Disclaimer: The characters of Fushigi Yuugi belong to Yuu Watase. But any new characters belong to me. ^_^
Chapter 6: The SpyA deep, mysterious voice made Youjin open his eyes. The sky was still dark and starry.
"What're they doing? I can't see anything!" Youjin sat up.
"What was that?" he asked quietly.
"Oh no, they heard us! Better be quiet!" Youjin stood, ready to be the brave guard-like person, but instead winced as every muscle in his body ached. Sleeping on the ground wasn't exactly good for a person's body…
"Damn it," he muttered. "Who's there?"
"Nooo, we're in trouble now!"
"It's coming from the bushes," the young seishi thought, and so he walked towards the sound.
"He's coming!"
"Show yourself!"
"HIDE!"
Youjin moved the bush aside and was caught off guard by…the most adorable pair of pink eyes he had ever seen in his entire life. The eyes belonged to a young child-like face…the face of a small girl with long black hair, tied in pigtails. She was dressed in strange clothes, like everyone else in this world, with a green shirt and black pants.
"Hello!" she chirped shyly. Youjin just blinked. "Are you there?"
"I heard two people…" he muttered, after recovering from the initial shock.
"I can't believe he heard us both!" the girl chirped, this time lowering her voice by a few notes. "Me neither!" Her voice returned to normal.
"Uhhh…what the hell?" was all Youjin could ask.
"Hello!" the little girl chirped again.
"What…who are you?" Youjin asked.
"I'm Rinrin!"
"And, er…what're you doing here?"
"Just lookin'," Rinrin said innocently.
"Uh-huh, spying is more like it…"
"Youjin? What're you doing up? And what is that?" Nuriko asked sleepily. Youjin jumped when he heard her, but quickly identified her voice and settled down.
"I saw her in the bushes. She seems to have two personalities, and she looked like she was spying on us…"
"Spying, eh? Well, there's only one way to deal with snitches." Nuriko grinned and cracked her knuckles. But when she looked at Rinrin's huge, watery pink eyes… "Ohhh, I can't." Youjin facevaulted.
"I'm sorry," Rinrin apologized. "The big tall scary guy wanted me to keep an eye on you…I said I didn't want to but he said he'd hurt me and…and…" she sniffled.
"Oh, it's okay…don't be scared, we won't hurt you," Nuriko said comfortingly. She hugged the little girl. "Uh…by the way, what's your name?"
"Rinrin!" the little girl chirped.
"Any relation to Nyan-Nyan?"
"Who-Who?"
"Never mind." Nuriko sighed. This little girl was so adorable! "Anyways, my name's Nuriko. This is Youjin. It's nice to meet you."
"The scary guy said your name was Tamahome though…!" Rinrin said, pointing at Youjin.
"M-me? No…" Youjin trailed off.
"Technically, she's right," Nuriko pointed out. "You are Tamahome…but…"
"Uhhh…'but'?"
"But it's hard…because you're not the same Tamahome we all knew. I mean, we've all changed, but you're a whole different person…"
"Yeah, you're right. I dunno if I should be feeling like me, or if I should be like him, or…or…I just don't know. This is all so weird…" Youjin sighed and sat down. However, soon he found a little pink-eyed girl had attached herself to his arm… "Rinrin…"
"Don't be sad, Youjin-san! Everything will be fine!" She smiled at him.
"Rinrin…"
"You can call me Rin for short, if ya want!"
"Okay then, Rin…thank you," Youjin said.
"Ohhh, you're so cute!" Nuriko squealed, squeezing Rinrin in a tight hug.
"Thank you very much, Nuriko-san, but I can't…can't breathe…" Poor little Rinrin's face started turning colors. First, red…then blue…then purple…and Nuriko let go.
"Sorry! Guess I still can't keep my strength in check!"
~*~
"What do you think it is?"
"Think what is?"
"This Rinrin thing…what do you think it is?"
"I think it's a person…what gave you the idea that it isn't, Miaka?"
"I mean, there are the Nyan-Nyans that kinda seem like this girl…"
"Well, I suppose the only way we'll find out is to keep reading." Yui sent a look at Kouko…the woman looked worried. She opened her mouth and asked,
"How do you do this?"
"Do what?" Miaka and Yui asked together.
"How can you two stay so calm when our children are in there, risking their lives?" Yui and Miaka looked at each other. How did they do it…?
"I don't know," Yui admitted. "But I suppose I really don't have as much of a reason to be upset…if Suboshi had gone in there, I think I would be in hysterics, but…"
"It's still strange…that you named him Suboshi," Miaka giggled. Yui flushed and turned back to the book.
"Yeah, well, he risked his life to protect me when we were younger, remember? I feel like I owe him this…"
"You know what, Yui?"
"What is it, Miaka?"
"Suboshi didn't just protect you because you were Seiryuu no Miko…I think he was really in love with you." Miaka giggled again.
"I knew it…I always did. And I hate myself for being so cold to him all the time…" Yui whispered. "I just wish I could say I was sorry…" Miaka smiled and put a hand on her shoulder.
"Yui, I'm sure that wherever he is now…I'm sure he knows you never meant anything harsh."
"Thank you, Miaka…"
"Okay, so what does the book say?"
"'The Miko awoke and saw that the others were already up, getting ready to leave. She wondered for a moment how long their journey would last, and when she would finally go home…'"
Kouko silently watched them read from the corner.
~*~
"So who's this?" Nisou asked with interest, eyeing Rinrin.
"This is Rin," Youjin told her.
"Hello Rin, my name is Nisou."
"Hi Nisou-san, it's so very nice to meet you!" Rinrin giggled.
"Ohhh, she's adorable!" Nisou squealed. "So, Rin, how old are you?" Rinrin counted on her fingers and muttered to herself for a moment before she answered.
"Three hundred fifty three and two months!" she cried happily after a minute of calculation. Nisou sweatdropped.
"That old, huh? You don't look a day over ten…"
Thus began their first full day in the Konan Empire, and the search for the Shinzaho began.
