"Are you sure we can trust them?" the dark-haired man asked. They were standing in the hallway, inside the Bandit's lair. The young girl assured him that both Koji and Genrou were trustworthy. Obviously, Nikki posed no threat to them.
`What,' she thought, `Just because I'm a girl, I can't be dangerous? These people are so sexist! I mean, come on! That was so over back in the middle ages...oh, wait a minute, these people haven't even been through the middle ages yet!'
Suddenly, Eikan's voice sounded behind them. Koji pushed Nikki behind him. Eikan stood in the centre of the hallway, with all the Bandits behind him.
`There's no way we can take them all,' Nikki thought. Genrou pulled out a few slips of paper which, through sorcery, could make anything you wanted appear. He said the incantation, and threw them at Eikan. Suddenly there was food flying everywhere. The papers didn't work!
The purple-haired boy looked accusingly at the young girl.
"You did this?!" Genrou yelled at her. Eikan laughed.
"You can't fight your own men," Nikki said to Koji.
"We don't have much of a choice." he said.
Suddenly flames filled the hallway. Koji slammed Nikki into the wall, shielding her with his body. The flames seemed to have come from the iron fan Eikan held in his hand. `This place keeps getting weirder and weirder,' Nikki thought.
All of a sudden, the girl raced forwards and grabbed at the tessen. Eikan caught her easily. The stupid kid just made herself a hostage! They couldn't attack Eikan without the girl getting hurt.
Then out of nowhere, a young man appeared. He punched Eikan right in the face, and he went flying. The boy took out every single bandit he could get a hold of. He beat them easily, and by himself. The girl stood by and watched him. It was obvious that he meant something special to her.
Meanwhile, Eikan had dropped the tessen. Just as he reached for it, Genrou bent down and grabbed it. "You're too slow, Eikan," he said.
Nikki turned her attention back to the girl. She moved towards the boy, but he disappeared. He had only been an illusion. One of Genrou's papers slowly floated to the ground. The girl held it and cried.
Nikki looked up. "You can let me go now, Koji," she said. Koji was still holding her against the wall.
"Oh, right," Koji said, "Are you alright? You're not hurt or anything?"
"I'm fine," she answered. "But, thank you." The girl then said she was looking for a man named Tasuki, but no-one knew who she was talking about.
"I know him," Genrou said. "He was our former leader. But you're too late. He died a month ago."
The girl seemed broken-hearted. It was decided that at dawn, everyone would pay their last respects to the former Leader.
That night, the girl and her companions stayed with Nikki in Koji's room, while Koji stayed with Genrou. The young girl introduced herself as Miaka.
"These are my friends Hotohori," she pointed to the dark-haired man, "And Nuriko." she pointed to the boy with the long purple braid.
"Hi," Nikki said. She felt awkward spending the night with strangers, two strange men especially. She turned to Miaka. "So," she said, "I guess we better start with how we got here? The last thing I remember was walking into the Reference Room, you and your friend were sitting on the floor, there was a bright light, and then I was in the middle of nowhere."
"Yeah," Miaka said, "That's pretty much how it happened for me, too. Yui-chan and I went to the Library. We started reading this book called `The Universe of the Four Gods' and there was a bright flash of light. You must have walked in then, because the next thing I knew, Yui-chan and I were in the middle of nowhere.
"Then Tamahome came and saved us from a bunch of men, and Yui-chan went back to our world. I went to the capitol city, and that's where I met up with Tamahome, Nuriko and Hotohori. I became Suzaku-no-Miko, and they're my Seishi. Later on, in Tamahome's village, I found Chichiri. I'm looking for the other Seishi, that's why I'm here."
"So, your friend, Yui, is back in our world?" Nikki asked.
"Well, she was, but she came back and right now she's in Kutou," Miaka replied. She lowered her gaze. "She became Seiryuu-no-Miko. Something bad happened to her, and she blames me. Now we're fighting each other. She's in love with Tamahome, too. That's why she took him away from me." A tear slipped down her cheek.
Nikki leaned forward and gave Miaka a hug. "You'll get him back," she said, "Don't worry." Nikki hoped for Miaka's sake that she was right.
"You know," Miaka said, "You look a lot like Yui-chan. At first, I thought you were her, but then you yelled at Koji, and you didn't sound like Yui-chan. You're a bit taller, too. But you two could almost be twins!"
Nikki didn't sleep that night. Miaka kept moving around, and Nuriko talked in his sleep. Finally, Nikki couldn't take it anymore, so she got up and went out to stand on the balcony and think for a while.
It was cold out and Nikki was just wearing the thin kimono Koji had given her, but she didn't want to go back inside to get her jacket because she might wake the others. The balcony ran the full length of the building, so Nikki walked up and down it to keep warm. After a while, her legs got tired, so she just sat down and wrapped her arms around her knees.
She sat there thinking until the sky started to get light and the sun turned the mountain a light pink colour. Koji said he would come to get Miaka and the others at dawn, so Nikki went back inside to wake them.
Koji came, as promised, and led them to where the former Leader was buried. Everyone gathered around the large coffin to pay their respects.
Genrou seemed rather distant. Koji had said that the former Leader had worried about Genrou while he was gone. Maybe he felt guilty about not coming back sooner. Nikki could guess what he was feeling right now. She knew what it felt like to lose someone special.
So, Miaka and the others were leaving. It would be pretty quiet without them. To tell the truth, Nikki had grown attached to the girl. She liked having another girl around. Genrou, Koji and Nikki came to see them off.
"Come with us, Nikki!" Miaka pleaded. Nikki didn't know what to say. She just shook her head. Hotohori lifted Miaka onto his horse, then leaped into the saddle behind her. Nuriko mounted his horse.
"Be careful!" Nikki called. Miaka waved, then they rode off. Nikki waved until they were out of sight. Koji turned to go, muttering about how their way of life had been completely turned upside-down.
"We actually gave her free food!" he complained. He looked back over his shoulder. "That girl made us completely forget we're bandits."
Nikki was still staring vacantly down the road to the village. "Couldn't be too hard," she said.
Koji just shook his head, and went back inside. Genrou turned to leave.
Nikki crossed her arms over her chest. "Why didn't you go with them," she asked, "Tasuki."
Genrou stopped. He turned his head towards Nikki. "How did you...?" he asked.
Nikki smiled and nodded her head. "So," she said, "Then it's true. I had a feeling. Why didn't you go with them?"
"I couldn't go," Genrou said, "Because I am the Leader of these Bandits. I have to...well, lead them!"
"Oh, I see." Nikki said skeptically, "I guess it takes your superior expertise to lead these men in drinking and stealing. Forgive me for not realizing this."
Genrou almost smiled at the amount of sarcasm in her voice. Almost, but not quite. "Look," he said, "It's more complicated than that,"
"Really," Nikki asked, tilting her head to one side, "How?"
"I...well...it just is." Genrou finished. He turned to leave before Nikki could ask any more questions. `This girl is so annoying!' he thought. `That's exactly why I hate girls.' He had to stay. He couldn't go against the Former Leader's wishes. At least, that's what he told himself.
Genrou headed for the main hall. He definitely needed a drink, if only to get his mind off the girl's questions. On his way, he passed by Koji's room, which now belonged to Nikki. Through the open door, he could see Koji inside, making the bed. He carefully arranged all the pillows, and folded the blanket. "Man," Genrou chuckled, "Has she got you whipped!"
Koji gave him a dirty look and whipped a pillow at Genrou's head. Genrou easily dodged it.
"Anyways," he continued, "I'm going for a drink. Wanna join me?"
"You don't have to go, I've got lots here," Nikki said from behind him.
Genrou turned to look at Nikki, then back at Koji. "You gave her some of our hard-earned..."
"Stolen," Nikki corrected, "And I think by now I've earned it. Unless you've forgotten the incidents of yesterday," Nikki glanced at Koji, then opened the chest and offered him a drink, which he grudgingly accepted.
Koji and Genrou sat down at the small table, while Nikki went to get them something to eat.
`Maybe I should have gone with Miaka,' she thought. She shook her head. `I couldn't just leave Koji like that, after all he's done for me.' She picked up the small tray of food she had prepared, and headed back to her room.
Nikki paused at the door to her room. She could hear Genrou and Koji talking inside. She couldn't make out exactly what was being said, but basically Koji was telling Genrou to go with Miaka, if it wasn't too late to catch up with her.
Nikki walked into the room, and placed the tray on the table. Genrou rubbed his hands together and said, "Hey, great! Room Service!" Nikki slapped him in the back of the head. Koji put his hand over his mouth and pretended to cough, to hide his laughter.
Genrou rubbed his head. "Anyways," he said, "You know I can't go, Koji. I'm Leader now. If I went, what would these guys do? They'd be running wild all over the place."
"So find someone else to take your place." Nikki suggested.
"Yeah, right," he replied, "Like who?"
"What about Koji?" she asked "You can trust him right?" Koji seemed shocked that she would have suggested him.
"Well, I guess," he replied hesitantly.
Nikki placed her hand on Genrou's shoulder and bent down so she was eye-level with him. "Look, Genrou, or Tasuki, or whoever you are, if you don't go after them, something really bad will happen."
"Is that a threat?" He raised an eyebrow at Nikki.
"No," she whispered, "It's a promise."
Later that night, Nikki, Koji, and the newly-christened Tasuki, were gathered outside. Tasuki's horse had been readied, and Tasuki was just making the final adjustments necessary for their trip. Koji and Nikki stood watching.
"You're really going with him," he said to her.
"Yes, Koji," she replied with a sigh, "For the hundredth time, I'm going with him. Miaka invited me, so I guess it'll be okay if I tag along. Besides someone has to keep Tasuki there in his place..." Nikki tried to smile, but failed pitifully. Koji lowered his eyes and nodded.
"Look," she continued, "I feel really bad about leaving you like this. You've done so much for me, and I wouldn't go if I didn't think it was really important, but..." Nikki couldn't bring herself to finish the sentence.
Tasuki called to her. "Well, that's my ride," she said, "Koji, there's something I want you to have; to remember me by."
He turned to her, with a questioning look on his face. "What?" he asked.
"This," she whispered. She reached her hand up and brought his face down onto hers. They kissed for only a moment, until Nikki pulled away and ran to where Tasuki was waiting. Koji watched her leave, completely and totally confused.
`What,' she thought, `Just because I'm a girl, I can't be dangerous? These people are so sexist! I mean, come on! That was so over back in the middle ages...oh, wait a minute, these people haven't even been through the middle ages yet!'
Suddenly, Eikan's voice sounded behind them. Koji pushed Nikki behind him. Eikan stood in the centre of the hallway, with all the Bandits behind him.
`There's no way we can take them all,' Nikki thought. Genrou pulled out a few slips of paper which, through sorcery, could make anything you wanted appear. He said the incantation, and threw them at Eikan. Suddenly there was food flying everywhere. The papers didn't work!
The purple-haired boy looked accusingly at the young girl.
"You did this?!" Genrou yelled at her. Eikan laughed.
"You can't fight your own men," Nikki said to Koji.
"We don't have much of a choice." he said.
Suddenly flames filled the hallway. Koji slammed Nikki into the wall, shielding her with his body. The flames seemed to have come from the iron fan Eikan held in his hand. `This place keeps getting weirder and weirder,' Nikki thought.
All of a sudden, the girl raced forwards and grabbed at the tessen. Eikan caught her easily. The stupid kid just made herself a hostage! They couldn't attack Eikan without the girl getting hurt.
Then out of nowhere, a young man appeared. He punched Eikan right in the face, and he went flying. The boy took out every single bandit he could get a hold of. He beat them easily, and by himself. The girl stood by and watched him. It was obvious that he meant something special to her.
Meanwhile, Eikan had dropped the tessen. Just as he reached for it, Genrou bent down and grabbed it. "You're too slow, Eikan," he said.
Nikki turned her attention back to the girl. She moved towards the boy, but he disappeared. He had only been an illusion. One of Genrou's papers slowly floated to the ground. The girl held it and cried.
Nikki looked up. "You can let me go now, Koji," she said. Koji was still holding her against the wall.
"Oh, right," Koji said, "Are you alright? You're not hurt or anything?"
"I'm fine," she answered. "But, thank you." The girl then said she was looking for a man named Tasuki, but no-one knew who she was talking about.
"I know him," Genrou said. "He was our former leader. But you're too late. He died a month ago."
The girl seemed broken-hearted. It was decided that at dawn, everyone would pay their last respects to the former Leader.
That night, the girl and her companions stayed with Nikki in Koji's room, while Koji stayed with Genrou. The young girl introduced herself as Miaka.
"These are my friends Hotohori," she pointed to the dark-haired man, "And Nuriko." she pointed to the boy with the long purple braid.
"Hi," Nikki said. She felt awkward spending the night with strangers, two strange men especially. She turned to Miaka. "So," she said, "I guess we better start with how we got here? The last thing I remember was walking into the Reference Room, you and your friend were sitting on the floor, there was a bright light, and then I was in the middle of nowhere."
"Yeah," Miaka said, "That's pretty much how it happened for me, too. Yui-chan and I went to the Library. We started reading this book called `The Universe of the Four Gods' and there was a bright flash of light. You must have walked in then, because the next thing I knew, Yui-chan and I were in the middle of nowhere.
"Then Tamahome came and saved us from a bunch of men, and Yui-chan went back to our world. I went to the capitol city, and that's where I met up with Tamahome, Nuriko and Hotohori. I became Suzaku-no-Miko, and they're my Seishi. Later on, in Tamahome's village, I found Chichiri. I'm looking for the other Seishi, that's why I'm here."
"So, your friend, Yui, is back in our world?" Nikki asked.
"Well, she was, but she came back and right now she's in Kutou," Miaka replied. She lowered her gaze. "She became Seiryuu-no-Miko. Something bad happened to her, and she blames me. Now we're fighting each other. She's in love with Tamahome, too. That's why she took him away from me." A tear slipped down her cheek.
Nikki leaned forward and gave Miaka a hug. "You'll get him back," she said, "Don't worry." Nikki hoped for Miaka's sake that she was right.
"You know," Miaka said, "You look a lot like Yui-chan. At first, I thought you were her, but then you yelled at Koji, and you didn't sound like Yui-chan. You're a bit taller, too. But you two could almost be twins!"
Nikki didn't sleep that night. Miaka kept moving around, and Nuriko talked in his sleep. Finally, Nikki couldn't take it anymore, so she got up and went out to stand on the balcony and think for a while.
It was cold out and Nikki was just wearing the thin kimono Koji had given her, but she didn't want to go back inside to get her jacket because she might wake the others. The balcony ran the full length of the building, so Nikki walked up and down it to keep warm. After a while, her legs got tired, so she just sat down and wrapped her arms around her knees.
She sat there thinking until the sky started to get light and the sun turned the mountain a light pink colour. Koji said he would come to get Miaka and the others at dawn, so Nikki went back inside to wake them.
Koji came, as promised, and led them to where the former Leader was buried. Everyone gathered around the large coffin to pay their respects.
Genrou seemed rather distant. Koji had said that the former Leader had worried about Genrou while he was gone. Maybe he felt guilty about not coming back sooner. Nikki could guess what he was feeling right now. She knew what it felt like to lose someone special.
So, Miaka and the others were leaving. It would be pretty quiet without them. To tell the truth, Nikki had grown attached to the girl. She liked having another girl around. Genrou, Koji and Nikki came to see them off.
"Come with us, Nikki!" Miaka pleaded. Nikki didn't know what to say. She just shook her head. Hotohori lifted Miaka onto his horse, then leaped into the saddle behind her. Nuriko mounted his horse.
"Be careful!" Nikki called. Miaka waved, then they rode off. Nikki waved until they were out of sight. Koji turned to go, muttering about how their way of life had been completely turned upside-down.
"We actually gave her free food!" he complained. He looked back over his shoulder. "That girl made us completely forget we're bandits."
Nikki was still staring vacantly down the road to the village. "Couldn't be too hard," she said.
Koji just shook his head, and went back inside. Genrou turned to leave.
Nikki crossed her arms over her chest. "Why didn't you go with them," she asked, "Tasuki."
Genrou stopped. He turned his head towards Nikki. "How did you...?" he asked.
Nikki smiled and nodded her head. "So," she said, "Then it's true. I had a feeling. Why didn't you go with them?"
"I couldn't go," Genrou said, "Because I am the Leader of these Bandits. I have to...well, lead them!"
"Oh, I see." Nikki said skeptically, "I guess it takes your superior expertise to lead these men in drinking and stealing. Forgive me for not realizing this."
Genrou almost smiled at the amount of sarcasm in her voice. Almost, but not quite. "Look," he said, "It's more complicated than that,"
"Really," Nikki asked, tilting her head to one side, "How?"
"I...well...it just is." Genrou finished. He turned to leave before Nikki could ask any more questions. `This girl is so annoying!' he thought. `That's exactly why I hate girls.' He had to stay. He couldn't go against the Former Leader's wishes. At least, that's what he told himself.
Genrou headed for the main hall. He definitely needed a drink, if only to get his mind off the girl's questions. On his way, he passed by Koji's room, which now belonged to Nikki. Through the open door, he could see Koji inside, making the bed. He carefully arranged all the pillows, and folded the blanket. "Man," Genrou chuckled, "Has she got you whipped!"
Koji gave him a dirty look and whipped a pillow at Genrou's head. Genrou easily dodged it.
"Anyways," he continued, "I'm going for a drink. Wanna join me?"
"You don't have to go, I've got lots here," Nikki said from behind him.
Genrou turned to look at Nikki, then back at Koji. "You gave her some of our hard-earned..."
"Stolen," Nikki corrected, "And I think by now I've earned it. Unless you've forgotten the incidents of yesterday," Nikki glanced at Koji, then opened the chest and offered him a drink, which he grudgingly accepted.
Koji and Genrou sat down at the small table, while Nikki went to get them something to eat.
`Maybe I should have gone with Miaka,' she thought. She shook her head. `I couldn't just leave Koji like that, after all he's done for me.' She picked up the small tray of food she had prepared, and headed back to her room.
Nikki paused at the door to her room. She could hear Genrou and Koji talking inside. She couldn't make out exactly what was being said, but basically Koji was telling Genrou to go with Miaka, if it wasn't too late to catch up with her.
Nikki walked into the room, and placed the tray on the table. Genrou rubbed his hands together and said, "Hey, great! Room Service!" Nikki slapped him in the back of the head. Koji put his hand over his mouth and pretended to cough, to hide his laughter.
Genrou rubbed his head. "Anyways," he said, "You know I can't go, Koji. I'm Leader now. If I went, what would these guys do? They'd be running wild all over the place."
"So find someone else to take your place." Nikki suggested.
"Yeah, right," he replied, "Like who?"
"What about Koji?" she asked "You can trust him right?" Koji seemed shocked that she would have suggested him.
"Well, I guess," he replied hesitantly.
Nikki placed her hand on Genrou's shoulder and bent down so she was eye-level with him. "Look, Genrou, or Tasuki, or whoever you are, if you don't go after them, something really bad will happen."
"Is that a threat?" He raised an eyebrow at Nikki.
"No," she whispered, "It's a promise."
Later that night, Nikki, Koji, and the newly-christened Tasuki, were gathered outside. Tasuki's horse had been readied, and Tasuki was just making the final adjustments necessary for their trip. Koji and Nikki stood watching.
"You're really going with him," he said to her.
"Yes, Koji," she replied with a sigh, "For the hundredth time, I'm going with him. Miaka invited me, so I guess it'll be okay if I tag along. Besides someone has to keep Tasuki there in his place..." Nikki tried to smile, but failed pitifully. Koji lowered his eyes and nodded.
"Look," she continued, "I feel really bad about leaving you like this. You've done so much for me, and I wouldn't go if I didn't think it was really important, but..." Nikki couldn't bring herself to finish the sentence.
Tasuki called to her. "Well, that's my ride," she said, "Koji, there's something I want you to have; to remember me by."
He turned to her, with a questioning look on his face. "What?" he asked.
"This," she whispered. She reached her hand up and brought his face down onto hers. They kissed for only a moment, until Nikki pulled away and ran to where Tasuki was waiting. Koji watched her leave, completely and totally confused.
