Fushigi Yuugi: Tsuriawaseru

By: Maeleana & Date Eryne

Disclaimer: I soooo wish.

Author's note: I thought I should have different perspectives in this story. We've seen things that have been happening around Eve and Tai, but what about Tera and Tesa?

Beytra: I'm sure everyone is wondering why each of these girls isn't 'qualified' to be Miko.

Kurama: You've given hints as to why Eve and Tai aren't. You haven't exactly shown why they aren't.

Beytra: And you're point?

Kurama: How are you going to show how Tesa and Tera aren't qualified if you can't show how Eve and Tai aren't?

Beytra: .....Why aren't you with Mae?

Kurama(shrug): She said she was planning a surprise.

Beytra: Anyway here's what's been happening elsewhere....

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Chapter 4: Are you sure she's a Miko?

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It was a perfect day in the hills near Sairou, two young men were enjoying the nice weather and taking a break from the responsibilities that waited for them in the town below. Neither seemed to have a care in the world.

"I'll race you to the falls!"

The second laughed, "You've never been able to beat me in a foot race Jin. What makes you think this time will be different?"

Jin shrugged, "I have a feeling today will be different, Mosuke."

Mosuke shook his head, "All right, we'll race to the falls, straight path no side routes. First one there wins. Ready?"

Jin crouched, "Set..."

Before either could say 'go' they heard the bushes rustle. Both looked to see if it was friend or foe coming, and neither expected a half-dressed girl wielding a sturdy branch.

"Okay here's what's going to happen: the two of you are going to tell me where I am, then you're going to point me to the nearest town, village or city. Either of you says anything about my appearance and I will knock you out."

Jin blinked in surprise as he tried not to stare at the blond-haired young woman, she'd obviously been attacked as the little bit of clothing she had on was torn. He looked to Mosuke. for his part Mosuke was torn between concern for the obviously injured stranger and amusement at her demands.

"What if we refuse to help you?" Mosuke crossed his arms and smiled.

The woman smiled mirthlessly, "Then I take my frustration out on you until you talk, and believe me I'm very frustrated."

"Um..." Jin began timidly "wh-what happened to you?"

"Excuse me?" she turned to glare at him.

Mosuke shook his head at Jin's naïveté, "We can help you but it would help us to help you if we knew what happened to you."

Her posture eased, barely, "Why should I tell you anything? I don't know who you are."

"My name is Mosuke, this is my friend Jin. You're in Sairou." He studied her face watching for a reaction, he wasn't disappointed, puzzled but not disappointed.

The woman rounded on the nearest tree striking at it with her branch as if it were a sword, cursing in an unfamiliar language under her breath, before looking skyward.

"Gods-fucking-damnit!!! If this is your fault Eve I'll kill you!!!"

Jin looked at Mosuke, obviously this woman was insane.

"Jin? Why don't you head back to town, and inform Auntie that she's going to have a visitor. You can let her know that the visitor will need food and clothing."

"But.." Jin trailed off at the look on Mosuke's face, "I don't like it but okay.."

After Jin left Mosuke spoke again, "Are you well?"

"I'm not insane." she said taking deep breaths.

"I never said you were. What's your name?" Mosuke was definitely starting to be amused by this woman.

She brushed some of her hair back, "My name is Artesa. And you didn't have to, your friend's face said it all."

Mosuke was impressed that she had noticed Jin's expression while she had raged against the tree, "Jin is not as mature as he should be, and his life has been too peaceful."

"Yours wasn't?" Artesa looked at him questioningly.

Mosuke chuckled, "It was...in a manner of speaking."

Artesa shook her head determined not to pry, "Anyway which way to town?"

"You'll accept my help just like that?" he raised his eye.

A smile played across her face, "If I don't like the help you offer you'll know."

Mosuke blinked, "You're not afraid are you?"

"I'm a warrior we don't scare easily." Artesa turned to head in the direction that Jin had gone, only to be stopped by Mosuke's hand on her arm.

"What do you mean you're a warrior? What kind of warrior?" he was staring at her intensely.

Something told Artesa that word meant more to him than her, "I'm an Amazon warrior, and Amazons are only women. We don't teach any man our ways."

"Do you serve a God?" there was a light in his eyes.

"I serve no God. I serve my mother, the Goddess Artemis." Artesa was prepared for the incredulous reaction she always got. The one that consisted of the person thinking her insane and telling her that Artemis wasn't real and that even in the myths Artemis had had no children. 'Artemis was a virgin goddess' therefore no children.

Mosuke blinked, then frowned thoughtfully, "I've never heard of this Artemis... Have you heard of Byakko?"

If she didn't know better Artesa would have sworn this was a dream, but she never fell asleep during sex so that couldn't be it. "Can't say I have, why?"

"Where are you from, Artesa?" His face was unreadable.

"I'm from Greece." She replied easily, it wasn't a lie so much as a half-truth.

A smile began to spread over Mosuke's face, "I think you need to meet the emperor."

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Artesa shifted uncomfortably. Not only was she in a confined space, but she was wearing the most ridiculous outfit she'd ever worn, including the leather ensemble she had at home. She fought to keep the growl out of her voice when she spoke, "Are we there yet?"

Mosuke shook his head, "We have another hour before we reach the imperial palace Artesa-san. Are you truly that uncomfortable?"

"I'm in a strange land, wearing a ridiculous outfit that will hinder my movements if I have to fight, and I'm traveling in a small carriage with a man I don't really know. What the hell do you think?" niceties and politeness be damned Artesa was in a bad mood.

He silently chuckled at her discomfort, "You wouldn't be fighting even if you were in more casual clothing."

"Says who?"

"If I'm right then it will be the duty of others to defend you." Mosuke's face became very serious.

"No offense, but no one defends me. I defend myself." Artesa slumped against the seat and folded her arms.

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Artesa stared up at the ceiling. *Damn it all, how the hell did this happen?* Artesa wasn't a priestess, she was a warrior. True some Amazons were both but they were virgin warriors, they refrained from participating in the raids. Tesa liked sex, she liked having a man writhing under her. She wasn't, as Eve joked, addicted, but sex was nice. The point was she couldn't be Byakko no Miko, especially if what the emperor and his advisers said was true.

Sure she was a 'girl from another world', but they had also said the Miko was a virgin. Artesa was soooo not a Miko. She'd tried to tell them, but none of them listened after Mosuke, sorry Toroki, had shown his symbol and said she was the Miko. That was a day and a half ago, she'd insisted on less ridiculous clothing and, though they were hesitant to do so, the servants provided her with the clothing she wanted.

Tesa got up and paced for a minute before leaving her room. As expected a servant appeared immediately.

"Did you need something Artesa-sama?"

Tesa didn't bother learning any of the servants' names, she wasn't planning on staying long enough for it to matter. "Where do the soldiers train?"

The servant blinked suitably shocked at such a request. "Near the barracks...why?"

"I want to go see where the soldiers train...please." Tesa was trying to be at least a little polite.

The servant hesitated then, frowning, motioned "This way Artesa-sama."

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Tesa watched the soldiers then shook her head, these men were supposed to protect her?

Everyone froze when Byakko no Miko picked up a sword and moved to challenge the Captain. The servant immediately ran to get the Emperor and Toroki-san.

The Captain was frowning. He had indulged the Miko by accepting her challenge but he had gone easy on her until she had forced him to defend himself. He couldn't very well attack the Miko, he was supposed to defend her.

Tesa sighed frustrated, "Either fight properly or send out someone who will."

"But Miko-sama..." The Captain began.

"You either fight properly or I inform the Emperor that you aren't qualified to be Captain." Tesa wanted to knock this guy flat.

The Captain tensed, "I have earned the right to be Captain of the Guard Miko-sama.."

"Prove it. If you're as good as you say you should be able to disarm me." Tesa knew she'd pushed the right button.

"Just disarm you?" The Captain looked thoughtful, then nodded, "Very well then."

Toroki stood next to a very shocked Emperor of Sairou as they watched the Royal Captain of the Guard attack the Miko. The shocking part was that within a minute the Miko had disarmed the Captain and knocked him flat on his back.

Toroki couldn't help but feel a little proud of his Miko.

"Toroki-san?"

He turned to look at the advisor who addressed him.

"Are you sure she's the Miko?"

Toroki couldn't stop himself, he laughed.

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Tesa stretched, the palace was nice and all and beautiful during the day, but she preferred the night. Sneaking past the few night guards was easy enough, breaking into the training hall was child's play, and staying unnoticed a breeze. The one time someone came to check on the glow in the training hall they'd left thinking it was their imagination. Tesa was enjoying some nice stretching and aerobics before rounding toward the sounds of someone entering the hall.

"It's rather late isn't it Miko-sama?" Toroki had watched her moving with a fluidity that he had never in this lifetime seen.

"Yeah, but it's the best time to exercise in peace...or so I thought." Tesa rolled her neck, before side-stretching.

Toroki continued to watch her, "It's not safe for you to go off on your own Miko-sama."

Tesa rolled her eyes, "I'm safer on my own than with any of the palace 'guards'."

"And yet you were very...what is a delicate word for it?...ah yes, disheveled, when we met. That state doesn't come from being 'safe'." Toroki couldn't help teasing his Miko, her reactions never ceased to intrigue him. Like now, he had never seen anyone turn that particular shade of red.

Tesa drew up defensively, she owed this man no explanations and yet..."You'd be 'disheveled' too if you had been in the middle of having sex."

Toroki blinked stunned, then he himself blushed a bit, "But you're Byakko no Miko..."

*Payback can be such a bitch* Tesa thought shrugging, "I've been trying to explain why I can't be Byakko no Miko."

"And why can't you?" Toroki asked hesitantly not sure he wanted an answer.

Tesa smiled almost apologetically, "The Emperor's advisors said the Miko is a virgin, pure and untouched, right?"

Toroki slowly nodded, "That is what they said..." Now he was certain he didn't want an answer.

"When the number of lovers you've had hit the triple digits you are definitely not a virgin." Tesa smiled, she was proud of the fact that she could almost always get any man she set her sights on.

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Author's Note: We're leaving it there for now because the next chapter will incorporate both story lines so far. Meaning it'll bounce between Konan and Sairou. Good luck in keeping up.

Beytra: Amen to that.

Kurama: I didn't think you were religious.

Beytra: I'm not, Phil is.

Kurama: I see....

Beytra: Shut up. Anyway we hope you liked this one.