Chapter 4...........Suzaku no Miko and the 1st star warrior ( Kasumi ) ** ( Nuriko )

Authors' note: I have to make this short because my classmate wants it and because I like the ending. Don't worry, the other chapters will have the same quality and longer width.

" Oh wow! You're really very young and beautiful! " Miaka chirped. I gagged. See how leasbianish she is? " Don't talk to the emperor like that! " Tama cried. " Why? Isn't it your empress? What do you mean emperor? " Miaka said idiotically. " It's our emperor! He's a man!!!!!! " Tama yelled. The emperor was dressed up in some weird, seven-layered outfit and curly toed slippers. He looked like a king sized turkey with a tiny treasure chest on his head and China patterns on his skin. " I wanted to know you people, so I dressed up like a woman. Was I fooling you? " He asked. " You sure were! " Giggled ( barf )the cornball with buns.

" I wont harm any of you, but may I ask that one of you beome Suzaku no Miko? " He pressed. " May I request that one? " He pointed to Miaka. " What is a Suzie Kuniko? " She asked. " She is the one to call on Suzaku and protect Konan. " Miaka smiled. " Well, I guess I could do it, whatever that is. Just call on me! SUPER MIAKA! " She did a superman pose.

That idiot. " Come here. I will now announce that we have our miko. " He led us to some curtains. " Ooo! What's behind it! What s behind it? " She asked. Then the man parted the curatins and there were a whole lot of people there. In fact, there were nearly hundreds.

" WE NOW HAVE OUR MIKO, OUR REDEMER TO PROTECT KONAN. NOW BOW DOWN TO HONOR HER. " And every one of them got down on their knees and bowed down to Miaka. Boy, that would never happen in school. ** ( See above )

****

I grumbled as I pulled on a very girly nightgown ( it belonged to the *beautiful* emperor. ) I hadn't changed in about 27 hours and it was making Yui queasy, becuase *germs* were clinging to her school uniform. Sheesh. I headed for the room I was sharing with Miaka, Tamahome and Yui. As soon as possible, the Emperor would get us seperate rooms close together, because it was improper for men to sleep with women, unless they were marrid (yuck!). But only if Miaka *wished*. I opened the door. What a scene.

Miaka was going on and on about wanting nice, clean Shiawase Bunny underwear ( he's a cartoon character that a two month old baby would find boring. ) Then Tama scooped her up in his arms. " Don't worry, " he muttered, burrying his ugly, long and pointy nose in her smelly hair. Yui gave a positive " EEK! " and fainted ( or pretended to. ) Miaka shrieked too, because Yui had fallen. Tama just hugged her tighter and tried to soothe her, but she was hysterical.

" Yui! Yui! Let go of me! YUI! NO! SHE'S DEAD! " And she struggled like a maniac.

Tama finnaly gave up and said, " Suzaku can revive her if she's really dead. " He eyed Yui, who was breathing as obviously as.......well, I don't know. But it was obvious that she was breathing. Miaka got excited. " Really? Well, I'll see how I can call him, so that Yui won't stay in heaven too long. The Emperor should know. " And she skipped off, with me running after her. Somewhere in the corridor she fell flat on her face, and finnaly we reached the Emperor's room.

Knock. Knock. " It's me! " Miaka chirped. " Hurry up! We're on a crisis! YUI HAS DIED! " And all of a sudden she was hysterical again. I let myself in and dragged Miaka with me. We found the emperor sitting on a stool in front of a mirror, saying, " I'm so beautiful, it's scary. " Oh. How modest. So Miaka asked her question, and the Emperor dusted himself off before starting. Taking out an enourmous scroll, he cleared his throat and said,

" This scroll was given to Lord Taiso, my Grandfather's grandfather's grandfather's gandfather's grandfather's grandfather's..... " and he went on for some 15 minutes " ............ grandfather. This is the scroll of the Four Gods, Byakko, Genbu, Seiryuu and Suzaku. " He pasued for effect ( or maybe because he was out of breath from saying grandfather's. )

" The four gods are twenty four constellations, seven for each direction, west east, south and north. Suzaku is in the south sky, and it's seven seishi are Nuriko, Hotohori, Tamahome, Chiriko, Chichiri, Tasuki and Mitsukake. I am Hotohori, the sea snake. See this? " He lifted a part of his hair and we saw a bright red sign on his neck. " Tamahome has one on his forehead. He is the crab, the one to protect the Miko. To call on Suzaku, we must find the other five seishi. We are going to try and see if any of my best men are seishi. Be ready in one hour. " Before we left, he eyed my outfit. " It, it looks good on you. It makes you look nearly feminine. " He commented. I did all I could to keep from beating him up.

****

An hour later, we were outside the palace, and a bunch of soldiers were assembled in front of us. Tamahome decided to test them, but nearly ended up killing them. I noticed two women far off. I did not like the way one of them was staring at Miaka.

( "Lady Korin and a maid stand off to one side, observing the event. Lady Korin notices how Miaka is close to the Emperor. She also notices Tamahome...."

The girl checks her watch. She has a half hour left. She goes on reading. )

" CHUBBY CHUBLETS! FAT FREAKS! " Miaka yelled at the soldiers. " What are you doing? " Yui hissed ( She was miraculously *revived* when we got in the room. ) " A real gentleman never hurts a woman, " Miaka explained. " That's a stupid theory, " I muttered. " You'll see. " Miaka said, sure of herself. " WON-TON IDIOTS! "

Ok. That did it. The guards had finnaly lost their stance and were running after Miaka.

" Yah! " One of the guards yelled, throwing a hammer. Miaka dashed under a tiny hut thing, but the hammer stroke it. " HUH?! " Miaka screeched. Tamahome ran and tried to stop it, but it collapsed on both of them. Now THAT was interesting. I was finnaly rid of the pig, and danced around in glee. Hotohori was frantic. " Pull it up! Pull it up! " He ordered me. " Break the rock! I've heard your strong. " Well, I knew it would do no good, but I started tugging at the rocks. They were really heavy and I just managed to throw one away when a girl approached me. The girl that was looking at Miaka. " Let me take care of everything, " She said. Then she began to throw the pieces by with ease. She didn't even struggle. I was shocked, in the very least, stunned. The first person to be stronger than me.

After she cleared out the rubble, she found a sweaty Tama and a helpless Miaka. They started tending to their wounds. " That was very brave of you, " Hotohori said to Tamahome.

( Why are their names so long? ) " Yeah, " Miaka added. " Why did you even do it? " Tama shook his head. " I do what I want to do, " He muttered in the greasy voice I had finnaly gotten used to. ( Don't ask me why I said greasy. ) " But you'll have to repay me soon, Miaka. " He finished. Miaka looked thoughtful.

The girl, who called herself Lady Korin, stood over to one side, watching all of this. Hoto glanced at her. Suddenly he tried to reach out to her chest. " Oh! " She cried. ( That PERVERT! ) " I'm sorry, I just noticed that sign on your chest....." He apologized. " You mean this? " She pointed to her left upper breast (yuck), which was glowing furiosly. Hoto nodded eagerly. " I am Nuriko, a seven star warrior. " She revealed. ( Ooh, that is just so interesting. Huh. As if. ) Then everyone got really excited because the third warrior was found.

" Oh! Thank you! Might I say you are just SO BEAUTIFUL! " Miaka cried, throwing her arms open. But instead of going all " THANK YOU FOR YOUR WONDERFUL COMPLIMENT! " Nuriko went over to Tama and said " I didn't want to save you, I wanted to save him. " then she gave him a big smooch - - in the lips. " AUUUGHH! " I ran away, looking for a trash can to barf into. I HATE KISSY KISSY SMOOCHY SMOOCHY STUFF! I didn't like something about the Nuriko-whatever-woman. I leaned over a hole in the ground which had something long and black in it and barfed.

~~~~******~~~~

About 30 minutes later we were in the washroom. Yui was soaking her skirt, and so was I. Miaka was washing her clothes the wrong way. " That girl sure had some nerve, " Miaka muttered. " " Yeah. Hey Miaka, what's that? " Yui said, pointing a purple mark on her leg. Miaka stared at it, and then pinched it. " Ouch! It's a bruise! " She yelped. I, wearing my undershirt and underwear just soaked my clothes some more. " Stop whining, it won't do anything, " I ordered her. " Well, I'm the Suzie Kuniko! I get to order you and everyone except Yui. " She batted her eyelashes at Yui.

" Turn the other way, " Yui said, because she didn't want Miaka admiring her breasts.

( It happened before. ) So Miaka looked the other way and both girls removed their bras. And then, Tamahome picked the time to walk in. " AHHHHHHH!!!!! " I screamed. " YOU PERVERTED PERVET HEAD! " Miaka shrieked and pulled on her wet bra. Yui hid behind me. I was luckily still wearing my underclothes. " GET OUT! " I screeched at him. " NOW! " And in came Korin/Nuriko. " My, my. Was he disturbing you? Oh well, I'll just take him away, girls, go on with your washing. " HELP! " Tama cried, but Korin/Nuriko had a strong grip and dragged him away. We resumed our washing. Now I really HATED those two idiots.

~~~~******~~~~

I stood outside Lady Korin's room. I had been ordered by the Emperor to be Nuriko's sort-of-maid, but first I asked for a block of gold per day to do so. I wasn't looked upon as high as Miaka, but I still had my rights. Miaka had wanted to be Lady Korin's maid to, I think earn Tama back or get her respect. So there we were. Presently, Lady Korin came, looking dainty in such a way it made me want to vomit. Instead, I gritted my teeth.

" The Emperor wants me to be your servant. " I muttered sarcastically. " Oh, he does? Well, ok, come in. And what is YOUR bussiness? " She exploded to Miaka. " Might I come and serve you too? " She said meekly. Lady Korin smiled evily. " Very well. Get in, and hurry up. " We found Tama on the bed, bound with cloth. " HELP! " He pleaded weakly. Lady Korin shut him up. " Your first task is to shine everything, " She said to the two of us. " I want everything sparkling and shining and squeaky clean. " And she gave us two rags, two shines, a bottle of cleanser and some maid clothes. " Get dressed! " She barked.

After we put on our idiotic outfits, we began to shine. It was impossible. nearly everything had an inch of dust on it, because Lady Korin had moved into an old palace room. I took a pot and began wiping and scrubbing it like crazy. I made it sparkly in an hour. but there were still a lot of things to clean. Nuriko wouldn't give us a break and kept lashing out words at us. Miaka had it worst of all, because she never cleaned the house. She spent an entire four hours trying to get a teensy horse figurine clean. And all that time Korin/Nuriko kept on smooching Tama, making me sick and Miaka jealous.

After we spent a week shining her room, we had to dust the floor, empty the trash can, empty the hole in the ground ( I hated that most of all ) do her hair, fix her bed, and lots of other things I would rather eat roaches than do.

Two weeks later, I walked over to the bridge overlooking the pond. The breeze was beautiful. I looked across to where Miaka had finnaly been given a break. She was talking with Tamahome. " Youre loved by such a beautiful lady, " She commented glumly. ( I have sharp ears, mind you. ) " I don't like it, " Tama answered. Miaka, who was leaning over the railing of the other bridge, fell. " Ouch! " She had landed on her leg which had a bruise. Tama helped her up and tied a white cloth around her leg. " There. it won't hurt anymore. " He soothed. I looked at the pond. The breeze was nice.

****

I was still looking over to where Miaka and Tama were flirting with each other. I decided to go nearer so I casually strolled toward the bridge and hollered " Nice wind! " They paid no attention. " Miaka, are you.......are you jealous of Nuriko? " Tama said in a breathable voice. " No, I'm not. Why would I be? " Miaka's voice seemed tense. I knew she was, and I was just about to reavel that when I noticed Lady Kourin/Nuriko behind a pillar.

" Hey! " I cried, making a mad dash for her. She eeped and ran away. I chugged after her. Then, would you believe, I lost track of her. " GGRRRRR! " I stomped my feet. First she's stronger, now she's faster. " IT REALLY ANNOYS ME! " I screamed. A maid rounding the corner looked at me. I turned red. She walked away.

****

I leaned over the railing of the palace. The sky was all black, except for a few stars. Miaka and Nuriko were debating about something over to the left. And, being the evil eavesdropper that I am, I listened in. " Oh Miaka, I lost my Yakoujo Topaz somewhere around the pond. It's an earring given to me by my mother, I thought you could get it.........It glows in the dark. In return, I'll protect you as a seishi. So, how about it? " Nuriko was asking. Miaka, without a second thought, said " Okay. "

" Hey, wait! " I said. " Let me go along. I have better eyes than Miaka, it would be easier to spot if I came too. " " Very well. What do you want in return? " I grinned. " I'll tell you later. " All that time, I'd been noticing that Nuriko was flat, and it was strange that she had a pretty muscular build. I ran off with Miaka to look for the jewel.

****

( SURPRISE MINI CHAPTER - - Nuriko's view. )

I had been plotting in my head the whole time to get back at Miaka for stealing my beloved emperor. My scheme was as simple as this: I would pretend to have lost my " Yakoujo Topaz " which was safe inside my ivory case. The chubby fool would most probably say yes, and clumsy as well as chubby as she is, she would fall into the pond searching for it. No, she won't drown, but she'll be a drenched rat.

At night I threw my plan. Darker, easier to fall into the pond. " Oh Miaka! " I pleaded. " I have lost my precious Yakoujo Topaz! It's a valuable earring which my mother had, and she gave it to me. I thought maybe you could get it because we are such good friends and all. It glows in the dark. In return, I will protect you from now on as a seishi. " Miaka didn't even think. " Alright, if it's to gain your friendship and trust. "

Suddenly that girl I had been despising since I saw her turned up. " Just a minute. I'm coming along, because I have better eyesight than Miaka. It would be much easier to find it with me. " Well, since I hated her, and because I am gracious woman, I allowed her and asked her what she wanted. " Something, " she said, and they ran away. Huh. What fools.

****

I noticed the Emperor with squires in a hut near the pond. Once again, I eavesdropped. " You should get married, Lord Highness. Nuriko might be the perfect woman. " A squire with a weird, straight hat said. I choked. That b*tch, be a perfect woman? Holy tempura, the end of the world has come. " No, ever since I was a child, I knew who I would love, " was the reply.

" Hey Kasumi, let's go check them out! " Miaka cheered. She skipped away. I followed her. " HE-LLO! " She screamed at the scribes and squires. They went " AUGGHH! " And fainted. Hotohori, the gentleman who was poised, said " Hello too, Lady Miaka. Hello, Ms. Kasumi. Where are you off to? " Miaka answered, " Nuriko wants me to get her earring, and we are going to look for it. She said it was somewhere near the pond. I'm doing it to earn her friendship. " Hotohori looked a bit annoyed. " I shall order Lady Nuriko to look for it herself, and to get along with you. " Miaka shook her head. " No thank you, I should earn it myself. " And we ran off again, with Hotohori staring after us.

Near the pond, we began our search. " It must be somewhere - - AHHHH! " " Miaka! " I yelled. PAH-LOOSH! BLOOSH! She had fallen into the pond. " Help! Help! " She flailed like a jellyfish. I tried to hoist her up, but her weight pulled me down. We got tangled in the weeds. " THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT! " I screamed at Miaka. She started to blubber. We thrashed in the weeds and finnaly got untangled. And when we finnaly got out, Miaka said, " We still haven't found the jewel. "

" THERE IS NO JEWEL, YOU DUMMY! That Nuriko faked it! She wanted us to fall! " I belched. " Well, I happen to trust her, " Miaka growled stubbornly. " But, if there really is no jewel, a stone will do, " She said. And so, because she was the Suzaku no Miko, we searched for a pretty stone. Finnaly, Miaka found a nice, round, smooth stone with a leaf shape embedded in it. " Here! Perfect! " She rejoiced. Sometimes she's too good. We headed back to the palace.

~~End of Chapter 4 and Episode 3: the seven warriors of Suzaku~~

Light sun reflecting on the water

With a breeze ever so gentle and calm

The clouds as high as ever, light and fluffy as always

Two lovers across the river share their thoughts

The wind is a child that plays tricks

The water is a beautiful lady looking at herself

The sun is an energetic person

The love you can't see is like a blind fool

Whoever said love lasts forever?

- 4ever by bk0011