Fushigi Yuugi: The Next Generation - Part 18

Disclaimer: Yuu Watase owns Fushigi Yuugi. I own all the new original characters. Do not steal them.

Author's Note: We're still in Konan. The Suzaku group has an unseen problem that is following them. Odayaka just saved Mariko from an unknown illness. Enjoy!

Odayaka still had Mariko in his arms. She was now resting comfortable. Odayaka carried her back to the camp area. Sei let out a sigh of relief. Hono'o was quiet. Odayaka laid Mariko down on the ground. He covered her with a blanket, and rolled up one to be used as a pillow underneath her head.

"We'll have to stay here for the night," said Odayaka.

"That's fine with me. Just as long as she's okay. I don't want to ride anymore horses today," agreed Sei.

"Let's set up camp here. I'll go get some kindling for the fire," offered Hono'o.

"I'll help you," said Sei, "Stay here with Mariko, Odayaka."

They went to go gather up some firewood. Odayaka looked down at Mariko to make sure that she was fine. She was breathing just fine, and she wasn't in any pain. Odayaka had given up his blanket for the evening to roll it into a pillow for Mariko's head. Odayaka touched his lips with his right index finger thoughtfully. He took one look at Mariko, and then he went back to deep thought. His chi had to regenerate. Sei cleared his throat when he and Hono'o got back with some firewood.

"Are you all right?" asked Sei with concern.

"I'm fine," answered Odayaka with a smile.

"Good," said Sei.

It was nightfall. Hono'o was going to make the fire. She had figured a lot about her powers. She could do her fire magic, but it required concentration. With the tessen she could do it without any concentration. Her fire power was stronger than the powers that tessen was endowed with.

"LEKKA SHINEN!" said Hono'o as she started the fire.

Sei suddenly remembered that how Odayaka healed Mariko. He had a very disturbing thought. "I'm definitely not going to tell Hoshi about that kiss," muttered Sei underneath his breath. Hono'o heard him muttering to himself.

"What did you just say?" demanded Hono'o.

"Nothing. I didn't say anything! You must be hearing things!" exclaimed Sei.

"What did you say? I know that you said something!" yelled back Hono'o.

Sei stood up to get away from Hono'o. She started chasing him. Odayaka was superdeformed with question marks around him.

"Come back here and tell me what you said," demanded Hono'o.

"What are you going to do if I don't tell you?" laughed Sei who was much faster than her.

"I'll flame you if you don't tell me!" threatened Hono'o as she drew out the tessen.

"Like to see you try!" challenged Sei.

Odayaka was watching this with great amusement. Sei and Hono'o were superdeformed. They were chasing each other around the camp fire. Odayaka was laughing.

"LEKKA SHINEN!" shouted Hono'o as she flamed a very surprised Sei.

"Give me that fan!" ordered Sei.

Sei was now chasing Hono'o around the camp fire. They were still superdeformed. Odayaka was laughing even harder.

The Imperial guards were nearby, but were told to stay out of the way. So, the four of them eventually forgot that the guards were with them.

It was late at night when they all finally went to sleep. Sei had offered his blanket to Odayaka, but he declined. Odayaka used his riding cloak inside. Everyone went into sleep in peace.

* * *

Mariko was floating in an unknown place. She was naked and trapped in a bubble. Everything around her was red. Mariko could feel the all seven kanji on her skin. Suddenly all the kanji disappeared. It was replaced with one kanji on her forehead.

Mariko's eyes widened in pain. It felt so hot. She could feel her body burning. The strange thing was the burning wasn't coming from outside her body enveloping her. The fire was coming from within her. Her own life force was burning her body. It was getting hotter.

Mariko gradually realized that Suzaku from the inside instead of the outside was devouring her. It was burning hot. She was being eaten alive…

Mariko woke up with a cold sweat. 'It was just a dream. What was that?' thought Mariko breathing deeply. She couldn't stand it. She had to do something. It was just after dawn. She got up and got away from everyone. The guards were still asleep. No one noticed that she was gone.

Her brother had taught her self defense. It started out as way for Hoshi to train someone to be a sparring partner. She never really went as far as he did in the martial arts. She preferred academics to physically prowess. Her brother taught her how to use tendo swords. Mariko was at a high level. However, Mariko took a liking to Tai Chi. it was something that calmed her mind and eased her soul.

She was doing the movements slow. Her breathing was calm. It was about twenty minutes into the exercises when someone called to her from above her. Mariko looked up and saw Odayaka sitting on a tree branch. It was very high up.

"What are you doing up there? Don't scare me like that," cried Mariko.

"I am doing my meditation exercises. Looks like you're doing the same thing. I like to do them up in high places. I usually do my meditations up on the Imperial palace roofs tops," said Odayaka

"Come down here. I don't like to make my neck ache like this. Besides, it's rude, Odayaka," said Mariko in a matter-of-fact tone.

"All right. Fine," Odayaka said with a sigh. He teleported down.

"Where are you now?" asked Mariko. He tapped her shoulder. "AH! I told you to stop that. I don't like being surprised like that."

"I'm sorry," said Odayaka with a smile.

"No, you're not. You take pleasure in surprising people," insisted Mariko.

"You're right. It just happens to be one of my hobbies," agreed Odayaka.

"Thank you for saving me yesterday," said Mariko quietly.

"No problem. It's my duty as one of your seishi, Mariko," said Odayaka.

"I really want to thank you just the same," said Mariko firmly.

"Where did you learn how to those exercises?" asked Odayaka.

"My brother taught me. He's name is Hoshi. His seishi name is Ryu," answered Mariko.

"Yes, Sei told me about him. He's with the Seiryuu group. You started to tell me about your world. About your life. I would like to hear more. You said that you were going to school. What are you learning about?" asked Odayaka with interest.

"I learn about all sorts of things. Mathematics, Literature, Science, and other languages. I've learned about two different languages from my world," answered Mariko.

"What else do you do?" asked Odayaka with his hands behind him. They walked along the riverbank together.

"Well…I have a business going on in my school," said Mariko.

"What kind of business?" inquired Odayaka.

"It's sort of business that provides service to certain members of the student body and also to some of the teachers. People like to wage on games. I make it easy for them to do so. I keep track of the sporting events and I make sure that whomever wins gets his or her money. I do this all for a small take of the profits," answered Mariko.

"Wait, you mean you take bets for games? That's some sort of form of gambling," said Odayaka with an eyebrow raised.

"No, isn't some sort of gambling. It's is gambling," commented Mariko with a smile.

"I don't know how people think of gambling in your world, but in my world it's usually illegal. Not that we can't stop it, but it is," said Odayaka.

"It's illegal in my school, but I do it anyway," said Mariko with a smirk.

"But why? Sei said that your family was well off. Why would you do it if you didn't need the money?" asked Odayaka.

"Because I was bored. There's nothing really interesting to do in my school. My school is one of the hardest schools to get into. As a result only some of the smartest students get in. It's boring. Almost the entire student body is made up of a bunch of righteous and self absorbed snobs. I wanted to see how far I could go before I got caught. I loved the challenge. No one has come close to really catching me. Not even the head of the school," said Mariko who was very proud of herself.

"But that's wrong. You're not even doing it for noble reasons. Those bandits back at Mt. Leikaku have families. Not that I am condoning their actions, but they steal to feed their families," insisted Odayaka.

"Nothing is wrong unless you get caught," stated Mariko firmly. It was the philosophy that she lived by.

"I don't believe that. That's wrong," said Odayaka shaking his head.

"Great. This coming from the Emperor who refuses to get married, and who has avoided it by using his magical skills," said Mariko folding her arms over her chest.

"You heard about that?" said Odayaka coyly. He was now super deformed.

"Yes. Hono'o told me when we spent the night with the bandits," said Mariko.

"Oh. HAHAHAHAHA!" laughed Odayaka. Mariko started laughing with him.

"So, this is where you two have been?" said Sei. He, Hono'o, and the guards woke up to find Mariko and Odayaka gone. "Hey, Hono'o! Shen! Zhu! I've found them," called out Sei. The three of them came back.

"Good morning everyone!" greeted Hono'o with a smile. She was relieved that Mariko was safe with Odayaka.

"Morning everyone!" greeted Odayaka happily. Shen and Zhu looked a little frizzled. They just didn't like that they weren't allowed to protect their emperor because he told them not to.

"Why don't we have breakfast and move on?" suggested Mariko.

"I'm up for that!" exclaimed Sei.

Everyone went back to the camp. They finished breakfast and moved on ward.

All the while the woman was still watching them.

* * *

They finally found a hut. It was attached to an old mill. Water was running around it. There was a little cottage attached to it. Odayaka signaled the guards to go back to an unseen place. All four of them dismounted their horses. Odayaka and Sei walked ahead of Hono'o and Mariko. Hono'o kept a protective eye on her miko.

"Hello! Is anyone here?" called Sei.

"Yes. There is someone here. You don't have to be yelling like that," said a cloaked figure. The cloak figure was tall, but they couldn't see much else.

"Are you that blacksmith that makes the best weapons in all of Konan?" asked Odayaka.

"I am Bi Anlan. I suppose I am the blacksmith that you are looking for," whispered the cloak figure just barely loud enough to be heard.

"We would like a sword to be made for him," said Odayaka gesturing to Sei.

"Is there anything else?" asked Bi Anlan.

"No. Just him. I have a weapon already," announced Hono'o as she drew out the tessen.

"Is that the fan that belongs to Tasuki? One of the Suzaku Seven?" asked Bi Anlan in amazed voice when Hono'o drew out the fan.

"Yes. We are the new Suzaku Seven," said Hono'o.

"Please come inside," invited Bi Anlan. They went into the mill. It was a blacksmith's shop. There was hearth that was a blaze. There were large chucks of metal on three different benches. There was a something to keep the fire going. There were blacksmith tools hanging on the walls.

"Give me your hand so that I can measure it," said Bi Anlan to Sei. Sei gave her his hand. Bi Anlan took an instrument off the wall. With gloved hands Anlan measured Sei's fingers. Anlan wrote down the measurements.

"Why do you have to measure me?" asked Sei. He didn't know why he had to have his weapon custom made.

"Do you mind if I answer him?" asked Mariko.

"No," answered Anlan.

"Because the weapon should be custom made for the balance and weight of the swordsman. It depends. If you're big and strong, then you should have a large sword that can cut someone in half with its weight. If your are light in built and quick, then you should have a sword that is sharp, and can be used with finesse," said Mariko. Her brother would be proud to know that she actually listened to him.

"So, that's why you took measurements?" said Sei.

"That is correct," said Bi Anlan.

"Are you going to make it?" asked Odayaka. He was going to pay for it.

"Yes, Emperor," said Bi Anlan.

"How did you know that I am Emperor?" asked Odayaka. His guards weren't with them. They were hidden away.

"The Deity Sword. Only the Emperor of Konan would carry it," said Anlan observantly.

"I didn't know that. It belonged to my father," said Odayaka.

"The weapon will be made in two days come back then," said Anlan.

"Thank you very much, Bi Anlan," said Mariko with a bow.

They went to go set up camp somewhere else. They had to discuss how to find the other seishi.

"We'll come back to Bi Anlan's shop later on when the sword is finished. We can move forward. It shouldn't be a big problem to back track a little bit," suggested Odayaka.

"No. I disagree I think we should stay here awhile longer. Wait for the sword to be done," said Sei.

"I was wondering about something," said Mariko out loud.

"What?" asked Hono'o.

"That it must be awful hot to work as a blacksmith, and wear that cloak all the time," said Mariko. It had been bothering Mariko ever since they left the blacksmith's shop.

"That was strange," agreed Odayaka.

"Maybe with all the water running around there it's probably cool enough," suggested Sei.

"Maybe…" said Mariko.

The woman who has been following them all along was watching them very careful. She was probing for more weak spots. Mariko was definitely it. But, she wasn't irresponsible like her mother. She wasn't impulsively running off. She wasn't separating from the group. That was something that the woman had to take care off.

* * *

It was nightfall when they had decided to just camp near the river. Odayaka lost the vote out. So, they all decided to wait those two days for Sei's sword. They had finally pitched up some tents. The guards stayed closer to them. Odayaka didn't seem to mind so much. However, it started raining. The rain was coming down really hard. One could only see a few feet in front of oneself.

"We need to find some place else," said Sei who could barely be heard above the sound of the rain coming down.

"Maybe, we should go back to Bi Anlan's place," suggest Hono'o. They didn't trust her, but it was better than this. Hono'o was willing to take a chance in Bi Anlan's place than stay out there.

"We should move the horses!" yelled Odayaka.

The raining was coming down all over the forest. Yet the sky was clear outside the forest. The woman was the one creating the storm. She was a four elements sorceress. Her powers were almost as divine as the Gods themselves. The storm was not reflection of the true powers she held. The storm looked like something that Seiryuu seishi, Soi, would have created.

The river along the bank was filling up too fast. The dam on the upper part of the stream was about to give way. The dam finally gave way. Water was rushing too fast. It was now a flash flood.

"There's too much water in the river!" yelled Mariko. Despite the heaviness of the rain, they could hear the sound of a large rush of water coming towards them. "Everyone get away from the river. It's a flo-" Mariko started with her eyes wide. The water had hit her and she was being pulled away from her seishi and the guards.

"MARIKO!" shouted Odayaka. He had to jump in and to save her.

"ODAYAKA! MARIKO!" yelled Sei. He saw Odayaka jump in. Sei wanted to do the same thing, but Hono'o stopped him. "Why?"

"Because the current is too fast. It won't us any good!" yelled Hono'o.

"YOUR HIGHNESS!" yelled Shen.

"EMPEROR ODAYAKA!" called Zhu.

Mariko was desperately trying to stay afloat in the water. There was too much. It was as if someone had opened up an ocean around them. She was trying to swim back, but the current was against her. Odayaka was swimming towards her. Because he was with the current, he was able to reach her.

"LOOK ODAYAKA GOT TO HER!" shouted Hono'o.

"YES! ALL THEY HAVE TO DO IS SWIM BACK HERE!" exclaimed Sei.

Odayaka took Mariko's hand. She had a look of relief on her face. Odayaka pulled Mariko on to his back. She held on as Odayaka tried to swim back with her on his back. 'Thank goodness I don't have those heavy robes on me. There would have been no way I could have swam,' thought Odayaka.

"COME ON ODAYAKA! JUST A LITTLE MORE!" cheered on Sei. The guards watched helplessly. Hono'o held her breath and said nothing.

A large wave came over them. Odayaka and Mariko were now pulled back. Odayaka just couldn't beat the current he was against. He was a strong swimmer, but not strong enough. The current pulled Mariko and Odayaka away from the people on shore even further away. Pretty soon, no one could see them.

"MARIKO!" called out Sei helplessly.

"MARIKO!" called out Hono'o she gave a desperate look to Sei.

"ODAYAKA!" shouted Sei as he capped his hands over his mouth to make it louder.

It was too late there was no way that Mariko and Odayaka could hear them.

Odayaka was desperately trying to at least swim to shore. With Mariko on his back it was harder.

"MAYBE, I SHOULD GET OFF YOU!" shouted Mariko. She was thinking the same thing.

"NO! THE CURRENT IS TOO STRONG! IT'S BETTER THAT WE STICK TOGETHER!" yelled Odayaka back.

He had to do something or they were going to drown. Odayaka focused his chi to teleport them to shore. They teleported to shore. It took the last ounce of Odayaka strength to do it.

"We on shore…" said Odayaka as he closed his eyes. He was now past out from sheer exhaustion.

"Odayaka! No! Please stay awake!" cried Mariko.

Odayaka was on his stomach so Mariko had to turn him over so that he could breath. She turned him on to his back. She checked to see if he had a pulse, and that he was breathing. Odayaka was breathing calmly. He wasn't doing much else. Mariko didn't know if he would make it through the night. Mariko collapse on top of his chest.

"Don't die on me now! Don't do it! I didn't save you from that arrow for you to die now! Don't leave me now!" sobbed Mariko desperately. She put her hands on his chest. He didn't even stir. It was cold and she was tired. Eventually she went to sleep. Thinking that they were half way to death.

~*ClareBear's Omake*~

Miaka: "Nothing is wrong unless you get caught!"

Tamahome: All right now. I know Keisuke definitely didn't teach that.

Hotohori: I think those two are in serious need of parental discipline. Boushin keeps tricking people on purpose.

Nuriko: What about the fact that they're in big trouble?

Miaka: That's right! How will the others find them?

Tamahome: Don't worry! They'll find them. You caused more trouble than that when you first came into our world, Miaka.

Miaka hits Tamahome upside the head. The others watch superdeformed.