Disclaimer: Due to the fact that Yuu Watase would not sell me Fushigi Yƻgi I do not own it. But not for lack of trying. Also, my friend Himitsu is now writing the story so it may take longer to get up at some times. And...You people are mean! No one's reviewed this yet. I feel so unloved! =,( Himitsu, "Don't worry Ice-chan. I'll review it for you." And sorry for the long break. I was in Flagstaff and it was soooo boring. I'm so proud of myself. I finally have FY graphic novels. 3,4,&5! I feel so special. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

His arm reached out and Tasuki flew against the wall.

"What the-" Tasuki managed to get out before he became unconscious.

Carrie stood up weakly. "Some sort of.spell." Glaring at the friend-turned- foe, she then closed her eyes put her left arm around her waist. Her right hand crossed to her left shoulder, and wind blew at her hair. "Sho," she whispered.

A thin stream of light went from her to Chichiri, and then it grew wider. He looked puzzled, then fell to his knees.

"She's drawing energy from him! This is our chance!"

Miaka grabbed Tamahome by the arm. "But what if you kill him by accident?"

Nuriko looked at the both of them helplessly. "But what are we supposed to do? Carrie can't keep that up for long."

Meanwhile, Kyra turned to Suki. "Will spells work here?" she asked.

"Well," Suki replied, cracking her knuckles, "it's worth a try. Let's go with the banishing."

They both closed their eyes and a white aura spread over them.

"Return to the place from which you came

Return to us never and don't bother us again

We turn you back and send you away

We're not willing to play your games!

For the good of all, it shall become true!"

Carrie had absorbed most of his power by then, and he was very weak. The light spread over him, too. When it vanished, his eyes cleared. "What.happened.no da.?"

A black bit of matter floated up and took human form just before it vanished. Slowly, Carrie sent the collected energy back to Chichiri, and then collapsed.

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There was the sound of rushing water.

Someone was calling out. For help? Where were they? It was all black. Running through the darkness, trying to find the source of the sound. A sudden shriek, then.nothing.

"Carrie!"

There was the feeling of something hitting the bed right beside her, and Carrie opened her eyes. Suki was right there.

"She's up!"

"That's because YOU woke her up. She needs her rest," Carrie heard Kyra call from another room. Seconds later, Kyra walked by and Suki stuck out her tongue.

Kyra blew a raspberry in response.

Suki began making faces.

"For the love of-" Carrie began, but Suki then smiled at her.

"Hotohori is cute, isn't he?"

Carrie blinked. "Okay, how did a conversation get started on this?"

Kyra came in. "Tamahome is cuter."

"Tamahome has a GIRLFRIEND."

Kyra huffed. "Fine, then I choose Tasuki!"

"What is this? Pokemon?" Carrie asked.

"Haven't you been online yet? It's Bishonen! With the cute little Duos and Xellosses."

Carrie slapped herself on the forehead. "Oh dear, must have slipped my mind," she said as sarcastically as she could manage.

"Anime freak," Kyra sneered.

"So who do you like?"

Carrie looked at the two of them. "Huh?"

"I betcha she likes Chichiri!"

"Um, hi, I'm right here, and no, I don't have a crush on Chichiri."

"Riiiight. I saw that look on your face when Miaka talked to him. You were J-E-A-L-O-U-S."

"I have no idea what you're talking about. But I am hungry, so if you'll excuse me."

The room was filled with giggling as soon as she left. The others were waiting downstairs. "Ready to leave?" Miaka asked.

"Uh, yeah, just let me get something to drink."

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Carrie watched as the sun was setting, sending beautiful hues into the sky. Their camp wasn't too far away, and the pond in front of her reflecting the light made it all the more beautiful.

Just as she was about to get comfortable underneath the apple tree, something hit her head. Rubbing the spot, she looked down and saw an apple core. She looked up and saw the monk contentedly watching the sun set. She shook her head and turned her gaze back to the sky.

"It is a much better view from up here, no da," he called down to her.

"I'm not much of a tree climber," Carrie replied tiredly. She had a feeling that it would be a long time before she could have a peaceful sleep, with all of the excitement and the revivals and dreams.

"You know," she said, "before, when I was back home, we had to worry about shootings and murders and gangs.Now I have to worry about people who want to kill me, gods, flame throwers, swordsmen, supermen, getting beat up, reviving already dead people, monks, possessive spirits, rapids, and the occasional apple core."

"Oh, sorry, no da. I didn't mean to hit you."

"It happens, and I do not believe it will result in internal injury, so don't worry about it." The sky had returned to blue-black, and Carrie heard Nuriko yell that they were done with camp. After eating a small meal, everyone went to sleep.

Except for Carrie.

She tossed and turned, uneasy about the notion of a possible attack at while they were all asleep. She was surprised that she wasn't dead by now. Finally giving up, she stood and decided to walk toward the pond, meditating to be ready to fight if need be.

The moon's reflection on the pond was mesmerizing. Carrie looked through the glassy, undisturbed surface and felt a sense of calm. She decided then to instead practice meditation on an item, possibly bestowing power on it. She pulled the hairpin from her coat pocket and concentrated on it. After what seemed an hour or so she felt her mind grow sluggish, not quite alert, and her fingers loosened around the pin, which slipped between them and into the water.

A bright light radiated from it. Surprised and frightened, she grabbed the pin and ran away from the camp, hoping to lead the 'attack' away from the others. They came first.

But nothing followed her. She became worried and angry and confused, all at once. As a cold chill went down her spine, she yelled out to the forest.

"Fear upon me, serve me well! Let truth be known to me, tell me of my foe, I bid it to be!"

The words echoed among the trees.

"You have nothing to fear."

Carrie whirled around, expecting to see something like a young man.

Nope. Just a kid.

"Jeez, you kinda scared me there," she said sheepishly. "So, what do you know?"

The boy motioned for Carrie to sit on a rock. She did and noticed she was only slightly lower than eye level.

"The place you just ran from is called the 'Reflection Pool'. It can show you the answer to your desires, but you must know what it is, so many people have looked for relief from pain and seen a completely different thing entirely. You must be careful when using it. May I see the item that it reacted to?" He took the pin from her and examined it. "Most likely it has something to do with this. You might want to go back and look at what it shows you." He stretched and yawned.

"Did you want a place to sleep? It's just a blanket and some softer needles and grass, but I don't know of any houses around here. Are you-"

"Lost? No, though I have been asked that often," he said with a bit of an edge to his tone. She thought it best to keep her mouth shut, because you never know what things turn out to be. She took him to her place and waited until he seemed asleep, then left for the pool.

Gently placing the pin in the water, she watched as the light shined, then disappeared. Standing on the surface of the water was a fair, ghostly girl in a flowing gown.

"Hello," she said gently, her voice echoing eerily and quietly. "Who are you?"

"Me? Uh." Carrie continued to stare at her in awe. "My name is Carrie."

"Carrie? A delightful sounding name. Where are you from? The North, West, East, South? Or from the lands beyond?"

"The last one sounds fine."

The girl smiled. "Ah. It must be very different from these lands." The sun peeked over the horizon. "I must go, but tomorrow night we meet?"

"Yeah, that would be good," Carrie replied, and the girl vanished.

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A/N: *Dragon Ball Z narrator voice* Who is this mysterious girl Carrie's talking to? And who is this young boy who has shown up? Find out next time on A New Miko and a Past Life!