Akurei mo Tenshi no Shiseiji

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!

Aquaintances

Standard disclaimer: These characters aren't mine they're created by the wonderful Watase Yuu, although I wish they were, Houjun-chan is such a hottie! So don't sue me, I need o-ka-ne right now...

Everyone in the hall was staring at him with open eyes and mouths, not sure what to say or think. He glanced around at them, then turned to Sou and smiled warmly at him. "I think you might consider making this man your temporary leader for now. He is rational and intelligent, and has a firm grip of the way the world works." He glanced down at Kaira, who was still clutching him tightly, her cheeks smeared with his blood with still ran down his cheeks and beaten back. "If we try, we can obtain peace for all three peoples." And with that note, he stood back still cradling Kaira in his arms and stroking her forehead to ease her sobs. Sou stared at him for a moment, then cleared his throat uncertainly. "Well….. I claim no authority. However, we do need a ruler who is just and fair, unlike our former Minister." He glanced around. "If anyone would like to nominate someone?"

There was murmuring throughout the hall as people discussed it among themselves, and they waited on the floor for the bustle to die down, and a few people stood up in the audience, requesting attention. "Ano…." One man said slowly. "I think perhaps that the best person for the job would be Sou…." He swallowed. "It is true what he says about corruption, and I think it is time for it to end." He sat down quickly, and some clapping followed his speech.

A woman spoke next. "He is a murderer, traitor, and sympathizer for those monsters. I think he should pay for his crimes as all criminal should." She hissed vehemently. "And that creature of his should burn in hell for all eternity." She sat down harshly, and a few heads nodded in approval.

There were more speaking, in favor, against favor, and then one stood up. "I know this may sound crazy, but I think that…. Er…." He fumbled. "the Shiseihi should lead us forward, and we can settle the ruling issue later. After all, isn't that his job?" There was an uncertain surprised silence from the people, and eyes glanced at Chichiri questioningly.

Chichiri shook his head. "If my job is to lead you forward to the road to recovery, that's what I shall do. I'm no born leading ruler. I wouldn't be able to do that. I'm not a diplomat. But what I can do is advise and direct through suggestions and advice, which is what I grew up doing anyway." He glanced at Sou with an amused glance. "Ironic, no matter where I am, my role stays the same no da."

Sou nodded in agreement, though he had no idea what the monk was talking about. "Perhaps that would be the best route…..to discuss it with a panel of representatives making a council to help decide." There was almost unanimous nodding to his suggestion, and some people even stood to indicate their support. Sou nodded and sighed in relief and turned to Chichiri as the room began to disperse. "Are you sure you're ok….?" He asked concerned. "You…. Changed."

Chichiri glanced down at himself with a sigh. "I know, and I feel strange as well…. I have no idea what triggered it no da." He shook his head. "This has been a very long day no da…." He sighed.

Sou took his arm and led him towards the door. "You should get those cuts tended, and get some rest and food. We'll discuss this more tomorrow I imagine, but I want to thank you…." He said softly with gratitude in his voice.

"For what no da?"

"You were the first person to ever speak out against the Minister like that…. I think that's what made the people more tolerant." He sighed shaking his head. "If you hadn't, they most likely would have mobbed us, and we wouldn't be talking on this earth anymore."

Chichiri nodded slowly. "I figured that was the case no da." He sighed and stumbled on the rough stone, and Sou supported him. "This way, we're going to the infirmary for you." He said firmly and steered Chichiri down a hallway past curious onlookers who gave them startled, puzzled, and hostile looks.

Chichiri nodded wordlessly shifting Kaira in his arms, as she had finally stopped sobbing and was just clutching him tightly. They entered the infirmary and sat Chichiri down on the bed and he put Kaira next to him and wiped some more blood from his face as it was getting in his eye and making a stark contrast against his pale looks.

There was a rustling from a side room and a muffled "be with you in a minute." And something fell to the ground and there was a terse curse. A young white cat came darting out of the room, and hid underneath the bed that Chichiri was sitting on, and Kaira immediately took a fancy to it and lay down on the bed, sticking her head upside down to look under the bed. "Hi there neko-chan!" She piped happily trying to pet it.

Chichiri shook his head in amusement, and there was a soft glow about him suddenly, and before he could blink, his coloring had shifted back to his darker shade, and his black wings. He blinked in slight surprise, and Sou and he exchanged puzzled glances.

Before they could question it however, the doctor came shuffling into the room, his arms full of books, and a small kid behind him, carrying scrolls as well. They walked over to the main table and set them down, the books then toppled over onto the ground and the scrolls scattered haphazardly. The tall doctor made an annoyed grunt, then turned around putting spectacles on. "Now, what can I help you with?" He rumbled in a deep baritone voice.

"Well, we need you to treat this man's injuries." Sou said putting a hand on Chichiri's shoulder. "Some pretty deep cuts and gashes." He grinned over at Chichiri about to ask him how he was doing, and his smile faded from his face as he saw the pale look on Chichiri's face. The monk was staring straight ahead, sightlessly, his mouth half opened and a stunned look on his face. "Oi!" He said in concern and shook Chichiri lightly. "What's wrong?"

The doctor came over to him and gently pushed Sou away, and then helped Chichiri to lie down. "He needs rest. It looks like he's in shock. I'll tend to him, no need to worry." And with that the doctor nodded to the child, and the boy began gathering some medicines from the shelves and brought them over to the doctor. He then began cleansing Chichiri's wounds, and then dressing them with the expertise of his status.

Sou watched from the side, glancing to see Kaira involved in playing with the cat, and waited until the doctor had finished, and he saw that Chichiri seemed to be asleep. Then he approached him. "Is he going to be all right?" He asked worriedly.

The doctor smiled encouragingly at him. "Of course, the wounds weren't infected, and he didn't become injured in any vital spots." He began washing his hands. "He'll heal up quite nicely, though he may have some permanent scar tissue in some places, not that he doesn't already." He finished his cleansing, and turned to face Sou. "What happened to him?"

Sou shook his head. "The Minister…."

The doctor seemed to grow angry at that. "The bastard should rot in hell…." He growled.

Sou looked surprised, then smiled lightly. "He's dead now."

The doctor looked at him in some surprise. "Truly? You?" Sou nodded. "Good for you boy!" He put a large hand on his shoulder. "Then perhaps we finally should gain the opportunity to change our lifestyle."

Sou nodded in agreement. The boy had finished organizing the table, and was standing by Chichiri's bed. "Um, what is he exactly?" He asked curiously. "I've never seen anything like him before."

Sou walked over to the bedside followed by the doctor and smiled at the boy. "Most likely not, he's the first of his kind." He nodded at Chichiri. "He's from the topworld, the child of an Akurei and Tenshi."

The boy looked up at him with surprised green eyes. "Really? Goodness…." He glanced down at Chichiri curiously. "I never would have thought…." He trailed off slowly then glanced up at the doctor curiously. "What should we do with him?"

The doctor shrugged. "Let him recover. He is a patient, and no different from any other." He walked away and began to mix some herbs into medication and the boy retreated into the other room for some reason or another. Sou remained by Chichiri's side, leaning casually against the wall, waiting for him to wake up.

Kaira was happily playing with the cat, never having seen such a creature before, and enjoying herself quite fully as she tickled the cat, petted it, and made it purr.

After some time, Chichiri's eye flickered once, then slowly opened. Sou leaned over him with a smile. "Hey pal, how ya doing?"

Chichiri smiled slightly, seeming disoriented. "Uh…. Fine no da…."

The doctor came over to the table smiling at him. "Good to hear that. You might be feeling slightly disoriented, the medicine makes you drowsy and woozy, but it will help you to heal faster."

Chichiri shifted his gaze to the doctor and frowned looking confused. "Disoriented…yeah but does it make you hallucinate na no da?"

The doctor frowned. "No, not supposed to…. Why?"

Chichiri shivered. "Because I'm seeing a ghost….."

The doctor and Sou glanced at each other curiously. "What do you mean by that?" Sou asked gently.

Chichiri swallowed, closed his eye, then opened it again looking up at the doctor. "Mitsukake…." He whispered in a soft low voice. "You're Mitsukake…."

The doctor frowned. "Who?"

Chichiri took a slow breath. "In my world…. You look like someone I knew…." His voice was shaking slightly. "He was a fellow seishi… but he died several years ago…." He trailed off looking upset.

The doctor put a hand on Chichiri's shoulder for comfort. "I see…. And I remind you of him?"

"More than that…. You look exactly like him, sound like him, and even are a doctor, like he was no da." He chuckled lightly. "And you have a white cat…..! I don't suppose his name is Tama…..?"

The doctor seemed surprised. "Actually….. yes."

Chichiri began laughing then, a low chuckle at first, then it rang out bright and sunny as small tears trickled down his cheek. The others smiled and then began chuckling themselves, finding the humor in the situation, and laughter being contagious. Finally, Chichiri managed to calm down and wiped the tears from his eye. "Well…. I'm not sure how it is…. Perhaps you're a reincarnation of him?"

The doctor shook his head. "I would have no idea about that….. I don't believe in reincarnations myself, but I suppose anything is possible." He held out a hand. "My name is Juan."

Chichiri took his hand with a wider smile. "Yes, I know. I'm Chichiri."

Juan nodded. "Pleasure is mine Chichiri-san."

Just then, the young boy came in and smiled. "Ah, he's awake!" He walked up and offered his hand. "You must be feeling better, I heard you all laughing out here."

Chichiri looked startled for a minute, then slowly took the boy's hand. "Yes….. better thank you no da…." He smiled down at him. "Good to see you again Chiriko."

The boy looked confused. "What?"

Chichiri shook his head. "Nothing…."

The boy looked confused, but shrugged. "Call me Doukun." He said brightly.

Chichiri nodded with a smile, all the time, many questions running throughout his head. "I must admit, this is way too uncanny for me to take calmly no da." He then began explaining everything to them, and they all listened intently to the story, occasionally asking questions. When he'd finished, he leaned back with a sigh. "And that's what happened up till all of this started no da….." He trailed off thoughtfully. "I wonder how Tasuki, Miaka, and Tamahome-kun are now…."

The others didn't know what to think about the whole story, but they did admit that it seemed too odd for it to just be coincidence. "It is possible," Doukun said quietly, " Or it could be that this is an alternate universe to yours, and we are alternates to the people you knew."

Chichiri nodded. "that's a reasonable explanation as well no da….. In that case then,…." He blinked. "Goodness….. It would be strange to meet myself then no da."

The others nodded. "I imagine so." Sou said shaking his head. "And I'm not familiar to you am I?" Chichiri shook his head slowly. "Thank God, that would be freaky."

Chichiri chuckled lightly, then glanced down at his bandages and suddenly, his eye shifted to silver again, and he closed it slowly half lidded, and a soft glow surrounded him, then faded, and when he opened his eye, it was back to blue. He blinked once in confusion, and scratched his head. "That was the most bizarre thing no da…."

They stared at him. "What happened?" Sou asked quietly.

Chichiri glanced down, then slowly untied one of the bandages, and they all saw that his wounds were gone. Completely. He seemed surprised. "I…. Guess I have a healing ability now…."

The others looked very surprised, and almost wary of him. "I've never actually seen magic at work…" Juan said softly. "I've read about how it can do wonders…. And destroy as well…"

Chichiri nodded and removed the other bandages slowly. "That it can no da." He said sadly. "It can be as destructive as it is good if misused no da. But there is great good to it if it is properly contained no da."

They nodded in agreement, then all fell silent as they didn't know what to say next. Chichiri glanced at Kaira and smiled to see her happily playing with Tama-neko. "So…" He said softly. "What are we going to do now no da?"

They exchanged glances uneasily. "Well…we should gather everyone who wants to be involved and come up with a plan I suppose….." Sou said slowly. "Though I'm not sure if we can agree on any one thing given most people's reactions."

Chichiri nodded slowly, then suddenly his eye widened. "Wait…. D'nari!" They looked at him curiously. "D'nari is one of the Akurei leaders, and he was a very decent guy when I met him no da." Chichiri explained. "I didn't have a too positive impression on the Tenshi representative, but I think D'nari might help us no da."

They nodded slowly. "Allying ourselves with the Akurei though? Wouldn't that just create problems with the Tenshi?"

"Not if we handle it right. We should perhaps bring everyone outside and make a camp, then send representatives to talk, or perhaps send representatives first no da."

Sou thought about that for a minute. "You know, that might work….. I….." He blushed suddenly very brightly. "I know someone who would help us out who's in the Akurei palace as well."

Chichiri smiled to himself, knowing what the man was hinting at. "That might be helpful no da. We can get into the palace, talk things out, and perhaps reach an arrangement for your peoples no da."

They nodded and Doukun put a finger up indicating an idea. "We should just send a few at first, since it's a long several days journey to the palace, and we can't afford a portal spell, and then perhaps make arrangements and then bring our people outside?"

Chichiri and Sou nodded, and Juan looked thoughtful. "Can you trust this D'nari though?"

Chichiri nodded. "Yes, he told me that he was against the racism and wanted to see peace between the races. He was very much more tolerant of me and the way I was raised than Aerith was no da." He sighed. "If there's anyone to risk with, it's him no da."

They nodded. "Do you think we should go without the council?" Sou asked.

Chichiri shook his head. "No, I think we should suggest it. If all else fails, I could go alone no da."

The looked doubtful, but reluctantly nodded in agreement. "So it's decided then." Sou said quietly. "Tomorrow I'll assemble the interested council members, and we'll discuss it." He smiled at Juan. "Thank you for your assistance."

"It's no trouble at all." He said warmly. "If you two would like to remain here for the night, you are welcome. I know you live far out in the city, and perhaps you might want to stay here in case something happens."

Sou nodded. "Thank you for your generosity." He said smiling.

Doukun stood up. "Then I'll ready a dinner!" And with that he headed off to the kitchen, and the others continued talking, exchanging ideas, pasts, and tales.

They talked late into the night, and retired to a peaceful sleep and rest, regaining their thoughts and wits, and restoring their energy.