Tsume-n-carnet: Hey! thanks for the great reviews! I realize I'm totally screwing with the actual time-line of Fushigi Yuugi, I mean, Byakko was actually summoned about seventy-plus years before Miaka enters the book... but go with me here! This is supposed to be taking place about the time that Miaka and Tamahome have been sent to her world. (aka. Tama is now TAKA) just to let you know! kk, enjoy, and as always... please review!
First encounters
Kami groaned and rubbed her forehead. Her head was pounding! She sat up slowly, wincing as her body complained with every motion. She looked down to find herself in bed.
'Did… did I dream that?' she thought, but then, she looked at her clothes. The indigo garments weren't her pajamas… and they felt like they were made of pure silk.
'No, that definitely wasn't a dream,' she thought nervously, looking around her for the first time. The room was large and spacious. A finely woven rug of blue's and greens covered the floor and chairs, couches and cushions were everywhere. There was a light green lantern hanging from the ceiling as well as several orange ones set into the walls. Across from the gigantic bed Kami was occupying, there were two sets of sliding screen doors. A large, silver sculpture of a great tiger was in the corner near the foot of the bed.
O.O Kami couldn't believe her eyes. Suddenly, she heard a snore come from beside her. She jumped and screamed as she saw a young man sleeping in a chair next to her bed.
"AH! WE'RE UNDER ATTACK!" he yelled, springing to his feet and moving one hand to a sword at his side. He looked in confusion at the empty room, and then turned to find Kami staring at him.
"Oh, my lady, you're awake," he said, smiling sheepishly and scratching the back of his neck. He had long brown hair and gentle green eyes set into a tan face. His clothes were elegant, but obviously designed for combat and an exquisite silver-handled sword hung at his side.
"Where am I?" Kami managed to squeak. The young man knelt before the bed.
"Your eminence is in the country of Sairou at the palace of the royal family. My name is Tatara," he introduced himself. Kami sat up a little straighter.
'Sairou? Never heard of it. And what's with the 'Your eminence'?' she thought with suprise.
"Uh, I'm Kami," she responded. Tatara smiled kindly and nodded.
"I am at your service, priestess Kami," he said.
o-0 "Uh, priestess? Are you certain you've got the right girl?" Kami asked in a shaky voice. Tatara stood, never loosing his smile.
"I am certain that you are the Byakko no Miko who will someday save this country," he answered calmly. Just then, there was a gentle knock on the door and another young man entered. He was dressed in armor and had choppy, short, black hair.
"Pardon me, but Emperor Kyo requests an audience with the two of you, immediately," the man informed them. Tatara stood and nodded.
"We'll be there presently," he responded. The young man bowed and left.
Tatara bent down and picked up an outfit, setting it on the sheets. Kami looked down to find that it was the outfit she had been wearing earlier. It had been washed and she was glad to see that it hadn't been damaged.
"I will wait for you in the hallway, your eminence," Tatara said, bowing and slipping out the door.
Kami shook her head.
'Just what is going on here? How did I get here? All I remember was picking up that book... then the strange light...' she thought. Kami caught her breath, and then laughed nervously.
"C'mon Kami... that's not possible. There's no way you could've been sucked into a book! I'm sure there's a perfectly good explanation for all this," Kami tried to convince herself. "Maybe this emperor fellow will know something..."
Kami got dressed quickly and combed her hair with a brush she found on the bedside table. She took a deep breath and headed for the door.
'Act calm...' she started counciling herself, biting her bottom lip. 'Just remember your manners and I'm sure you'll get an explanation!'
----- Meanwhile, a village near the outskirts of Hong-nan-----
Toroki walked calmly about the streets of the small and scattered village, ignoring any stares sent her way. She pulled her black jacket closer around her loose, white blouse. She wasn't used to it being cold... although, she knew that for Hong-nan, this was warm. Many people,Toroki knew, were staring because she had darker skin than most of them... her being from a more desert like country... and she was beginning to get used to such stares this far from Sairou.
She had pulled her long brown hair into a messy ponytail and her favorite black head band was secured firmly around her forehead. Toroki munched lazily on an apple as she scanned the ram-shackle buildings of the village with bored, blue-ish-gray eyes. THERE WAS NOTHING TO DO! and if there was one thing Toroki hated... it was being bored! She kicked some dirt with her black boots and looked at the forest bordering the village. It was then that she sensed it. Something was watching her from a nearby roof-top.
Toroki didn't even turn around to look at the demon... or rather, demonS. None of the townspeople around Toroki had noticed the pressence of the creatures.
'It's about time they found me!' she thought, a small smirk creeping onto her lips. 'I could use a work-out.'
Just then, the demons jumped. Toroki heard screams from frightened villagers and turned to come face to face withseven hideous mountain demons. The one near the front, which looked like a cross between dog and a pig, roared loudly, bearing its yellow teeth. Toroki smiled in spite of herself. Just then, she heard a baby start crying from a near by hut. Her blue eyes flicked from the hut, and then around at stunned people watching.
'Wait! I can't fight them here!' she realized, noticing just how many people were too close. 'It might involve the villagers!'
The pig/dog demon that seemed to be in charge looked over in the direction of the baby's cries. Toroki whistled loudly to regain its focus.
"HEY, YOU UGLY BALL OF SNOT!" she shouted, noticing alot of horrified stares O.O from villagers saying, 'what do you think you're doing?'. The demon turned, its red eyes burning.
"WHAT?" it bellowed at the girl before it.
"THAT'S RIGHT! I'M TALKING TO YOU, FATSO!" Toroki spat, adapting a cocky stance with her gloved hand on her hip. "YOU CAME HERE FOR ME, RIGHT? WELL,CATCH ME IF YOU CAN SUCKERS!"
:P Toroki stuck her tongue out at the demons, who bellowed in response, and then took off running towards the forest road. She could hear their thundering footfalls behind her and she picked up the pace. After a while, Toroki dodged off into the trees, heading for what she knew was a dead end. She saw a rock face coming into view.Toroki heard one of the demons laugh from behind her.
"Haha! We've got her now!" It said in a triumphant manner.
Toroki spun around, her back to the cliff, smiling mischieviously.
"Give up, girly!" the pig/dog demon bellowed, causing Toroki's smile to widen. She was about to leap forward and fight, when she was caught off guard by a shout from behind the group of demons.
"REKKA SHINEN!" a male voice shouted.
Toroki stared as all seven demons were burnt to ashes in a sea of flames that seemed to come out of no where. When the smoke cleared, a tall man with bright red hair stood there, a triumphant look on his face. He couldn't have been any older than Toroki was herself. (19)
He wore an outfit of dark blue and two beaded neckleces hung around his neck. He was holding a fan resting on his shoulder, and when he smiled fangs were visible in his mouth.
"Who the hell... is this guy?" Toroki mumbled to herself.
'He took my kill!' she thought angrily, a vien popping out on her forehead.
"Man, that was too easy," the red-head guy chuckled to himself. He dusted off his shoulder and then looked up... to find a knee come crashing into his face. ouch!
The guy was sent flying backwards and landed hard on his back. He looked up angrily, blood trickling from his nose.
"HEY! I JUST SAVED YOUR LIFE! WHAT THE HELL DID YOU DO THAT FOR?" he yelled. Toroki turned her icy eyes to his golden ones, one word written in them... DEATH! sweat drop Now that was a scary look...
"You jerk! JUST WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE ANYWAY?" Toroki demanded of the guy. He stared in utter confusion. "Those demons were mine! I had them right where I wanted them... when here you come and take them all for yourself!WHAT AJERK!"
----Tasuki's P.O.V.
Tasuki just stared up at the fuming female, her blue eyes full of anger. Just what was she talking about? Hadn't he just rescued her? The brown-haired girl yelled for another minute or so beforeuttering a harsh 'HMPH! MEN!' and stomping off into the trees.
o.O Tasuki stood and dusted himself off, returning his fan to its holder on his back.
"I don't get girls... That's why I hate 'em..." he muttered to himself, turning back to head home.
Suddenly, a blood curdling scream split the air, coming from the direction that girl had went.
"What the...?" Tasuki started before it came again. He started running in the direction of the scream, wondering why he cared... and unable to answer.
----- Back to Kami-----
Kami stared at the emperor before her. This was not what she was expecting! The emperor of Sairou... sitting before her in a throne a bit too big for him... was a boy!
Emperor Kyo couldn't have been any older than ten. He had big, gentle brown eyes and black hair pulled up to fit into his hat. He was an adorable little boy... no doubt... but... he was the emperor?
"Emperor Kyo, please allow me to introduce the lady Kami..." Tatara said formally, bowing before the child.
"Yes, thank you Tatara," the boy, Kyo,said in a small, but regal, voice. He faced to advisors and servants that crowded the throne room. "I would like to speak with the priestess and Tatara alone."
All the occupants bowed and left through various doors. When they were gone, Kyo adapted a joyful smile to his face.
"I'm happy you are here, Kami," he said, standing. Kami, suddenly remembering her manners, knelt and lowered her gaze.
"It is an honor, your highness," she said politely, even though she had never heard of him. Kyo smiled.
"Please, stand... you have no place bowing to me," he told her. Kami couldn't help but realize how odd that kind of talk sounded coming from such a small boy. "You must be tired and confused..."
"Uhh, just a little," Kami answered, smiling sheepishly. Tatararose to his feetbeside her. Even now, she couldn't help but notice how handsome his gentle features were. Kyo nodded and sat once more on his padded throne.
"Please, allow me and Tatara to explain..."
Tsume-n-carnet: So? What d'ya think? please review and let me know! Although, if you have a flame... gulpplease be gentle in the wording :(! neway! thanks for reading so far!
T.N.C. - out