Fushigi Yuugi - The Next Generation: Part 19

Disclaimer: I don't own Fushigi Yuugi. Yuu Watase owns it. I own the new original characters. Yuu Watase created Boushin, but I elaborated on him. I still say that she owns him, and the new stuff I did with him.

Author's Note: We're still in Konan. This should be a long part. I am a little behind. I had a midterm to study for ^_^. As always there are spoilers from the TV series, and maybe the OVAs. Of course, maybe you can catch my Utena series influence. I love ANIME! We'll be checking up on the Kuto group next. It should be very interesting.

Mariko was still resting on top of Odayaka. His eyes fluttered open. It was quiet. The sky was clear. It looked like it had never rained in the first place. They were on the riverbank. Odayaka wasn't sure as to where they were. 'How can I get lost in my own Empire?' thought Odayaka. Finally, he noticed the weight on his chest. He looked down and saw the moonlight grace over Mariko. She was sleeping soundly. Odayaka felt achy all over. He hoped that Sei, Hono'o, and the guards would find them soon. There was no way of knowing how far they were from the others. Mariko was wearing only a cotton dress top with pants. Her shoes were gone. Odayaka was still fully dressed. He was lucky that his sword didn't get lost in the flood.

"Mariko?" whispered Odayaka softly. She was breathing calmly. Odayaka stayed down. His body was just too achy to move, and Mariko was resting on him. 'From Emperor to seishi to pillow,' thought Odayaka with a smile. He noticed the bracelets on her wrists. 'They're beautiful. I wonder why she wears them," pondered Odayaka.

Odayaka thought back to earlier when he cured Mariko from that sudden illness. He didn't want to make of it. The illness wasn't anything he had ever seen before. Odayaka remembered how soft her lips were against his. 'Wait! What am I doing? I should stop thinking about this,' thought Odayaka with his eyes wide open. Mariko stirred a little bit. She mumbled something in her sleep. Her eyes shot open. "ODAYAKA! You're all right!" exclaimed Mariko.

"Yes. Don't say that too loud. I still feel tired," whispered Odayaka.

Mariko got up. She looked around her. Everything looked the same. "Where are we?" asked Mariko. Odayaka wasn't sure if he wanted to give her an honest answer.

"I don't know where we are. It's dark. We should just make a fire and wait until morning," said Odayaka logically.

"Yes. You're tired. So am I. We'll wait. Let's make a fire. Oh, no. All the wood would be wet around here," said Mariko in frustration.

"Don't worry about it. Hono'o isn't the only one who can make a fire using magic," said Odayaka. He focused his chi and a fire appeared.

"It's warm," said Mariko in a soft voice.

"What do you want to do until dawn?" asked Odayaka.

"Don't you want to sleep?" asked Mariko.

"Not really. I don't think it's safe to do that," answered Odayaka. Mariko looked around her and rubbed her arms.

"Well, what do you want to do until dawn?" asked Odayaka.

"You asked about me. Why don't we talk about you?" asked Mariko.

"All right. Ask me anything," said Odayaka with an inviting smile.

"I saw your mother before we left. She's very beautiful. I didn't know that you had a mother," said Mariko awkwardly.

"Yes, that was my mother. I didn't expect her to come either. My mother has always been like that. When I was younger, she never really talked to me. She was mourning the death of my father. She loved my father very much. I think that she still does. I admire her devotion to my father's memory, but morning for almost twenty years isn't normal. It's not healthy," said Odayaka.

"My mother died when I was a baby. I never got to know her," said Mariko in a soft voice.

"Same here. She's alive, but it's like she's not completely there. My mother is just a shell. She's devoted her life to a dead person. Not that I don't think it's bad, but I'm alive and well," said Odayaka.

"Was it true?" asked Mariko. Her curiosity was always was there. She had to know something.

"Is what true?" asked Odayaka.

"Did your father love the last Suzaku no Miko?" asked Mariko.

"Yes. He loved her. From what Chichiri sensei said, my father had loved the last Suzaku no Miko before he even meet her. My father had a lonely childhood, and mine would have been like his, if it wasn't for Chichiri sensei and Lord Tasuki I would have been condemned to that fate. He loved her because he fell in love with the legends of the Suzaku no Miko. However, it never worked for him. He was too much of a romantic idealist," said Odayaka. His words seemed harsh, but they were all true.

"You don't believe in love," said Mariko with a strange look on her face.

"No, I believe in love. I don't believe in things about fate. I don't believe in sitting by, and waiting for things to take its natural course. My father just waited for the Suzaku no Miko to come, and believed that everything would be all right. I make my own fate. I am my own man," said Odayaka in a confident voice.

"You're right. I've been wondering if I could live up to my mother," said Mariko.

"See? I don't think we should have to live up to what our parents did. We only have to live up to our expectations," remarked Odayaka wisely.

"And if we don't know our own expectations?" asked Mariko.

"Then, that's something we have to find," answered Odayaka.

* * *

Hono'o, Sei, and the guards had to find Mariko and Odayaka. Sei looked at Hono'o, and noticed that she was dry. "How is it that you're dry already?" asked Sei. He was tired and wet.

"It's my powers. I dried myself off by using my chi," answered Hono'o with a smile," Would you like me to dry you off?" She was taking out the tessen.

"NO! I'LL WALK IN WET CLOTHES!" shouted Sei. He didn't want to get flamed again, and he was superdeformed. The guards also didn't like Hono'o waving the tessen around.

"Calm down all of you," ordered Hono'o as she rolled her eyes. She held out her palm, and focused her chi. Sei and the guards felt a warm feeling that surrounded them. Now they were dry.

"Wow. I didn't know you could do that. I misjudged you. I didn't know that you were capable of using your powers responsibly," said Sei.

"LEKKA SHINEN!" shouted Hono'o as she flamed him using the tessen.

"OW! CAN'T YOU TAKE A COMPLIMENT!" shouted Sei.

"Not when I get insulted in the process," said Hono'o.

The guards were sweatdropped. "Lord Seijitsu and Lady Hono'o. We must find the Emperor and the Suzaku no Miko," said Shen. The two of them were locked in a staring contest and were superdeformed.

"That's right. Truce?" asked Sei.

"Fine. Truce," answered Hono'o as she nodded.

"Let's go look for them," said Sei, "I think that the last wave came from over there. Which means that they were washed over that way." He pointed to a direction. Sei, Hono'o, and the guards moved that way. They kept off the horses and were on foot. The ground was muddy.

"I hope that they're all right," said Hono'o quietly. Everyone feared the worse. They heard a noise.

"Who goes there?" called out Sei.

"It's me. Bi Anlan, "said Anlan.

"What are you doing here?" asked Hono'o.

"I should have told you all earlier. I had to finish all my work before I could leave. I am a Suzaku seishi," said Bi Anlan.

Hono'o and Sei looked at each other. They looked back at Bi Anlan. The guards put down their weapons.

"Where is your kanji?" asked Sei to make sure.

Bi Anlan took off the cloak. Bi Anlan was a woman. She was tall and slim. Her hair was long and jet-black. She was dressed with some armor plating over her breast. Bi Anlan's kanji was glowing on her back upper shoulder. The kanji was glowing a bright red. It was the kanji for quality. Shitsu. She was carrying a sword in a cover and a cloth over it.

"This is your sword, Sei," said Bi Anlan.

"You're a woman?" asked Sei with disbelieving eyes.

"That's why you were wearing that cloak," said Hono'o as she snapped her fingers.

"I dress as a man because no one would buy weapons made by a woman. The reason why I am in demand is because of my gifts as a seishi. I do a form of metal magic. I can take metal and manipulate it using my chi," explained Bi Anlan.

"Well, we're glad to see you, Anlan. I mean Shitsu," said Sei.

"What are you wandering around here for? Where are the Suzaku no Miko and the Emperor?" asked Shitsu.

"When the flash flood came, Mariko was washed in. Odayaka jumped in to save her, but the current was too strong. We know that they must have washed down this way," answered Hono'o.

"Then, let's find them," suggested Shitsu.

* * *

Mariko and Odayaka were starting to worry about whether or not the rest of the seishi and guards would ever find them. It was now morning. They were tired because they had been up for most of the night talking. Odayaka heard something. It was coming towards them.

"Mariko stand up," whispered Odayaka. Mariko stood up. Focusing his chi, Odayaka created an illusion of bushes in front of her. Mariko remained silent.

"Who goes there?" demanded Odayaka in a firm voice.

"Wait. Don't harm me. I'm just passing through," said a man. The man had dirty blonde hair and sharp green eyes. He was as tall as Odayaka. He was wearing a cloak and regular everyday clothes underneath it.

"Oh. Sorry," said Odayaka.

"Who are you?" asked the man.

"My name is Odayaka," he answered. He didn't want to introduce himself as the Emperor of Konan.

"I am Ran Zhenyou. I am a forest guide for this area," said the man.

"You're a guide!" called Mariko from the illusionary bushes. Odayaka waved his arm towards the bushes. The illusion dissolved.

"Yes. Are you some sort of mage?" asked Zhenyou.

"Actually, I am a Suzaku seishi," answered Odayaka, "I was trained by one of the past Suzaku seishi."

"Oh my Suzaku. I am so glad to meet you. Are you the Suzaku no Miko?" asked Zhenyou.

"Yes," answered Mariko.

"Let me guide you through the forest. Are there more seishi?" asked Zhenyou.

"Yes. There are more seishi. We sort of got separated from them. We don't really know where we are," answered Mariko.

"Which way did you come from?" asked Zhenyou. He was scooping out the situation.

"We came from that direction. During the flood we were washed away," answered Odayaka.

"Well, if your seishi are looking for you, and knew which way you went, Suzaku no Miko, then they should be traveling this way. We should move that way. And maybe we'll meet them halfway," said Zhenyou.

"Sounds like a plan to me," said Mariko happily. Odayaka nodded in agreement. The three of them walked along the riverbank. Zhenyou was a really friendly person. He asked them questions. Mariko and Odayaka asked him questions also. He answered them without any hesitation. It was an hour before Mariko spotted Sei and other on the other side of the riverbank.

"SEI!" shouted Mariko happily. She was waving her arms.

"MARIKO! ODAYAKA!" shouted back Sei. Everyone was so happy to see them. They didn't seem to notice Zhenyou at first. Odayaka teleported the three of them to the other side.

"Hi Hono'o," said Mariko. They hugged each other.

"Don't you ever scares like that again, Mariko," said Hono'o scolding her gently.

"Bi Anlan?" asked Odayaka.

"Yes. She's a seishi like the rest of us. Shitsu," answered Sei. She glowed her kanji.

"It's good to see that you are well, Lord Odayaka," said Shen. Zhu nodded in agreement.

"Who is this?" asked Hono'o when she noticed Zhenyou.

"This is Ran Zhenyou. He was the one that guided us back to you all," responded Mariko.

"Thank you very much," said Odayaka.

"No. Being in the presence of the Suzaku no Miko and her seishi is enough reward," said Zhenyou sincerely.

"What do we do now?" asked Mariko. They had found another seishi. But, they had wasted a lot of time. They didn't have a plan.

"Actually…according to the legends, the mikos require the shinzahou," said Zhenyou quietly.

"Yes. Maybe, we can find that. If we find the shinzahou, then it will guide us to the scrolls and to the rest of the seishi," said Odayaka. They needed three more seishi.

"Do you know anyplace where they would hold a sacred object like the shinzahou, Zhenyou?" asked Mariko hopeful.

"Let me think. There are a lot of landmarks in this area. Believe it or not," said Zhenyou. He closed his eyes as if he were focusing on something. His eyes opened, and he snapped his fingers. Everyone looked at him. "There is an out of the way shrine that might hold the shinzahou."

"Could you please guide us there, Zhenyou?" asked Mariko.

"Sure. It would be an honor," answered Zhenyou.

Zhenyou guided all of them to some sort of temple. It was very large and old. Odayaka looked with wonder at the design. "This is it. I feel it," said Mariko softly. She didn't know how she knew. She just did.

"Let's go inside," said Sei.

"I cannot enter this sacred place. Only the miko and the seishi can," said Zhenyou.

"Then, you'll have to wait here with the guards," said Odayaka.

"Thank you, Zhenyou," said Mariko. He smiled at her.

The shrine was some sort of arena. It was oval in shape. There was a tall man sitting on a statue. He had blue eyes and long hair like Odayaka.

"I've been waiting for you," said the man.

"I am the Suzaku no Miko. I have come here for the shinzahou," said Mariko in a confident voice. She felt far from it.

"You must pass the test before you can have it," said the man.

"What is the test?" asked Mariko.

"A sword duel," answered the man.

Mariko didn't have a sword. Sei called from behind her. He had his brand new sword that Shitsu had just made for him. "You can use my sword. I need someone with good skills to break it in for me," said Sei with an encouraging smile. Mariko took the blade from him.

"Thanks, Sei," said Mariko.

"Let me do something first," said Shitsu. She focused her chi and the did an incantation. The blade became lighter in Mariko's right hand.

"It feels lighter," said Mariko. On the way over to the shrine, Shitsu gave an explanation of her powers. This was a first demonstration of her powers.

"It's only temporary. The sword's really owner is Sei. For now, it will be lighter," said Shitsu.

"Thank you, Shitsu," said Mariko.

"Get him, Mariko!" cheered Hono'o.

The man had gotten off his perch. He had jumped down and was in the arena. He was dressed in red robes. He was either a guard of the shrine or a warrior sent there to challenge Mariko.

"The rules are simple. The first one who surrenders loses the duel. Let us begin," said the man. He drew a line in the sand in front of him.

The duel began. Odayaka, Hono'o, and Shitsu didn't know that Mariko knew how to use a sword. Sei had a slight smile on his face. Mariko charged the man first. He ducked and avoided the sword. Mariko fell back away from him. He took a swipe at Mariko. Mariko blocked him. She jumped forward and lunged at him. The man jumped out of her way.

'He's fast!' thought Mariko. She closed her eyes for a moment. She was trying to remember what her brother had told her about dueling with swords. Mariko had to either defeat him or get him to surrender.

The man lunged at her. Mariko was almost unable to block him. He miscalculated his hit because he almost struck her wrist. The bracelets activated and became gauntlets. The man's blade struck the gauntlets. There were sparks that flew off when the metal hit metal. The seishi were watching with wonder.

'So, that's what they do,' thought Mariko. The gauntlets covered both of her wrists protecting them. The man's eyes had widened when the gauntlets activated. 'How is that possible?' he thought.

Mariko caught him off guard. She lunged forward and disarmed him. The man dropped to his knees. He had a smile on his face. Mariko was breathing deeply from the fight. She had the blade to his Adam's apple.

"You've passed the test. I surrender to you, Suzaku no Miko. You have proved your worth. The shinzahou of the last Suzaku no Miko belongs to you now," said the man.

"Where is the shinzahou?" demanded Mariko in an angry voice. She didn't feel like playing any more games with this man. She had her father's temper, and if this man didn't stop playing around with her, then he was going to see it first hand.

"It's right here," said the man. With a flick of his wrist a tiara appeared. The man handed it to her. She took it with her left hand, and still held on to the sword in her right. The man smiled again. There was a puff of smoke…it was Chichiri. He was superdeformed and smiling at them. He's usually smiling face and closed eyed mask was on.

"Hello, no da!" said Chichiri happily.

"CHICHIRI!" exclaimed Sei and Hono'o in unison.

"Sensei?" asked Odayaka with a surprised look on his face. His teacher could still out smart him.

"Great! Now I've seen everything!" exclaimed Mariko. She put the blade down on the ground. She rolled her eyes. The gauntlets were still active on her wrist. Shitsu was surveying the situation. She walked up to Mariko.

"Can I see your wrist?" asked Shitsu. Mariko held up her wrist with the objects still on her hands. Shitsu looked closely at the gauntlets. They were definitely magical. Shitsu didn't know how they worked either. They looked like they were custom made for someone else other than Mariko.

"Why didn't you tell us that you had the shinzahou in the first place, Chichiri?" asked Mariko bring her attention back to Chichiri.

"Would you have really fought me with all your determination if you knew who I was?" asked Chichiri wisely. Mariko thought about it. He was right. She wouldn't have been able to fight him with all her will if she knew who he was.

"You're right," said Mariko with a sigh.

"YEAH! WE HAVE THE SHINZAHOU!" shouted Sei happily. Hono'o and Odayaka were laughing in relief at the tension that had just been lifted from the arena. Mariko introduced Shitsu to Chichiri. She bowed to him solemnly.

"It's time I get moving, no da," said Chichiri, "Your father, Hono'o, left for Sailo right after you left, no da. We have to test two other mikos because the shinzahou aren't being guarded by the other seishi, no da. We have taken up the task to prove the worth of the other mikos. However, the shinzahou for the two other groups are where they should be, no da."

"Bye, sensei," said Odayaka. They all gave Chichiri a bow of respect. Chichiri remembered something that he had to tell Mariko.

"Mariko? May I speak with you for a moment, no da?" asked Chichiri.

"Sure," said Mariko, "You all can go back outside." Her seishi went out.

"What is it that you want to talk about?" asked Mariko. 'She looks so much like her mother,' thought Chichiri. He took off his mask. His face was serious and his scar was showing.

Mariko looked at his handsome face. She couldn't bear the thought of him judging her. She looked straight into Chichiri's eyes.

"You have to be careful. Very few people know about it in our world, but Suzaku could devour you if you aren't careful. The shinzahou I just gave you was from the failed first summoning of Suzaku. Your mother wore it. I almost saw how your godmother almost got devoured by Seiryuu. Her will wasn't strong enough," said Chichiri in a quiet, serious voice.

"You know about my mother?" asked Mariko with wide eyes. Chichiri looked back at her. She looked down. Chichiri put his finger on her chin, and made her look at him. He knew it wasn't his face that did it. It was the pain she was in.

"Yes. Don't blame, Sei. Tasuki and I overheard you in the garden. We understand why you didn't tell us," said Chichiri.

"You know that she died…" said Mariko in a whisper. Chichiri nodded. Mariko was silent.

"Listen to me, you have a lot of potential. You have a lot more than your mother did when she started. You are serious and driven. I just hope you know the true purpose of why you are here. Otherwise, you will learn nothing. There has to be more than just you wanting to go back to your world. You have to find a reason to live for. There is time yet. You will grow into the role just like your mother," said Chichiri tenderly. He rubbed her cheek. He gave her a tender paternal kiss on her cheek.

"Thank you, Chichiri," said Mariko softly. He gave her his wisdom. He was telling her the truth. Chichiri didn't want anything to happen to Mariko.

"Goodbye, Suzaku no Miko. Mariko, I'll see you again," said Chichiri with a smile. He teleported out of the arena.

"Goodbye, Chichiri sensei," said Mariko with a soft smile. For some strange reason, she felt better. She left the arena to join her seishi. Mariko was carrying her mother' tiara and Sei's sword. The gauntlets had gone back to bracelets.

~*ClareBear's Omake*~

Nuriko (thinking really hard): I wonder how she was able to activate the bracelets. I didn't do it.

Miaka: YOU MEAN YOU DIDN'T DO THAT!

Chiriko: How is that possible if you didn't do it? Who did?

Mitsukake: Maybe, it was her.

Hotohori: That was strange. Hey! Now there's a fourth seishi. They only need three more. And they already have the shinzahou. We had to have everyone before we could go after the shinzahou.

Chiriko: That's because the first ceremony failed.

Tamahome: Shitsu's very powerful. They have more magic people on the group this time. They could be more powerful than us. Suzaku really did a number this time. Hey, where has Taiitsukun all this time?

Miaka: Don't scare us talking about the bulldog faced woman!

All of them look around just in case. They are all superdeformed.