over him.
"Only the power of a priestess can unlock the gods. I will be sending you two to retrieve Miaka back to this world. Along with Taka and Yui if they so wish to come." The Oracle answered, looking as though her answer should have been obvious.
"What the hell are y'talkin' about, y'old hag!? Miaka's already done her part, we can' ask her to go though it all again." Tasuki argued, angry at the thought that Miaka would once more have to go through all the hardships they had endured once more.
"Suzaku no Tasuki!! This is the only way! If we do not retrieve the priestess, then this world will fall into darkness." Taiits-kun argued right back, her normally level voice rising in anger.
Tasuki opened his mouth to argue with her again, but a staff thrust in front of him, cutting him off. "If this is truly the only way, then we will go to retrieve Miaka back to this world. But, Taiist-kun...with the gods sealed away, how will we be able to go there?" Chichiri asked, his face serious but his heart leaping with joy at the thought of seeing his miko once more.
"I will be sending you, baka no denshi." Taiits-kun scoffed. "Stand next to one another. I will be sending you two immediately."
"Wha'?! Right now!?" Tasuki sputtered, glaring at the Creator for a moment. "Damn hag."
"Tasuki-kun. Shut up, noda." Chichiri hissed between his teeth, seeing the annoyed look on Taiits-kun's face.
The bandit opened his mouth to argue with the monk, but was interrupted when a red light surrounded the two. Instead, the bandit snapped his eyes shut and gritted his teeth. He HATED traveling by magic. Anxiety and nervousness flooded his being as the fierey seishi realized he'd be seeing his priestess again in only a few minutes. Memories of him being possessed and getting Miaka drunk caused all the color to leave him. Would she be able to ever trust him again? Heaving a sigh, Tasuki muttered a quick prayer to Suzaku and waited for the inevitable encounter. Suzaku he hoped it would go alright.
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AN: My third FY fanfic. What do you all think? I know this chapter wasn't very good, but I promise it will get better. So please R&R so I can improve on my writing. Thanks!