Hey there, everybody! This one is a little bit shorter of a chapter. Chiriko's go this big moments and his little moments, but they're all special, right? Right? Please boost his confidence and say "yes".
Oh, do I have to do a disclaimer? Okay. I don't own Fushigi Yuugi or any of it's characters. Fair enough?
Today I had no shopping to attend to, or duties in court. Rather, I thought I would spend the day mentally preparing myself for the upcoming journey. As I've learned now, though, plans are subject to change around here. On my way to a local shrine, I noticed a coin laying on the outdoor walkway. Out of curiosity, I picked it up and pocketed it, but it was out of concern that I began to run towards Tamahome's living quarters. He had just let out a loud yell of anguish, and it was a gruesome sound I won't soon forget.
His door was wide open, so I let myself in to check on him. He didn't notice, though, because he was occupied with looking frantically through a small bag with a hole at the bottom. "I know it as in here," he pleaded with the air around him. "I just saw it! I just had it a few minutes ago!"
In case you didn't already guess, Tamahome is yet another one of the Suzaku warriors. I don't know very much about him, seeing as he spends all his time with the Priestess. I gather that they have special feelings for each other. For all I do know, though, he has a preoccupation with money, even though he's very poor. Perhaps he had made poor investment decisions before to lead him there? Or maybe it was the other way around, and being poor lead him to obsess over every penny.
That thought hit me while he was searching frantically. "Tamahome!" I got his attention. "I think I have what you're looking for!"
"R-really? You do?" he spun around with a face full of anxiety, hope, and surprise all at once.
"This is it, right?" I held up the coin to show him, confident in my reasoning. His facial expression quieted down as he came closer to examine the coin. Changing now from his flat expression, he closed his eyes and chuckled a little.
"Well, I guess I can't blame anyone for thinking I was looking for that," he smiled, calming himself down. "Thank you, though." With that, he turned back to looking under his bed and saying things to himself about where he last had 'it'.
"I… I'll help!" I offered, hoping he wouldn't shoo me away. "Finding small items shouldn't be too big a problem for me."
He chuckled again. "Gyokuran sometimes says the same thing. It doesn't look like it's in here, let's go outside."
Gyokuran? I wondered who that was as I followed him. We began combing the wooden walk way on our hands and knees, and branched down off of it to the dirt as well. I wasn't sure what exactly I was looking for, but I asked him questions about where he last had it and such, how long ago that was, and if the item I picked up was it. Just some yakouji earring Nuriko (another warrior) had been missing, I guess. I brushed my hand through some tall blades of grass, and scraped my finger against something with lots of different textures. I picked it up, and figured it must be a fishing lure Chichiri might use. It was just a few feathers fastened to an acorn, so I lifted my hand to toss it back towards the pond.
"That's it!" Tamahome shouted excitedly before I lifted my hand very much. I looked back down more critically at it as he jumped over the walkway banister to retrieve it. He handled it very gently and caressed it against his cheek with a dopey smile of relief. At that point, I was fairly certain he was more of an obsessive man than just for money, so I didn't realize I gave him a queer look. Noticing that, he regained his composure and explained himself. "It's uh… a good luck charm, from my family. My little siblings made it for me the day I left to find work here… and I wound up meeting Miaka that day! Since then, we agreed that before I ever leave again for anything else, they would have to, uh, 'recharge' it with luck."
"Younger siblings?" my face lit up. I had no idea Tamahome would have such a soft spot for something silly like that. "Gyokuran… is that one of them?"
"Yes, he's one of my little siblings. He and Yuiren were the ones who made this, and it was the older two who thought of 'recharging' it," he smiled, obviously thinking of them. "It'll be a really far journey we'll be going on, so maybe I should ask my father to recharge it, too."
He seemed like a very kind person, to recall his family so fondly. Large families aren't very common here, so I was very surprised to hear that he had four younger siblings, and with hardly any money. Come to think of it, Tamahome has treated the least like a child out of all the warriors. Maybe that's because he knows I'm not a just a small child, like he's cared for. He knows I can take care of myself. For that, I'm very thankful.
It reminds me of how I am with my older brother. He always protected me to the best of his ability, be it standing up for me against the neighborhood boys or chasing away those bothersome stray cats. He also encouraged me the most to study. I admire how mature he is to accept that I'm a Suzaku warrior, and that he can't always protect me. Being with him also makes me feel braver. Without his help, I might not have made in time to stop Amiboshi at the faux Suzaku summoning. Despite all of this, I can't picture us ever doing something as, dare I say, "cute" as a good luck charm.
Tamahome had been quiet for a few minutes. His voice remained quiet as he dragged himself out of his thoughts and back to our current place. "They aren't going to want to carry this on forever," he said, partly saying it to me, partly admitting it to himself. "They're growing up so fast, and someday they might not even need me. Shunkei might marry a merchant, Chuuei might have better luck finding a good job, and Yuiren might even join a future harem!" he giggled at the thought.
I didn't say anything, and just tried to take in how much he sincerely loved his siblings. He continued in a more serious tone.
"But that means I'll cherish the time I have with them now even more. When I go home to visit them, I have to spend each moment to the fullest with them, so we can have good memories to hang onto while I'm away."
I smiled. He had such a wonderful and warm attitude towards them. I hope that he can cherish them even more than he already plans to, and I'll do the same for my family.
He said thanks for my help, and started heading back to his room to keep the charm safe. I started going a few steps in the other direction when he called back, "Just don't tell anyone any of this mushy stuff, okay!"
Ahahahhaha! Tell them the mushy stuff, Chiriko, tell them the mush! Now, those of you who know FY (which I hope you all do, if you're reading this…) will probably know what comes shortly after this for Tama-kins. Anyway.
Next on the list is… Nuriko! And yes, there will be a Miaka chapter. I have an illustration for it on the back of my notebook for school, and it gives me encouragement. XD But that won't be until later.