Chapter 1: The Dream That Was Real
It had been almost a year since the miko had appeared and gone back to her world. The remaining suzaku seishi that were still alive enjoyed their peace of mind and safety but missed the adventure. The wanderer, Chichiri, had been traveling the countryside and occasionally stopping to see his deceased seishi's son Boushin every few weeks or so. Tasuki on the other hand.well.was busy getting drunk with his best friend Kouji. Unfortunately their happiness was short lived. Both had been plagued with bad dreams. Chichiri had only a few in minor details and even though they were insignificant he began to travel towards Mt. Reikaku where Tasuki was who was most likely having the same dreams. Tasuki was indeed having the same dream except they were much more detailed and prolonged. He thought it was just a side affect to his excessive drinking but wouldn't Kouji be going through it too? After all they were the only bandits that could handle that much sake.
"Where are you? How could you betray me? Do you want me to die?" Fading in his dream Tasuki could barely hear the echo of a girls' voice in despair. He was stirred awake again by this ghostly sound.
"What the hell?! Every single night the same thing.erg.I suppose I should lay off the drinking.^&*%."
Kouji had been sleeping near by. They had been camping out at the foot of the mountain for a few days on their usual watch. "What's up with you Genrou?"
"I have no %^&*$#! clue.same dreams.freaking sake must be getting to me."
"I suppose that makes me the reigning drinking champ if ya can't hold it anymore hahaha!"
"SHUD UP! Ya lousy son of a bitch!"
"Hey don't get fresh with me ya friggin' bastard!"
Into the night this would continue like usual. But as morning rose in the book world the sun was setting in another world, the world of the miko.
"This sooooooooo sucks ass! Every freaking day.tests, tests, tests!" A young girl sat at her desk in her little room at home bickering. Her mother came in to see what she was yelling about.
"Kuki? Sora honey? Are you working hard?"
"More like hardly working," the girl grinned as she finished ripping out her hair. "Can you take me to the library? I'm having a lot of trouble concentrating and I think I'd like to pick up a few books."
"Would you mind walking there? You said you needed the exercise and I'm working on this thingy for the meeting I have to."
"Sure sure whatever ya say."
She had been wearing her pj's so she put on her khakis and her white blouse and threw on her orange leather jacket. She tied her brown hair back and went on her way. She thought to herself as she walked, "OK! WHY DO I HAVE TO HAVE SOOOOOO MUCH WORK! AND WHY DOES SHE STILL CALL ME KUKI...I'M NOT A CHILD! ERGGGG!" She was upset about her work but she hated being called Kuki. She hated her name. It meant atmosphere. She always thought it sounded like something out of a science book. She preferred to be called Sora since it meant basically the same thing but was a lot prettier.sky. She was a Libra and an air sign which was kind of cool with that name too. But she had no time to complain about that. She had studied all year when she was 14 to get into her choice high school but now that she's sixteen and in her high school she has soooooooo much more work.
"No use bitching over it. I had to go to the difficult high school."
When she got to the library she sat at a table and opened up her biology, history and literature book. She starred at them blindly and whined to herself. A handsome man approached her. He had purple eyes and dark green, almost black hair. She noticed a dark deep scar on his hand and one peering up from his low cut shirt. Didn't matter none the less.
"Do you know where I can sign this book out?"
"Um.um.um. yeah right over there."
"Thanks. Do you like fantasy stories? I've read this one about ten times and I never get sick of it. Would like to read it?"
"Well I do like anything not having to do with reality.ok sure I'm good for it." Sora took the book gently and read the cover. "The Universe of the Four Gods?"
"You said you liked fantasy right?"
"Yeah."
"Well this is the escape from your reality."
She looked up and he was gone. "Totally weird.but really hot anyhow." She relaxed in her chair as she began to open the book. She hadn't noticed that all movement in the room had stopped. "This is the story of a girl who made all her dreams come true after she came to posses the seven stars of her beast god. The one who reds the book makes its reality their's. It's time for the adventure to begin.' Weird.really weird. What was that suppose to mean?"
Suddenly the book flashed colors of red, blue, green and white. She felt a pull on her body and she blacked out.
In the book world Tasuki was riding his horse next to his bud Kouji. Then just out of no where. "DAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"
"CHI.CHICHIRI!"
"How have you been no da?"
"You scared the %^&$ out ta' me."
"Great to see ya and all but I think we need to talk no da?"
"Um.'bout what?"
"Have you been having weird dreams lately? Usually of a girl no da?"
"Yes.but I thought I was just having a really bad hangover."
Kouji had to but in. "Genrou! Man your havin' dreams about girl and didn't tell me? I thought you didn't like girls? Was she hot?"
"Jesus Kouji is that all ya ever think about.grrr."
"Chill out no da. Every detail is important no da. Was the girl you dreamt of the priestess no da?"
Tasuki slicked his hair back and took a deep breath before answering. "Well it was at first just the voice of some girl crying, yelling.usually just 'Where are you? How could you betray me? Do you want me to die?' Makes no sense. Then I had another dream of a pretty younger girl with white and brown wings floating inches above a pond or lake."
"Was she naked?" Kouji pushed.
"NO!...yeah..not really she had a light see through dress or sumthin' on but her wings kind of covered her. Anyhow she was shaking and there were slight ripples in the water. Like she was crying. But I was so far away I couldn't see her face but she had brown hair. The tips were blonde I think.or were they white? Well anyhow every time I sleep I see it a lil' closer and it's a lil' bit longer. What about you Chichiri?"
Chichiri took off his mask and sighed. "I haven't had many no da. I only saw a winged girl from a distance but her wings were bloody. And I had a flash of her eyes. Dark brown eyes. Almost black. She had tears of blood but then her eyes changed to a lighter shade of brown almost amber like yours and she just had one tear on her cheek no da. I didn't see the rest of her face but I suppose I saw enough no da."
"I suppose I get the happy dreams and you're the on with the angel of death." Chichiri gave Tasuki a smack before continuing.
"I had a feeling that a new battle may occur.I think we should find that pond no da."
Kouji couldn't help but twiddle his thumbs. He really didn't understand what they meant by pretty naked angel chick at a pond. Well what he did know was that it was a.pretty NAKED chick. Not many girls on Mt. Reikaku after all. Tasuki doesn't like girls and Chichiri is a monk. What competition did he have?
"I agree with Chichiri we should find this pretty chick! Ehem I mean we have to find the lake."
Tasuki had been rubbing his head for quite some time from the blow from Chichiri. He was thinking things through when he was partially unconscience. "Well I don't know if this girl will even appear. If she does then what? Will she need protecting or will she have powers? Will she be on our side or coming to kill us?"
"Well I guess we will have to find out no da."
The three travelers set up upon their horses and traveled on their way to the pond. They had no idea where it was but all that lead them on was their instincts. Eventually after a few hours of riding they all decided to stop and set camp since the sun was to go down soon and they were still to far from and inn. Tasuki didn't want to do much in camp so he took a walk in the woods. Well actually he was going to take a leak. After he had done that he continued to walk for a few minutes when he felt a presence behind him. He walked slowly to hear what was following him. Then he heard it.
"SHUSH! Be quiet no da!"
"I am! Why are we following him?"
"I don't know I just had the feeling we had to no da."
Tasuki laughed out loud and turned around to find his friends sneaking behind a tree. "An elephant could have hid itself better ya idiots haha!"
"Looks like we're caught no da."
"Why were you following me? OH DEAR GOD YOU WRE TRYING TO GET A LOOK AT ME PISSIN' !!!!!!"
"NO.. I have no clue! Chichiri here just started sneakin' around so I followed him. Didn't want him taking advantage of ya hehe." Chichiri who had already been used to doing it hit Kouji on his head and dragged him along while him and Tasuki waked into the forest on a stroll. They eventually came upon a small pond.
"HOLY SHIT! CHICHIRI DO YA SEE THAT! IT IS THE ONE FROM MY DREAM!!!!"
"I have a feeling that something will happen here. Soon."
"Shesh Chichiri you're givin' me the creeps!"
All of a sudden the clouds grew dim and the sky parted. Out of the sky they say something fall into the bushed next to the pond. They rushed to see what it was. Kouji right behind. They looked down and saw a girl lying in the brush. She was unconscience and bleeding pretty bad. She had obviously fallen from really high. The fact that she was wearing strange clothes made everyone shriek, "ANOTHER PRIESTESS!" They thought that impossible but didn't think much about it. They had to help the injured girl.
Chichiri lifted the girl gently and carried her back to camp where he lay her down and began to examine her wounds. Tasuki was close by just to see if she was ok and Kouji was sent to get some bandages. "As I can see no da she has a very deep wound on her leg and her waist and a few bruises and scratches on her back. The minor scar on her hand will heal in a week or so no da. I learned that from Mitsukake no da."
"Well will she be ok? I mean not like I care or anything just."
"Tasuki.for once in your life just admit that you care no da."
"Well she's covered in blood. Do ya think we should clean her up?"
"I don't think she would appreciate us taking her cloths off no da."
Just at that moment the girl began to stir. When she opened hr eyes she shut them quickly and moaned in pain. "What happened? Where am I? WHAT! WHERE THE HELL AM I!!" She freaked out and collapsed back on the ground where she had been laid. Chichiri came over to her and tried to calm her.
"We saw you fall from the sky and you got hurt when you hit the ground no da. We brought to our camp so we could help you no da."
"WE? Who's WE?"
Chichiri pointed to Tasuki in the corner and Kouji tearing sheet in the distance who winked at her. Chichiri explained how they had been having dreams and asked her about where she had come from. She answered but was kind of drawn back. She was thinking about how she could have possibly gone to that world.the book!
Chichiri bandaged her wounds carefully. "I'm Chichiri and that's Tasuki. What's your name no da?"
"I'm Sora."
Kouji held her hand and said ever so slyly, "I'm Kouji pretty lady." She blushed but took her hand back. She would have to watch this guy. She looked over at Tasuki who looked her over as well. He had a slight smirk on which showed barley visible fangs. She covered her mouth before she showed a smile since she had fangs of her own as well. She groaned every minute or so when Chichiri tightened her bandage but couldn't keep her eyes off of Tasuki. What was it about him?
Chichiri helped her to her feet and asked if she could walk. He let her lean on him and walk around a little. She asked him if it would be ok if she could take a walk. He declined but said that he can carry her around if she needed some air. He lifted her gently and carried her for a few minutes till the go to the pond they found her at. "Sora? Do you have any powers?"
"WhAt?!"
"I'm serious no da."
"I don't know. As I am now I don't think I do.why would I?"
"I had had a dream about a very pretty girl but I only saw her eyes. Can I examine yours no da?"
"Um."
He tilted her chin towards his face and looked at her eyes. They were very beautiful. Just like the light ones that were crying. She had been getting redder by the minute. She never had anyone look into her eyes for so long before. She eventually turned her head away and he cleared his throat. "I think you're the girl I saw in my dream." remembering the bloody angel he feared for Sora, "I'll have to protect you because I have a feeling you'll need it no da."
"What do you mean I'll need it? I don't plan on staying or getting into any trouble!"
"You don't understand no da! Tasuki and I had separate dreams that you were in. He dreampt of a girl with brown hair and blonde tips."
"Blonde? I'm not.WHAT HAPPENED TO MY HAIR!" She tugged her hair. It had changed color at the tips.."WHAT THE HELL! WHAT IN THE BLOODY HELL!!!!"
"Calm yourself no da. Your so much like Tasuki no da. All temper no brains."
"Wha? No brains? I think not!"
Tasuki and Kouji came strolling by and Chichiri got up and walked over to them and whispered so that Sora would not hear "I am sure she's the girl in our dreams no da." Tasuki walked over to the girl and sat on the ground next to her. Chichiri motioned to Kouji to leave with him. Tasuki looked at the girl and grinned.
"I guess you are the girl from my dreams. I couldn't see your face but I believe its you."
"Girl from you dreams? How about girl of your dreams? Hehe just kidding. What were your dreams about anyhow?"
"Well I dreamt that a girl 'you' was floating above that pond with wings and you were crying."
"Why was I crying? And why did I have wings?"
"I DON'T KNOW! Woman.another reason to hate them.too many questions."
"You hate girls? Hehe so you like guys then?"
"NO!"
It had been almost a year since the miko had appeared and gone back to her world. The remaining suzaku seishi that were still alive enjoyed their peace of mind and safety but missed the adventure. The wanderer, Chichiri, had been traveling the countryside and occasionally stopping to see his deceased seishi's son Boushin every few weeks or so. Tasuki on the other hand.well.was busy getting drunk with his best friend Kouji. Unfortunately their happiness was short lived. Both had been plagued with bad dreams. Chichiri had only a few in minor details and even though they were insignificant he began to travel towards Mt. Reikaku where Tasuki was who was most likely having the same dreams. Tasuki was indeed having the same dream except they were much more detailed and prolonged. He thought it was just a side affect to his excessive drinking but wouldn't Kouji be going through it too? After all they were the only bandits that could handle that much sake.
"Where are you? How could you betray me? Do you want me to die?" Fading in his dream Tasuki could barely hear the echo of a girls' voice in despair. He was stirred awake again by this ghostly sound.
"What the hell?! Every single night the same thing.erg.I suppose I should lay off the drinking.^&*%."
Kouji had been sleeping near by. They had been camping out at the foot of the mountain for a few days on their usual watch. "What's up with you Genrou?"
"I have no %^&*$#! clue.same dreams.freaking sake must be getting to me."
"I suppose that makes me the reigning drinking champ if ya can't hold it anymore hahaha!"
"SHUD UP! Ya lousy son of a bitch!"
"Hey don't get fresh with me ya friggin' bastard!"
Into the night this would continue like usual. But as morning rose in the book world the sun was setting in another world, the world of the miko.
"This sooooooooo sucks ass! Every freaking day.tests, tests, tests!" A young girl sat at her desk in her little room at home bickering. Her mother came in to see what she was yelling about.
"Kuki? Sora honey? Are you working hard?"
"More like hardly working," the girl grinned as she finished ripping out her hair. "Can you take me to the library? I'm having a lot of trouble concentrating and I think I'd like to pick up a few books."
"Would you mind walking there? You said you needed the exercise and I'm working on this thingy for the meeting I have to."
"Sure sure whatever ya say."
She had been wearing her pj's so she put on her khakis and her white blouse and threw on her orange leather jacket. She tied her brown hair back and went on her way. She thought to herself as she walked, "OK! WHY DO I HAVE TO HAVE SOOOOOO MUCH WORK! AND WHY DOES SHE STILL CALL ME KUKI...I'M NOT A CHILD! ERGGGG!" She was upset about her work but she hated being called Kuki. She hated her name. It meant atmosphere. She always thought it sounded like something out of a science book. She preferred to be called Sora since it meant basically the same thing but was a lot prettier.sky. She was a Libra and an air sign which was kind of cool with that name too. But she had no time to complain about that. She had studied all year when she was 14 to get into her choice high school but now that she's sixteen and in her high school she has soooooooo much more work.
"No use bitching over it. I had to go to the difficult high school."
When she got to the library she sat at a table and opened up her biology, history and literature book. She starred at them blindly and whined to herself. A handsome man approached her. He had purple eyes and dark green, almost black hair. She noticed a dark deep scar on his hand and one peering up from his low cut shirt. Didn't matter none the less.
"Do you know where I can sign this book out?"
"Um.um.um. yeah right over there."
"Thanks. Do you like fantasy stories? I've read this one about ten times and I never get sick of it. Would like to read it?"
"Well I do like anything not having to do with reality.ok sure I'm good for it." Sora took the book gently and read the cover. "The Universe of the Four Gods?"
"You said you liked fantasy right?"
"Yeah."
"Well this is the escape from your reality."
She looked up and he was gone. "Totally weird.but really hot anyhow." She relaxed in her chair as she began to open the book. She hadn't noticed that all movement in the room had stopped. "This is the story of a girl who made all her dreams come true after she came to posses the seven stars of her beast god. The one who reds the book makes its reality their's. It's time for the adventure to begin.' Weird.really weird. What was that suppose to mean?"
Suddenly the book flashed colors of red, blue, green and white. She felt a pull on her body and she blacked out.
In the book world Tasuki was riding his horse next to his bud Kouji. Then just out of no where. "DAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"
"CHI.CHICHIRI!"
"How have you been no da?"
"You scared the %^&$ out ta' me."
"Great to see ya and all but I think we need to talk no da?"
"Um.'bout what?"
"Have you been having weird dreams lately? Usually of a girl no da?"
"Yes.but I thought I was just having a really bad hangover."
Kouji had to but in. "Genrou! Man your havin' dreams about girl and didn't tell me? I thought you didn't like girls? Was she hot?"
"Jesus Kouji is that all ya ever think about.grrr."
"Chill out no da. Every detail is important no da. Was the girl you dreamt of the priestess no da?"
Tasuki slicked his hair back and took a deep breath before answering. "Well it was at first just the voice of some girl crying, yelling.usually just 'Where are you? How could you betray me? Do you want me to die?' Makes no sense. Then I had another dream of a pretty younger girl with white and brown wings floating inches above a pond or lake."
"Was she naked?" Kouji pushed.
"NO!...yeah..not really she had a light see through dress or sumthin' on but her wings kind of covered her. Anyhow she was shaking and there were slight ripples in the water. Like she was crying. But I was so far away I couldn't see her face but she had brown hair. The tips were blonde I think.or were they white? Well anyhow every time I sleep I see it a lil' closer and it's a lil' bit longer. What about you Chichiri?"
Chichiri took off his mask and sighed. "I haven't had many no da. I only saw a winged girl from a distance but her wings were bloody. And I had a flash of her eyes. Dark brown eyes. Almost black. She had tears of blood but then her eyes changed to a lighter shade of brown almost amber like yours and she just had one tear on her cheek no da. I didn't see the rest of her face but I suppose I saw enough no da."
"I suppose I get the happy dreams and you're the on with the angel of death." Chichiri gave Tasuki a smack before continuing.
"I had a feeling that a new battle may occur.I think we should find that pond no da."
Kouji couldn't help but twiddle his thumbs. He really didn't understand what they meant by pretty naked angel chick at a pond. Well what he did know was that it was a.pretty NAKED chick. Not many girls on Mt. Reikaku after all. Tasuki doesn't like girls and Chichiri is a monk. What competition did he have?
"I agree with Chichiri we should find this pretty chick! Ehem I mean we have to find the lake."
Tasuki had been rubbing his head for quite some time from the blow from Chichiri. He was thinking things through when he was partially unconscience. "Well I don't know if this girl will even appear. If she does then what? Will she need protecting or will she have powers? Will she be on our side or coming to kill us?"
"Well I guess we will have to find out no da."
The three travelers set up upon their horses and traveled on their way to the pond. They had no idea where it was but all that lead them on was their instincts. Eventually after a few hours of riding they all decided to stop and set camp since the sun was to go down soon and they were still to far from and inn. Tasuki didn't want to do much in camp so he took a walk in the woods. Well actually he was going to take a leak. After he had done that he continued to walk for a few minutes when he felt a presence behind him. He walked slowly to hear what was following him. Then he heard it.
"SHUSH! Be quiet no da!"
"I am! Why are we following him?"
"I don't know I just had the feeling we had to no da."
Tasuki laughed out loud and turned around to find his friends sneaking behind a tree. "An elephant could have hid itself better ya idiots haha!"
"Looks like we're caught no da."
"Why were you following me? OH DEAR GOD YOU WRE TRYING TO GET A LOOK AT ME PISSIN' !!!!!!"
"NO.. I have no clue! Chichiri here just started sneakin' around so I followed him. Didn't want him taking advantage of ya hehe." Chichiri who had already been used to doing it hit Kouji on his head and dragged him along while him and Tasuki waked into the forest on a stroll. They eventually came upon a small pond.
"HOLY SHIT! CHICHIRI DO YA SEE THAT! IT IS THE ONE FROM MY DREAM!!!!"
"I have a feeling that something will happen here. Soon."
"Shesh Chichiri you're givin' me the creeps!"
All of a sudden the clouds grew dim and the sky parted. Out of the sky they say something fall into the bushed next to the pond. They rushed to see what it was. Kouji right behind. They looked down and saw a girl lying in the brush. She was unconscience and bleeding pretty bad. She had obviously fallen from really high. The fact that she was wearing strange clothes made everyone shriek, "ANOTHER PRIESTESS!" They thought that impossible but didn't think much about it. They had to help the injured girl.
Chichiri lifted the girl gently and carried her back to camp where he lay her down and began to examine her wounds. Tasuki was close by just to see if she was ok and Kouji was sent to get some bandages. "As I can see no da she has a very deep wound on her leg and her waist and a few bruises and scratches on her back. The minor scar on her hand will heal in a week or so no da. I learned that from Mitsukake no da."
"Well will she be ok? I mean not like I care or anything just."
"Tasuki.for once in your life just admit that you care no da."
"Well she's covered in blood. Do ya think we should clean her up?"
"I don't think she would appreciate us taking her cloths off no da."
Just at that moment the girl began to stir. When she opened hr eyes she shut them quickly and moaned in pain. "What happened? Where am I? WHAT! WHERE THE HELL AM I!!" She freaked out and collapsed back on the ground where she had been laid. Chichiri came over to her and tried to calm her.
"We saw you fall from the sky and you got hurt when you hit the ground no da. We brought to our camp so we could help you no da."
"WE? Who's WE?"
Chichiri pointed to Tasuki in the corner and Kouji tearing sheet in the distance who winked at her. Chichiri explained how they had been having dreams and asked her about where she had come from. She answered but was kind of drawn back. She was thinking about how she could have possibly gone to that world.the book!
Chichiri bandaged her wounds carefully. "I'm Chichiri and that's Tasuki. What's your name no da?"
"I'm Sora."
Kouji held her hand and said ever so slyly, "I'm Kouji pretty lady." She blushed but took her hand back. She would have to watch this guy. She looked over at Tasuki who looked her over as well. He had a slight smirk on which showed barley visible fangs. She covered her mouth before she showed a smile since she had fangs of her own as well. She groaned every minute or so when Chichiri tightened her bandage but couldn't keep her eyes off of Tasuki. What was it about him?
Chichiri helped her to her feet and asked if she could walk. He let her lean on him and walk around a little. She asked him if it would be ok if she could take a walk. He declined but said that he can carry her around if she needed some air. He lifted her gently and carried her for a few minutes till the go to the pond they found her at. "Sora? Do you have any powers?"
"WhAt?!"
"I'm serious no da."
"I don't know. As I am now I don't think I do.why would I?"
"I had had a dream about a very pretty girl but I only saw her eyes. Can I examine yours no da?"
"Um."
He tilted her chin towards his face and looked at her eyes. They were very beautiful. Just like the light ones that were crying. She had been getting redder by the minute. She never had anyone look into her eyes for so long before. She eventually turned her head away and he cleared his throat. "I think you're the girl I saw in my dream." remembering the bloody angel he feared for Sora, "I'll have to protect you because I have a feeling you'll need it no da."
"What do you mean I'll need it? I don't plan on staying or getting into any trouble!"
"You don't understand no da! Tasuki and I had separate dreams that you were in. He dreampt of a girl with brown hair and blonde tips."
"Blonde? I'm not.WHAT HAPPENED TO MY HAIR!" She tugged her hair. It had changed color at the tips.."WHAT THE HELL! WHAT IN THE BLOODY HELL!!!!"
"Calm yourself no da. Your so much like Tasuki no da. All temper no brains."
"Wha? No brains? I think not!"
Tasuki and Kouji came strolling by and Chichiri got up and walked over to them and whispered so that Sora would not hear "I am sure she's the girl in our dreams no da." Tasuki walked over to the girl and sat on the ground next to her. Chichiri motioned to Kouji to leave with him. Tasuki looked at the girl and grinned.
"I guess you are the girl from my dreams. I couldn't see your face but I believe its you."
"Girl from you dreams? How about girl of your dreams? Hehe just kidding. What were your dreams about anyhow?"
"Well I dreamt that a girl 'you' was floating above that pond with wings and you were crying."
"Why was I crying? And why did I have wings?"
"I DON'T KNOW! Woman.another reason to hate them.too many questions."
"You hate girls? Hehe so you like guys then?"
"NO!"