Hi... *peeks*
Okay so first of all I am so sorry for taking this long to post a new chapter! It's slightly longer than the previous ones, if that counts for anything. I really hope you are not disappointed. It doesn't have much of Tamahome, but has a nice Miaka-Kiko moment.
I would like to give a great thanks to everyone who has favourited, alerted and/or reviewed! Also a thanks to everyone who reads this, regardless.
I should let you know that I am mixing elements of the manga and anime! And I'll be using the Japanese names.
Also: Even after I've read so many times and things about the Universe of the Four Gods, I am still so confused whether the book is a Japanese translation of the original or if it is the original Chinese one. If I understood correctly, it would be the Japanese translation in the anime and the Chinese original in the manga, yes? I'd like to ask, if someone knows for sure, please tell me, because this confusion is actually starting to graze on my damn nerves.
I've edited some stuff in the 1st chapter: mainly Akiko's school abilities and I added something about her relationship with her father, just mentioning that they have some differences of opinion on some matters. I also changed Akiko's age from 16 to 17.
Before you carry on, I'd like to say something. I don't have a defined pairing, because honestly there's plenty to choose from. And I can't really write the next chapter before I decide which pairing I'll write, because depending on it, I have different ways to go about it, in my mind. There is a couple I am particularly inclined to. So I'd like to ask your opinions. I say right now that Tamahome is ouf of the question. I personally contemplated (and am inclined to) Nakago, Hotohori and Nuriko the most (in my opinion, the biggest challenges). Chichiri and Tasuki are also viable options. So are the twins but I feel that Akiko would need an older, more mature person (my personal opinion though and very debatable when it comes to Nuriko and Tasuki, just saying hehe). Chichiri is not someone I'd go as a first choice, but it's acceptable. And the problem with Tasuki, is that there exists a Tasuki/OC fanfiction already, that I've encountered, in which the OC is a mute as well. So I am a bit sceptical about making this OC/Tasuki. As I said I would like to take your opinions into consideration. Of course it doesn't necessarily mean I'll go with it, but it gives me more to ponder. Leave me a review with your preference or you can vote in the pole I will create (you can choose 2 people). (You are not obliged though)
Okay! Enough with the massive author's note, here's the new chapter.
Disclaimer: I do not own Fushigi Yûgi or any of its original characters and plot, Watase-sama does. I am not making any profit out of this story, I write it only for entertainment.
Enjoy!
CHAPTER 3: Out of the fire and into the frying pan
Impossible. Impossible, impossible, impossible… Akiko chanted inside her head.
All her life she'd believed that something was real, only if there was irrefutable evidence. Or if she had witnessed it herself.
Now, as the truth smacked her across the face, she wasn't willing to acknowledge it.
The wheel of her thoughts spun so rapid, it was giving her whiplash. What if, this was one of those historical reconstructions and what not?! That would explain – even as she revised her new theory, she realised how foolish it sounded.
Admitting that magic was the answer to all the disaster that had occurred so far…
How can you deny it? After what happened right in front of your eyes! An ominous voice from deep within her, reasoned.
Urgh, magic might indeed be the only explanation as to how Yui was gone.
And how Akiko and Miaka were here – wherever here was.
The parroting of screams yanked her away from her reflections. Worry over Miaka streamed through Akiko, rendering her body useful again.
Her eyes flew over the vicinity until she spotted Miaka, now at a good three metres elsewhere. Akiko's shoulders hunched a tiny bit, knowing Miaka was in no plain danger.
Miaka was instead, pacing a crater on the ground, flogging her arms in every direction extant. Hollering at the top of her lungs, "he took her! That – that low life kidnapped Yui! What will we do, what will we do?!"
A sigh escaped Akiko's lips and she wiped a hand on her face. Sweet, sweet patience.
She strolled over to Miaka and scrambled to catch her elbow, stopping her panicked tirade.
"That boy did not kidnap Yui," Akiko stated matter-of-factly.
Miaka pouted, though Akiko's firm statement seemed to ease her. "T-then, how – what – what happened to her?"
Akiko hesitated, and then drawing in a breath, she squared her shoulders.
"The red light from the library… she disappeared in it, right after she sauntered after him. Right after she sauntered away from us…"
Miaka blinked. "Are you saying… we are inside that book?!"
Akiko grimaced and bobbed her head, uncertain. "It's… a possibility," goodness, was she saying that out loud? "Keyword possibility! Let's not jump ahead of things!" she hastened to add, at Miaka's expression bordering between terrified and excited.
"So she's made it home!" The redhead looked relieved.
"I imagine so –"
"What about us?" Miaka interrupted. "How will we get home?"
Akiko scratched the back of her neck, averting her eyes. "I'm… working on it," then she looked back at Miaka and blew out a whoosh of air. "Okay, I've got nothing," she admitted.
Miaka cupped her chin as she probably thought things over. A few beats later and she clapped her hands together in front of their faces.
"I got it! We can follow the boy, ask for his help! He saved us once, who's to say he won't do it again?" She proposed with a triumphant air.
No.
No, no, no, has she mentioned no?
That was a terrible plan; they didn't know anything about anything and he would ask for money they did not have. Besides, what would they tell him?
Everything in her wanted to put a clamp on Miaka's solution. However, she would have to go along with it, because right now, they had nothing better. She had nothing better.
Given the choice between encountering another pair of slave traders and venturing away to find a skilled martial artist, Akiko decided she much rather take her chances with the unknown Jet Li.
Assuming that magic was involved, then Yui would have indeed returned home.
And Akiko would go back too.
After they had decided on a plan, Akiko and Miaka had trailed the lane of dirt and pebbles the boy had walked down. It had directed them to what Akiko had assumed to be the main road. From there, they had mounted on a passerby wagon and set off to find the mysterious boy.
Fifteen minutes later, had both teenagers reclining on a comfortable stack of yellow straw.
Akiko's short, fair legs stretched before her weaved at the ankles. Her hands hugged her backpack near her chest and her head was tilted back.
Miaka had her arms crossed behind her head, chin tipped skywards. Still, as Akiko skimmed the redhead's face, she noticed her friend wasn't seeing the sky.
Akiko elbowed Miaka's arm and the other girl cocked her head toward her.
"What is it?" Akiko inquired, shifting to tuck her legs under herself in a half-turned disposition.
Before Miaka had the chance to so much as breathe, Akiko jabbed a finger on her friend's forehead. "Don't you dare act tough, missy!" Akiko warned, narrowing her eyes for emphasis.
Miaka exhaled, angling herself to be face-to-face with Akiko. "Do… do we have to go home?" She pleaded, flourishing her big brown eyes.
Akiko scrunched up her face, flooded with confusion. "What in the world do you mean?! Of course we must, it is home, and we don't belong here!" She argued. "What brought on this change of mind?"
Miaka's eyes flashed sideways then returned to Akiko. "Here there is no cram school, no stress, no anxiety and… no mother of mine pressuring me. You understand me, better than anyone," the burgundy haired girl confessed.
Akiko grimaced, shaking her head and ignoring Miaka's attempt to turn the conversation on her. "That's not the real reason…"
Miaka scowled, and then melted into a sad, abandoned puppy demeanour. She hesitated, but chose to continue. "The day before yesterday, I had a huge spat with my mum. She read my diary and I flipped. I have been working so hard to make her happy, by being accepted into Jonan. And she goes and breaks my trust like that. I said some nasty things to her. On the other hand, I regret it. After I promised to do everything for her happiness, I lashed my tongue at her. What a great daughter. How could I face her? I don't want to go home," she concluded, brows knotted together and lips pressed in a grim line.
The older girl eyeballed her friend, debating on what to tell her.
"What your mother did," she started, "was wrong."
She inhaled a slow breath and her features softened; a small tug at the corner of her lips. "But we all make mistakes. And that is a pretty common parent error. She did it out of love and concern for you, I'm sure. You both owe an apology to each other."
Even as Miaka went to interrupt, Akiko held her palm up, signaling she wasn't finished. "You're also hell bent on being accepted into Jonan, as if it were the only way to make your mother happy. I recommend you tell her how unhappy all the pressure makes you. The one thing that is bound to offer joy to your mother is your own happiness."
A few beats of great silence floated around them, and Miaka said nothing. She regarded Akiko with a seriousness that didn't suit her. As if she was considering the validity of her friend's advice and observations.
"So… we go home?" The younger girl voiced five more beats later.
"We go home," Akiko confirmed with determined hand gestures.
Following the first mature conversation Akiko and Miaka had shared in ages, the strawberry-blonde girl reclined back and dived into her own hurricane of musings.
The obvious first point depicted a trip down the rabbit hole.
Magic.
In her world, all proof to support its existence was debatable and circumstantial. So she had never bought an ounce of it.
What better way to be proven wrong than by being devoured by a magical library book?
Given said book was placed in a restricted section; for good motive, too. Though Akiko suspected no one was the wisest of the book's power. Otherwise why not destroy it? Why store it in a public library, for any rule-breaker to get their hands on?
Then as a continuing streak of dominoes, one more toppled over.
At the age of seven, she had gone snooping in the same section, discovering the book. The amount of effort she had put into climbing the shelf, in order to get it, astounded her even now.
She'd been so curious. Too curious for my own good. She had been a heartbeat away from opening it.
But as if all the world's luck had been bestowed upon her that day, her father had busted her.
What in heaven's name would have happened, had he not found her in time and prevented the reading of a cursed thing?
I'd be stuck here all alone, she pondered. I'm not alone now.
Two more dominoes.
The language barrier was no problem. How they could all understand each other was beyond her wits. If she had to take a guess, she'd bet her socks on the magical part of this whole predicament.
At least we've gotten that out of the way.
Next came the food and water.
In an ordinary situation, a river would suffice for water. As it was, Akiko had sighted the total number of zero rivers or bodies of water. Although Akiko didn't know where they were holed up in, she knew for certain it was no longer Japan. To further prove her right, as the wagon wheeled down the road, they came across a few men. They appeared to be farmers, but not modern ones. Their clothes, like the boy's, were outdated.
All this meant they had no usable money.
But then, if they managed to return home before their bodies contemplated dehydration or starvation, they'd be peachy.
And this led to the Big Oh Oh.
How would they get home? If they'd gotten there by magic, magic would be the only solution.
Akiko theorised that Yui might have gone out of the book for ambling away from her friends. But Akiko had tailed her and nothing had happened. So it was doubtful.
Their best chance would be to find someone who could wield magic.
That plan alone staggered face-first into a couple more dominoes. The payment issue – unlikely anyone would do them any favours; and finding a person who wouldn't think they had tumbled straight out of the loony bin.
Right now, she fancied anything but an accusation of being some servant of a demon.
Her turmoil of thoughts was invaded and her attention dragged back to reality, by a fierce nudge on her shoulder.
"Look!" Miaka called, her index finger pointing somewhere past Akiko.
She snapped her head, tracking Miaka's finger, to behold the most jaw-dropping scenery, since she had landed in this place.
"I'm impressed!" Miaka breathed. "It's like something out of a film set."
"Resembles Ancient China..." Akiko mumbled, as the lines connected the dots. The book was Chinese and the first city they encountered, had the same low buildings, the same beautiful roofs. No cars in sight, no telephone booths. And from this point of view, she could admire what she was sure to be the home of someone important. Something in her heart trembled, when the fragile remnants of her scepticism were shattered into a million particles.
Maybe they had travelled back in time and space...
I never thought I'd be considering something like that, Akiko gave an inward disbelieving snort.
"And look!" Miaka clutched Akiko's head, guiding it in the opposite direction. "It's him! Victory!" She cheered.
Indeed, the boy's dark hair cruised through the crowd of foreign heads.
The girls leaped out of the moving wagon. "Oji-san, thank you!" Miaka called, and wasting no time, she yanked Akiko by the hand and the girls dashed down the staircase.
Reaching the bottom, they were swallowed by the fussing citizens.
The girls trekked their way through the mass of peddlers, carts and horses. Bypassed a few stray animals, entertainers and - holy cricket, was that an Elephant?!
Children ran wild and free, giggling and chasing one another.
Everyone seemed so happy and joyful - so full of life.
"Oh no," a loud voice whined, "we've lost him!"
What? No they couldn't have. Optimistic or not, fact was they'd never find him in the midst of these people. Not without an advantage view point.
"Wait, what is that lovely smell?" Akiko heard, as the pressure on her hand was relieved and Miaka merged with the blur of activity.
"Miaka! Miaka what are you doing?!" Akiko cried, with no effect.
She raced to keep up, but Miaka had faded.
Like Yui. Oh no, what if she went back too? What if I go back, and Miaka is left here? There had been no light though...
She gazed around, at a complete loss. Now she was alone.
I have to find her!
Akiko roamed forward, shooting her eyes at every detail, hoping to catch Miaka's unusual hair colour.
She tried flying under the radar as much as possible. Yet, for her everlasting discomfiture, Akiko perceived the odd looks, thrown at her from either sides of the busy street. The whispers and shameless stares seemed to trail her like a shadow.
Some kids fled from something, and she bee-lined her way around a corner, managing to avoid bumping into them.
Akiko didn't stop, resolute in finding her friend. And as a bonus, she could avoid the bustling. Minutes passed as she paced past streets with scattered people and rounded more corners.
Too late she realised she'd ended up in a knot of back routes.
I shouldn't be going this way... she glanced back over her shoulder and faced ahead again.
Mulling over her next move, Akiko weighed her options. She could back track her steps, or she could continue and find her way to the main street.
Deciding, she spun and headed the way she'd come. But faster than before, her brain clicked and took in the obstacle.
These narrow paths were very alike... which one had she taken?
I'm lost! Because I didn't need anything else. The day keeps on getting better and better... Forward it is. Akiko exhaled a hefty breath.
The strawberry-blonde girl hung her head to peek at her wrist watch. She had been trudging for fifteen minutes, in an aimless stroll. She hadn't encountered a single sign of life, for almost double of that time.
Frustration and fear were beginning to whisper in her ear, growing into a howl, the longer she found herself alone.
She'd entered a lane, which looked tornado-wrecked. A few dead leaves swirled past, as if welcoming her.
The one-story high buildings were a pile of dust and crumbled wood, with massive holes on the would-be walls and half-eaten roofs.
She rubbed her arms as she journeyed along doorways, most reduced to the threshold.
Another abandoned street, go figure.
She skidded to a halt when she heard it; the noise. More of a hushed, excited murmuring. A dull thumping and the occasional indiscernible shout accompanied it.
It's coming from down there! Akiko marched away towards the sound. And as she was about to reach the end of the street, there was rustling in the background. She whipped round, her senses flared alert and she stiffened.
"Excuse me, d'you need help? You seem lost," a youthful boy, stood tall a good few metres far from her. His clothes were similar to the mystery boy's, though she couldn't help but notice how dirty they looked. His lips were divided by a toothy, friendly grin as he waited.
Akiko breathed a heavy sigh of relief and her muscles relaxed. Perhaps he was wandering in search of peace and quiet. Anyway, she would be okay now; she had found Main Street.
She shook her head, returning the smile.
"Are you alone?" He stepped forward.
Again, Akiko shook her head.
"D'you need help findin' anyone?" He offered, taking another step toward her.
It wasn't such a bad idea. It would be easier if a local aided her in locating Miaka. But to explain, she'd need to reveal her condition. Was he even capable of reading lips?
But you need the help!
She nodded and he was now at arm's length. "That'd be great, please!" She mouthed.
His eyes bulged and he blinked at her. Then they narrowed, and his smile morphed into a wolfish side-grin. A grin that had her heart pounding in her ears, and her breath shallowing. "You're... a mute?" The boy chuckled almost incredulous. In that moment two other boys stalked out of a wrecked house. And a cackle next to her let her know there was another one.
Oh, boy... what a poor judgment of character, on my part.
Her brain didn't register their complexions, but the deviate expressions were firmly stamped on her mind.
One of the boys whistled. "Look. At. Her. She'll be worth a lot of gold. D'you reckon we can have some fun b'fore?" He faced Akiko. "Would you like to play with us, little one? We're very nice fellas..." As he moved in her direction, Akiko didn't know what possessed her. Without considering the consequences or anything at all, her body responded to the dread that twisted in her chest.
As the short girl twirled on her heels, her instinct ordered her to duck; thus enabling her to dodge a pair of meaty arms, that had swiped at her from behind. Being small had its perks. And she had always been a fast runner, for a girl with short legs.
"Oi!"
"Don't let'er escape!" Came their startled yells.
Her small feet scurried quick like a little mouse, crossing the end of the path and around the corner. Only to plow straight into a line of townspeople, as loud cheering and applauses now echoed in the air.
Akiko elbowed her way between the horde, earning disgruntled complaints, until her body popped out and blended with a troop of horses and armour-clad men.
Her ears were overridden with outraged grumbles and one collective gasp.
"Halt!" Someone clamored. If it was for her or the procession, she hadn't a clue.
Whichever good fortune was left, seemed to have deserted her for good, in the moment her right foot hooked onto something. Akiko tumbled, arms flailing to catch her balance. She managed to cling to silky fabric, before the sound of it tearing deafened her. Next thing Akiko knew, her face had encountered dirt.
A moment of ominous silence taunted them all. And finally, reality settled in, flanked by the sound of clanking metal.
"Urgh…" Akiko croaked, untangling her limbs from her bags. She crawled to sit on her knees, golden fabric still clutched in her hand.
Her eyelashes fluttered at it, before Akiko chanced a glace up.
The girl was met with a bewildered stupor from the bystanders and grim-faced soldiers fixing their scowls on her.
From the edge of her right eye, the she noticed a static scarlet palanquin towering over her. With a golden roof that shone in the bright sun, and torn golden stripes dangling from it. The inner enclosing curtains were a bright lilac, veiling the identity of its occupant. Only the person's embroidered crimson robes and white collar were visible. The frame in the shadows sat with dignity, but the head was tilted downward, silent and frozen. Looking at me! Akiko fretted.
"Who are you?" A deep, smooth voice requested from amid the shade.
If Akiko was one to bet, she'd have said it was the emperor. It was only fitting. Her lips parted in awe. Should she answer? She didn't want to come off as impolite. What can I say? In a whirlwind of musings, she couldn't for the life of her, find one to voice.
Gawking is not going to help you! Akiko scolded herself, snapping her mouth shut and tearing her gaze away, focusing it onward.
Immediately, she wished she hadn't. For her blue eyes had crossed, to survey the sharp point of a long blade grazing her nose.
Her breath hitched in her throat and she didn't so much as bat an eyelash. Akiko gulped down the coil of horror and squirmed backward, so that an inch separated her face from the bristling weapon. Can the ground open and swallow me now?
"The Emperor is addressing you, insolent girl!" The soldier wielding the sword bellowed. "How dare you show such disrespect for His Highness?!" He thundered again. Retreating the sword, the soldier announced, "for your unforgiveable rudeness and insubordination, you shall be punished!"
The man raised the blade above her. "Hold still while I cut off your head!" He commanded.
Cut my head off?! She squinted her eyes and held her hands up, in the same ridiculous attempt at protecting herself, which she had tried earlier that day.
And for the second time, a sword aimed its acute edges at her.
Unlike before, there was no one to save her.
More than ever, she wished to be gone from this nightmare.
He. He. He. Soooo sorry about the cliffhanger... but like I mentioned above, I need to decide on the pairing first.
How was it? Disappointing? Not so disappointing? Grace me with your comments, opinions, suggestions, concerns. Feel free to PM me.
Don't forget to vote or review with your pairing choice! *saleswoman voice* Just kidding.
I apologise for any mistakes. Despite having revised it countless times, things always slip past me. I'll correct as soon as possible, and if you see something, please do correct me.
Catch you next chapter!
- Hallee xoxo