The Last Seishi

By nightelfcrawler

Warnings: Tasuki's foul mouth

Okay so... in chatting with an rp partner, we ended up discovering that we had been a part of the same fandoms some 10+ years ago. She ran a website that hosted some of my old fics... which made me drag out some old dvds that I'd saved my webpages on... and lo and behold, I found these old fics hanging around still and decided heck why not bring them back. So here they are, a trip down memory lane! These were written in the late 90's and early 2000's when I went by too many psudonyms to remember. I actually forgot who I was until I physically saw the fics listed and went 'oh crap I remember those!'. Ahh memories.

Be warned... these were my first attempts at writing and are likely riddled with grammar, spelling and other noted errors. I've read through them, blushed furiously that I used to write like this, and decided to put them up anyway as-is with no revisions. So please enjoy, but don't bother correcting or whining, they shall be ignored!

The Last Seishi
Chapter Nine: Forever

Author's note: Well, I finally got around to writing this...(yeah, yeah, lazy me) and as you probably noticed, there is some discrepancies I discovered in the previous chapters. This is because I wrote the before I had read the manga or seen the OAV's. I knew the background, and some details, such as Chichiri's past, but that's why some things are wrong or don't follow the storyline. Anyway, enjoy the finale of this piece, my first FY fanfic!
Disclaimer: All characters belong to Watase Yuu and Flower Comics, no sue kawaii fanwriter...


Chichiri rode along silent through most of the short trip to the base of the mountains. Everyone knew that there were many things on his mind, some pleasant, some not. Deciding to make light of the conversation, Taka sidled up to ride beside the monk.

"So...what did you do last night..?" A mischievous gleam shined in Taka's eyes as he baited the monk. His bait was snatched as the mage blushed furiously. "Ah ha...so how was it?"

Chichiri just looked up at him simply and spoke in a soft voice. "You couldn't even begin to understand it Taka."

As the others shared a harmonious "Oooo" and Taka flushed, Chichiri laughed softly, startling the others. He had laughed.

Shaking his head, the mage looked faintly reminiscent. "I never got the opportunity to spend time with her like that. We were both good honorable children, waiting until after marriage to try the trials of adulthood." He smiled at this point with a happy look on his face. "Perhaps if I make it through this...I may get to meet a son or daughter..."

The group gave knowing winks at each other, and shared in their happy moment.

It was not to last however.

They reached the mountain soon enough, gazing at the sharp peaks above them with awe and some trepidation.

"Man. We have to climb that?"

Chichiri dismounted his horse and looked up at the jagged pass. "No, we don't no da." He pointed slightly south of the mountain. "There is an entrance to the shrine hidden from view no da. It takes us inside the mountain no da."

The others dismounted their horses, and tied them to a nearby tree with plenty of slack so they could feed and drink water from the brook, despite how long they might be gone.

After things were set, they went to the entrance of the shrine. Standing before them was an old granite door with strange symbols marked on it. It was heavily hidden by leaves and vines that shrouded it from untrained eyes.

Chichiri murmured a spell, and the vines fell away from the door, revealing an enormous entrance with strange pictures carved in the door itself.

Miaka gulped slightly, feeling anxiety about entering the cavern. "What...should we expect?"

Chichiri sighed. "Nothing for a long time no da. The way up to the shrine is completely in the dark no da. It's a stairwell that winds around inside the mountain for a very long long distance no da. The shrine itself is located deep inside the highest peak no da."

Tetsuya whistled lowly under his breath. "Man... that far... in the dark?"

Chichiri walked up to the door to examine it while still speaking. "I can produce some light for us so we can see where we're going no da. I do believe there is a labyrinth at the beginning, but it is marked on the floor so you can find your way through it no da. Those without light, specifically magic light since fire would not last that deep into the mountain, would have some difficulty getting to the shrine no da. They would most likely get lost, though the gods knew what they were doing when they built it no da. If you make a wrong turn, it just brings you back to the beginning no da, so no one has actually died in here no da."

As he was speaking, he had located the operation mechanism for the door, and murmured a spell. With a creak, and groan of grinding stone on stone, the doors slid open slowly, and a rush of stale moldy air came rushing out at them.

Keisuke hesitantly walked up, and peered in over the mage's shoulder. "Whew. Impressive!"

The group gathered about the entrance, and caught a dim sight from the small amount of light streaming into the cavern. Beneath them a huge labyrinth stretched out for what seemed to be forever.

Then after some long silence, Chichiri brought his staff to a glow and started in cheerily. "Well, lets get going no da... we have a long way to go no da!"

Grudgingly, they followed him in, leaving the bright day's sunlight behind them, and entering the gloomy atmosphere which seemed to be signaling their death warrant.


"Damn, I'm pooped!" Taka plopped down on the unlevel landing and leaned against the cold stone wall.

Miaka sat down wearily beside him, wondering why her legs just didn't fall off right then and there.

As the rest of the group joined them in sitting down, the atmosphere of the travelers was a definite one of fatigue. Each person found a comfortable spot to claim their bed, then spread out their blankets and pillows, and lay down relieved to be off their feet.

"Man," Tetsuya spoke staring at the ceiling, "I thought that damn labyrinth would go on forever!"

Yui slowly forced herself up to her elbows and looked over at Chichiri who was sitting against the wall resting as well. "Chichiri, what will happen when we get there? I mean, I know it was kinda explained before, but not really. What exactly will happen?"

The mage looked up at their inquiring eyes, and sighed softly. "You want to know? You honestly wish to know?"

They nodded.

"Alright then. I suppose you might as well hear it no da." He took a deep breath and closed his eye in thought. "When we get there, the crystal may be used immediately. The bearer wears it around his neck, then uses it's power to his desire. Unfortunately, because of the unfortunate incident with the previous owner, the gods upped it's power, effectually making it into a curse. The first use of it, addicts the person to it's power, and the strength of the power is magnified tenfold."

They stared at him. "So," Taka said slowly, "What does that mean?"

"What that means is," he said slowly, "once it is used, the person bearing it is a slave to it. That's why I'm requiring your help no da."

They stared at him in shock. "So...so, Chichiri, what's going to happen to you?" Miaka was truly frightened.

Chichiri didn't answer immediately. When he did, they knew he was holding something back. "I...will need your help to keep my wits and sanity about me no da. I will...probably act differently...the most important thing that I ask of you to do is..." He looked them straight in the eye. "No matter what I say, or what I do, do not, I repeat, do NOT do what I tell you, and do not listen to what I say. What you must do is place this," He handed them a strange disk made out of an odd metal, "in the slot where the crystal is. If you do that, then the link between the crystal and myself will be severed no da." He looked at them solemnly with an intense gaze. "If you do not do that in time, then not only will Konan suffer, but you will most likely lose your life as well."

They were astonished by what he had just told them. Their minds were aflood with many different emotions and confusions.

Then, Miaka finally spoke once again. "Chichiri...what will happen to you?"

Chichiri didn't answer. Instead, he doused the glow from his staff and they heard him climbing into his blankets. Nothing more was said that night.


The group was awakened by a sudden burst of light from Chichiri's staff, and they groaned in complaint as his cheery voice greeted them. "Good morning no da! Everyone up no da, we have a lot to do today no da!"

Groaning, Taka murmured something rude and turned over in his blankets and burrowed beneath them tightly.

Grinning, Keisuke opened up his water bottle and promptly dumped it on the pile of blankets. It took some time for it to sink in, but when it did, Taka awoke with a start, and roughly grabbed onto Keisuke with a snarl. "Real funny!"

Everyone shared a laugh as they watched the two duke it out. Then Chichiri cleared his voice and they fell serious again. They slowly packed up in silence, and then started on their upward trek.

It was only a few hours, much to their surprise, before they caught a glimpse of light streaming down from the stairwell ahead. As they reached the end of their upward climb, they entered a fabulous cavern filled with stalactites and stalagmites suspended with a serene cool blue glow emanating from them.

Chichiri extinguished his staff's glow, having no need for it in this epiphany of glory. They gazed around in wonder, admiring the numerous crystal shards of many hues imbedded around the cavern.

However, one crystal stood out from the others.

It was an ordinary thing really, imbedded in a pedestal of ebony. Plain in form, small enough to fit in the palm of a hand, and with a simple silver chain attached to it. As they slowly surrounded it, afraid to even touch the pedestal, they wondered how such a small thing could be so dangerous, and so powerful.

The spell was broken by a soft clink of Chichiri laying his staff against the wall. All eyes turned to the mage, who had a cool and calm way about him, as if he knew what was coming and was acting as if these were his last moments.

They stood aside as he purposely approached the pedestal, and waited with held breaths.

He stood in front of it, and slowly reached down, then hesitated, as if unsure he was ready to continue.

All eyes were on him, as they saw him gather his wits, take a deep breath to calm himself, and then slowly lay his hands on the chain, and lift the crystal up, and onto his neck.

They waited, tensely for something to happen.

Nothing did.

Chichiri stood there, looking at a loss for what to do. He stared down at the crystal, then looked up at them with a puzzled look.

"What's-what's wrong Chichiri?" Miaka's voice trembled slightly.

"I...don't know." He blinked in confusion. "I guess I assumed I would know how to work it once I found it no da... But..." He shook his head baffled and lifted the crystal up to stare at it. "I don't know in the least what to do now no da."

They stared at him in astonishment, and he looked worried. Finally, after some silence, Yui offered an idea. "Well, there seem to be a lot of crystals in this cavern. Maybe they influence them or something...?"

Chichiri frowned, then nodded slightly. "Perhaps. I'll look and see no da." He walked over to the nearest crystal, and slowly reached out and touched it. When he did, it lit up brilliantly, startling everyone.

As Miaka's eyes adjusted to the light, she could see familiar buildings. "It's the palace!" She cried in astonishment. Everyone gathered around the crystal to see she was correct. However, the palace was in shambles, the flag of a foreign make flying from the tower.

Chichiri straightened, and spoke softly. "I understand what must be done now no da..." He motioned to them. "Please, why don't you stand back while I do this no da..." As he raised a hand and placed it on the crystal, he looked at Miaka solemnly. "Miaka-chan, do me a favor, will you? Tell Kouran...I love her more than I could love anything...I want her to be happy...if that is at all possible."

Miaka nodded slightly, then stepped back with the others in the doorway. Chichiri placed his hand on the crystal, and closed his eye.

There was a brilliant explosion of light, blinding to see, and they could feel the air tingle with the power that had been unleashed. As the power exploded outwards, they could feel Chichiri surrounding them. His emotions, his thoughts, his hopes, his fears. Everything flooded their minds at once. Miaka felt tears running down her cheeks as she understood his life suddenly.

Then the light began to fade. Hesitantly, they poked their heads into the cavern, to see Chichiri still standing there with a bemused look on his face. He looked up when they peeked in and smiled softly.

"It's ok...I understand now...everything is clear. I didn't understand what the power meant before, now I do." He motioned for them to enter the shrine. Hesitantly, they did. He slowly held the crystal in his hand. "This small thing is capable of such wonders! Who would have thought that something so small could wield such amazing abilities!"

Taka smiled tightly. Something wasn't right. "Hey, Chichiri, that's great, but shouldn't you take it off now?"

Chichiri looked up at them with a wistful gaze. "Actually, there are a lot of things I could accomplish if I used this to our advantage. I could eliminate poverty and suffering. I could ensure a peace would continue between all four countries forever." He smiled. "Don't worry Taka-kun. The crystal isn't as bad as I had feared." He looked up and held a hand out. "You can give that disk back now, we won't need it."

Taka was about to reach for the disk when Yui stopped his hand. He looked at her quizzically. "Remember what he told us in the stairway before? Don't trust him after he's used the crystal! Besides, listen to him. He sounds different...just the way he's talking."

Miaka clutched his arm as well. "That's right Taka! He hasn't been using his accent, and he called you Taka instead of Tamahome like he usually does. Don't give it to him!"

Taka looked up at Chichiri in confusion, knowing what they said was right, but not wanting to say no to someone he had trusted so much.

Chichiri cocked his head slightly. "What's wrong? Are you thinking about what I said earlier, about not trusting me?" He laughed and shook his head softly. "I'll admit I was mistaken. There's no need for caution after all." He looked at Taka with a sterner gaze. "Give me the disk please."

At that moment, Taka made up his mind. Chichiri never, never insisted in that manner. For that matter, he never laughed, however sad that might seem. Taka firmly took a hold of the disk and stuck it back in his pocket. "NO."

Chichiri's face was perfectly calm, not revealing any emotion, but his voice and his eye were both deadly. "Give it to me now, or you will not be happy with the results."

Yui, Tetsuya, and Keisuke immediately took defensive positions in front of Miaka and Taka. "Come on Chichiri, you don't threaten people. You told us not to give you the disk, so we're not taking any chances with it." Tetsuya was firm in his delivery, which only seemed to make the mage even more furious.

"You don't understand what you are saying, and to whom. I will ask one more time for the disk. I strongly suggest you give it to me, or I'm afraid you will not be allowed to leave this chamber."

As he was speaking, Miaka could see a faint shimmering of red come from beneath his pants around his knee. Instantly recalling the incident between Tasuki and herself where Tasuki had been under a spell by the enemy and trying to rape her, she recalled that his symbol also had done that flickering. It indicated the real person was trying to fight back.

Grabbing the disk suddenly from Taka's hand, Miaka shoved her brother aside, and wedged the disk into the groove on the pedestal and looked up at Chichiri defiantly.

The instant she had wedged the disk into it's place, Chichiri's demeanor changed instantaneously as the crystal began to glow brightly. His eye closed and his face relaxed and he whispered to them. "Get out of here now no da! Hurry!"

Recognizing the mage's true personality, they dashed out of the cavern, into the stairwell as pieces of crystal began to fall to the ground around them. Miaka paused at the doorway and looked back at Chichiri fearfully. His eye opened and spied her there, and he smiled faintly and gestured for her to leave. However, she was reluctant to go, and cried out to him. "Chichiri, come on...can't you get rid of it and get out with us?"

As if in response to her query, he began to glow slightly. He looked at her, and spoke in a clam stern voice. "Miaka-chan, please, don't worry about me no da. Get out of the immediate area as quickly as you can no da." His gaze softened. "Tell Hokori that her oniichan will always be there supporting her from now on no da. And tell Kouran I love her..."

Miaka tried to go forward to get him, but Taka grabbed her arm and yelled at her to hurry. Giving a last look at the mage, she sporadically grabbed his staff lying on the floor, and with tears sliding down her neck, she joined the others just as the crystal cave collapsed entirely.


Tired, sore, and emotionally torn, they emerged from the caverns into the light of the fading evening. Eagerly waiting at the exit was Kouran and Hokori. When they saw the bedraggled group emerge, joy and hope flared on their faces. However, upon seeing Miaka return holding Chichiri's beloved staff in her hands, their faces changed into extreme pain.

"No..." Kouran whispered, holding her hands to her heart.

Miaka solemnly came up to her, and held out the staff to her, then looked the young woman in the eyes. "He told me to tell you...that he loves you more than he could ever love anything."

Kouran wordlessly accepted the staff, and bowed her head in grief, while Hokori buried her head in her sister-in-law's chest, sobbing uncontrollably.

The entire welcoming party held a solemn moment of silence, for a brave warrior, who gave his life unselfishly to save his country.


Miaka gathered her possessions and packed the last of them into her bag, then tied it shut. She then joined the others outside in the town square. Putting on a brave face, she tried to smile cheerfully.

"Well, Miaka-sama, it was our honor having you stay here in our village!" The elder scribe warmly embraced the former Miko, and bowed formally to the others. "Please, if you can, return and visit us again sometime!"

Miaka smiled and nodded. "Sure, we'd love to! I'm sure we'll come back." She turned to Kouran and Hokori, both of which were smiling sadly at their departure. "I'll miss you both! It was so wonderful meeting you!"

"Thank you Miko-sama for bringing my Houjun home to me...I'm so much happier now knowing he lived enough to enjoy life after losing everything." There was a sad wistfullness in her voice, and yet, she seemed truly happy that her husband had managed to do just that.

Hokori embraced Miaka and looked up with bright eyes. "Thank you for bringing my Oniichan home. I was glad I got to see him again!"

Miaka hugged the young woman tightly. She had overcome a drastic change. Before, it had seemed she was a young naïve girl. In a matter of a week, she had become a beautiful and intelligent serious woman.

Stepping back, and waving to everyone, Miaka smiled and promised they would return to visit. Then, with at soft red glow, they vanished and returned home, each having learned something precious during their trip, that would never be forgotten in their lives, for all eternity...