Umm… ok, so Miaka was in trouble, but the young man came to her rescue. Geee… I wonder who it is ^.^ . Well, hope you enjoy. And I would love some reviews!
Ayashi no Fushigi Yuugi: Chapter 2The man proceeded to beat Miaka's attackers. Once he finished and the men fled, the young man stood in front of Miaka.
All Miaka could do was look up at him in amazement. She was speechless… "He saved me."
"So it was you."
Miaka jumped up and into the man's arms. "I was so scared!" Miaka started to cry.
The man patted her head and gave a concerned look. His eyes softened. "You were looking for me, weren't you?"
Miaka looked up, into his eyes. "Yes, don't you know where Yui-chan is?"
"Yui-chan?"
"You know, one of the girls that were with me. She followed you, didn't she?"
"You mean that other girl with her hair up like you?"
"No the other one."
"Ah!" the man said. "I don't know," he said, simply.
"Miaka!" came a voice.
"Karen-chan!" Miaka waved to the approaching Karen.
"See ya!" said the man and he started to leave.
Miaka jumped at him and wrapped her arms around his legs, knocking him down on his face. "I asked you seriously, but you dodged it! I won't let you go 'til you tell me!"
The man lifted up his arms, waving a white flag. "I understand, I understand."
Karen looked at the two and sweat dropped.
"You'll honestly tell me?" Miaka asked, sitting up and releasing the man.
"Yes."
"You mean you actually know where she is? I doubt that." Karen muttered.
"Then say it. Where is Yui-chan?" Miaka said, oblivious to what Karen just said.
"I have no idea," he said, getting in Miaka's face. He turned and started to run away.
Miaka started to chase after the zigzagging man. "Don't run away! Come back!"
Karen shrugged and ran after the two.
"Don't you have any kindness? A girl separated from her friend." Miaka whined.
The man started to pick up speed.
"We're roaming around in an unknown place!" Miaka called out.
"Hmm… she's trying to make him feel guilty." Karen mused to herself.
"Are you a man?!" Miaka yelled out.
The man stopped and frowned. "Shit, what a rotten thing to say. You're not important, because you two don't have any money.
"Actually I have money," said Karen, correcting the man.
The man turned Karen and smiled. "Really?"
"Really, really. But, my money is useless here…"
"So, then you are poor?"
Karen just shrugged.
"You always talk money, money. Is it such a big deal to you?" Miaka shouted.
"Yes, as a matter of fact."
"Surely," Miaka started.
"Surely what, Miaka?" Karen inquired.
"You sold Yui-chan!" Miaka concluded.
"Huh?" both Karen and the man were confused.
"I can't believe it… trading in girls! You're a beast!"
"Whose the beast?!" he shouted at Miaka, getting in her face.
Miaka yelped and tried to shield herself with her arms. "STAY AWAY, YOU TOOL OF TRAFFICKERS!"
Karen burst into laughter.
"What?" cried the man.
"Did you hear that?" came from a voice in the crowd. People started to stare.
"He's dangerous," said a woman.
"Don't get near him!" cried another.
While Karen was still laughing at the man's predicament, Miaka started to yell. "EVERY ONE LISTEN…" she was cut off when the man put his arm over her mouth.
"She doesn't know what she is saying. She's a hopeless girl." He laughed and quickly picked up Miaka and started to run from the crowd.
Karen giggled and ran after them. As He was running, Karen caught up with them and was running next to the man. "Are you going to help us find Yui now? After Miaka almost got you in trouble like that, I would listen to the girl." She giggled.
The man stopped and dropped Miaka onto the ground.
She hit the ground with a thud. "You are being mean, just because I'm not from around here! I just want to find Yui-chan. She must be so scared." Miaka said as she started to cry again.
The man became nervous when she started to cry. "Hey, it's really hard to find a missing person. It isn't any joking matter." He grumbled.
Karen turned around, her back facing the two. "What a child! Does she always cry when she wants things her way?" Karen frowned. She gazed at the crowd, a little ways in front of her. "They are waiting for something?" Karen started to walk towards the crowd.
Miaka and the man noticed what Karen was doing and followed her.
"Huh? What is this?" Miaka looked at the precession of guards.
"A precession..." Karen noted.
"It's an imperial procession."
"So the one in the colorful palaquin… is the Emperor of Konan?" Karen asked.
"The crown on his head," the man sighed. "I would give anything just for one gem off it."
Miaka smiled. "Hey, I'll ask the Emperor and get you the gem. Then you'll help me find Yui-chan!"
"Sure."
"Ok, I'll do it!"
"Wait! Miaka!" Karen yelped.
"Wait!"
Miaka ran up to the moving palaquin. "Ne, Emperor-sama, since you are rich can I have a gem from your crown?" Miaka kept up with the palaquin, until she tripped on a stone and fell. When she fell, she tore one of the curtain-like cloths from it.
"Oh, no! Miaka!" Karen ran up to Miaka and bent down to help her up. "Miaka are you hurt?" Karen said in a soft voice, concerned.
"Bitch!"
Karen and Miaka looked up. Miaka was frightened and Karen just glared.
"You were disrespectful to His Majesty!" roared the guard. He lifted his sword and waved the tip his sword in Karen's face. "You'll be punished. I'll cut your heads off!"
Karen looked at the man with disinterest and swatted away the tip of the sword. "Che, you shouldn't treat her like that. It was an accident! If you really are going to try to hurt her, you're just a coward!" she growled.
"Talking is no use!" yelled the guard as he lifted his sword to attack.
Miaka yelped and covered her head, ready for the blow. Karen was ready to attack when balls were hurled, releasing a thick screen of smoke.
"Hehehe," she snickered. "This is my chance!" Karen arose from the ground and started to beat the beat the hell out of all the guards.
Miaka was grabbed by the man with the mark on his forehead and carried to a safer place. "What were you doing?! Do you want to get killed?!" he shouted at Miaka.
"But…" she whined.
"I know, just don't cry. I'll look for your friend out of respect for your bravery." He quickly spitted out.
"Really?"
"Really. I'm So Kichifu. Everyone calls me Tamahome." He smiled.
"Tamahome, I'm Yuuki Miaka and the other girl is Howell Karen. But, I don't have no reward for you now." She pouted.
Tamahome smiled. "Don't worry, I'll take one now," he said. Tamahome have Miaka a small kiss on her forehead.
"Miaka?" Karen stopped fighting the guards for a second and turned to look to see if Miaka was safe. She saw Tamahome kissing Miaka. "Nani?!" she shrieked. "That girl?" Karen noticed that some of the guards where advancing on Miaka and Tamahome. "Miaka!"
"Prepare yourself!" another guard yelled as he went to attack Tamahome and Miaka.
Suddenly a red light appeared from Miaka. It became very bright and Karen started to glow with the red light as well.
Karen doubled over in pain. "What's happening? My body… it hurts so much! Is this because of Miaka? Yes, I can feel Miaka's fear. That is the cause of the pain!" Karen sunk to the ground. "Mo! Miaka! Dame! It hurts!" Karen cried.
Miaka looked over, startled, at Karen. "Karen-chan?" Miaka raised her hand up to her face and looked at it. It became translucent, as if she was disappearing. "What's happening?"
Tamahome watched. "You two…"
"Retreat with the Emperor and the palaquin, quickly!" cried the guards. The palaquin along with the Emperor started to leave, until the Emperor stopped them.
"Wait," the Emperor commanded. "What is the disturbance?"
"The girls are surrounded by a red light."
"A red light?" the Emperor repeated.
"Look the girls are disappearing!"
Miaka was pulled back to the library for a split second. She saw that Yui was safe, reading the book. "Yui-chan I'm glad you're back! Please notice me Yui-chaaan!" Miaka tried to reach Yui, but was pulled back before.
Karen watched as Miaka reappeared in Tamahome's arms. "Miaka, you…!" Karen layed her head down on the ground and fainted.
Miaka reappeared in Tamahome's arms. Everyone stared in amazement.
"Soldier," interrupted the Emperor.
"Yes?"
"Take the three of them, now."
Miaka, Karen, and Tamahome were throne into a prison cell and Karen was still unconscious.
"By the Emperor's orders, the two girls and the young man were imprisoned." Yui paused. "They'll be alright…"
Miaka woke up in Tamahome's arms. She had just had a nightmare and was holding on tightly to him.
"Alright?"
Miaka took one look at Tamahome a jerked away. "You PERVERT!"
"What? You held me first!" Tamahome said, trying to defend himself.
"Oh yeah, that's right…. We were caught by Konan soldiers." Miaka looked around the room and spotted Karen lying on the floor. "Karen-chan!" Miaka cried as she ran over to Karen. Miaka knelt next to Karen and slowly shook her shoulder, trying to wake her. "Karen-chan! Hey, Karen-chan!"
Her eyes fluttered open. "Mi…a…ka…?"
"That's right! Karen-chan, I'm so glad." Miaka started to wipe the tears out of her eyes.
Karen quickly sat up with a look of panic. "Oi! Don't cry please!" Karen started to wave her arms, sporadically. "Look? See? I'm fine! No broken bones!" Karen looked around. "Where are we?"
"Are you two still asleep? We're in a dungeon." Tamahome said, walking over to the two girls. "By the way, who are you two? What was that light from your bodies?"
Karen looked at Miaka who in return gave Tamahome a sad glance.
Tamahome turned his back to the two and crossed his arms. "If you don't want to tell me, you don't have to."
"Yui-chan…" Miaka started. "Yui-chan went back, but I couldn't." Miaka started to cry again.
"Look what you did. You made her cry!" Karen glared at Tamahome.
"Don't cry. Don't worry. I'll help you return." Tamahome said, trying to reassure Miaka.
"Really?"
"Hey! What about me?" Karen growled.
"I got payment from her in advance." He pointed at Miaka's forehead.
"Oh, great. A romanticist!"
Miaka turned red for embarrassment. "Baka."
Tamahome grinned and leaned over towards Karen. "If you paid me too, I'll help you." Tamahome leaned over closer and gave Karen a kiss on her cheek.
Karen slapped him on the side of his face, sending him into the bars.
"Or… maybe not…" Tamahome moaned in pain.
"Heh, I don't want to return, not yet."
"Karen-chan, what do you mean?" Miaka was confused.
"There is something that I want and it might be here…"
"In the dungeon?" Tamahome asked, sitting up against the bars.
"No! Baka. It's somewhere… It could be anywhere."
"What is it?" Miaka asked.
"It's…"
"It's…" Tamahome and Miaka repeated.
"It's a secret," she answered quickly.
"Shit, what kind of answer is that?" Tamahome pouted.
"Karen-chan can keep a secret, if she wants to. Right?"
"Thank you Miaka."
"Aaah, I'm hungry." Miaka whined. Miaka quickly searched her pockets and found a couple sticks of gum. "Lucky! Gum! It might help!" Miaka stuffed a piece into her mouth and started to chew it.
"Hmm… that's right!" Karen said, smiling. Karen also reached into one of her pant pockets and pulled out a piece of chewing gum. "she also put a piece in her mouth and started to chew.
One of the guards watching the cell noticed that the two girls were eating something. "Hey, you girls. What'd you just put into your mouths?" Miaka turned to look blankly at the guard, while Karen rolled her eyes.
"What is in your mouth?!" he demanded. "Hurry up, show me!"
Miaka pointed to her mouth in question. "This? You're so noisy." Miaka smiled and started to blow a bubble.
The guard cried out in terror and Miaka stuck her head past the bars, making her bubble larger at the same time.
"Oh, don't' get close to me! Disgusting!"
The bubble finally popped. Miaka's face was cover in gum. She just gave a stupid grin to the guard.
When the guard saw this he flipped. "AH! MONSTER!"
"Who's a monster?!" cried Miaka and Karen in unison.
The guard turned to run, but didn't pay much heed to the wall in front of him. He ran right into the wall and was knocked unconscious.
The keys from the guard went flying towards the cell and into Tamahome's hands. "Gotcha! If I have this… Hey, you did good." Tamahome praised Miaka.
Miaka turned her head to him and grinned, still with the gum on her face.
Tamahome screamed and ran into the wall in the cell, unsuccessfully trying to run from Miaka.
Karen walked up to the door, waiting to get out and shrugged.
"That guy and this one!" Miaka growled through her teeth.
The three scurried through the palace hall, hiding behind the pillars against the walls. Suddenly, they heard footsteps.
"We're in trouble!" Miaka cried.
"Someone is coming." Karen grabbed Miaka arm and went into a room. Tamahome followed and they closed the door behind them.
Karen listened for whomever it was to pass by and sighed.
"We are safe now, Karen-chan."
"Maybe we shouldn't rely on such an irresponsible person… Miaka."
"Hey you two."
"What?" Miaka and Karen turned to see a giant, golden statue of a phoenix.
"A phoenix? Is this supposed to be a statue of Suzaku?"
"The bird from the book!" Miaka turned to Karen. "Suzaku?"
"It's a protector." Tamahome said, calmly. "One of the four Deities…" Tamahome walked closer, towards the statue.
"Seiryuu is for the east, Genbu is for the north, Byakko is for the west, and Suzaku is for the south."
Both Tamahome and Miaka looked at Karen in shock.
"How did you know that, Karen-chan?"
She titled her head. "Well… I was in that reference room, reading books for a while, before you and Yui came in… and I guess I probably have had learned about this part of Chinese history, at some point in the past…" she trailed off. "Miaka, you don't like to study, do you?"
"Ahahah, Karen-chan, I rather not say…" Miaka looked at Tamahome. "So, Konan Country has Suzaku as a protector?"
"Yes, and of course the three other countries worship there own Deities." He added.
Miaka's interest was lost when she found the scent of food in the air. Quickly, she left the room and the other two behind.
Karen was next. She lost interest in what Tamahome had to say. "He's only telling me what I already know…" she rolled her eyes at him and walked off to look around herself.
"But now we gotta get out of here." Said Tamahome. He looked to where the two girls once were. "Where you two go? Hey?"
Miaka came across the kitchen and ate till she was full. Then she left the building. "I'm stuffed." She walked along. "Real Chinese food is really good. So Tamahome… Ah I lost Tamahome!" Miaka looked side to side. "What do I do?" Miaka started to run around in circles. "Ah, which way did I come from?"
Karen came out of the building, behind Miaka. "What are you doing?"
"Ah! Karen-chan!" Miaka leapt at Karen, holding her in a bear hug.
"Miaka! Let go!" Karen yelped as she tried to shake the girl off.
Karen and Miaka were started by a soft laughter. They turned to see a person with long brown hair, wrapped in a cloth. The person lifted its arm and pointed to the right. "Are you lost? There's the gate, you can get out through it."
The two girls just nodded.
"Thanks," said Miaka. The two started to leave.
"Are you the ones who were arrested?"
They froze.
"It's true. I heard you were impolite in front of the Emperor."
Miaka laughed nervously. "What are you saying? I'm just a Junior High Student passing through." Miaka waved. "So, goodbye."
"It was just an accident," Karen muttered. "That guy sure is strange…"
"It's ok. I'm on your side." The person smiled.
"Really?"
"Hey have you seen a man? He was with Miaka and myself."
"You want to find your friend?"
"Yes, it's my fault that everyone is in trouble and without him, I can't get back to my world." Miaka lowered her head.
"Your world?! That means you are not from this world this world? You say your from another world?"
"Yes, woops."
"Miaka!" Karen slapped her forehead.
"That's wonderful. Ah, it's so interesting. Is that right, you two girl from another world? That's wonderful!"
Karen and Miaka sighed.
The person put one hand on one of each of the girls' shoulder and bent over closer to them. "Don't worry. My name is Hotohori. Usually people call me by a different name."
"I'm Yuuki Miaka. Call me Miaka."
"I'm Howell Karen. Karen is fine."
"Good, I'm glad I got to know the two of you. What's wrong Miaka?"
Miaka blushed. "I'm sorry. It's just that… you are beautiful Hotohori."
"Lots of people say that."
"That's odd. Most guys don't consider being called beautiful a complement…" Karen said, nonchalantly.
Both Hotohori and Miaka looked at Karen in shock. "What did you say?"
"Ah, common. Who do you think you are foo…" Karen stopped in mid-word. Someone was coming.
"Hey hurry up!" a guard yelled. Many of the guards were walking along with a prisoner. Tamahome.
"Hurry, hide!" Hotohori pushed the two girls into the bushes.
"Tell us where the girls are."
"I don't know. They must have slipped away…" Tamahome frowned.
"Wait!" Miaka yelled, jumping out of the bush, followed by Karen.
"Miaka, Karen!"
"Please don't hurt him!" Miaka cried.
Karen narrowed her eyes at the guards and lifted her fist. "You'll have to fight me first."
Karen started to run towards the guards. Some ran at Karen. She tripped one of the guards, knocking him to the ground. She suddenly heard a scream. "Miaka!"
"Miaka!" cried Tamahome.
"Tamahome!" Miaka struggled to free herself from the guard.
Tamahome became angry and the mark on his forehead started to glow red.
Hotohori's eyes widened.
Tamahome broke free from the rope that had bound his hands being he. Her started to fight the guards. Tamahome knocked the guard, holding Miaka and stood protectively in front of her. "If even one finger touches her…I'll take care of you!" yelled Tamahome.
"QUIET! QUIET DOWN!" roared the man with the long hair. There stood the person, wrapped in the cloth. "Without my order… I will not permit you to hurt them!"
"Who are you?" Tamahome pointed.
"The Emperor," gasped a guard.
"The real one?" Tamahome was horrified.
Hotohori nodded his head.
"Hotohori-san is the Emperor? She's so young and beautiful."
"Miaka you idiot! I already said that he was a man!"
"Stupid, the Emperor is a man!"
"No way!"
"Shut up! You need to bow before him!"
"Bow before him…?" Karen pointed at Hotohori.
Miaka ran up to Hotohori and felt his chest. "Oh, flat! That means there's a mysterious thing on his lower body.
Tamahome ran up and hit Miaka on the head. "Don't think that far!"
"Baka-tachi!"
Miaka, Karen, and Tamahome knelt before the Emperor in the throne room.
"Forgive me, Miaka, Karen. I didn't want to deceive you. I wanted to know you better, so I pretended. At least you are not monsters or enemies.
"So does that mean…"
"You won't be hurt."
Miaka and Karen smiled.
"Can you help Konan? According to ancient tradition… when a country is at risk, a girl appears from another world. The girl will possess the power of Suzaku and organize the country."
"Miaka jumped up. "You're wrong! I'm not that girl! I'm just a Junior High Student! I'm here by mistake!"
"Miaka? She's lying… she was the one that cause that red light when she was frightened. And I reacted to her. I can't be the girl that the Emperor was talking about… I have the power of Tennyo. It's very unlikely for me to be that certain girl. Miaka…"
"So, you don't want the power of the Suzaku? You have no wish for that?"
"Wish?" Miaka thought back when she was listening to the book being read.
"That means… I can wear contoured clothes, be super strong, become popular at school, become a heroine, have all the sweets I want, and I could…pass any entrance exam!"
Hotohori laughed at Miaka. "What's holding you back? The world is yours, if you wish."
"I'll do it! I'll do it! Be Suzaku no Miko, I'll do it!" Miaka shouted, raising her hand. "I've been waiting for the position!"
"Give her respect, everyone! She is the one who will obtain the powers of Suzaku. She is our country's protector, Suzaku no Miko!"
"The girl agreed to become Suzaku no Miko. People formed lines and prostrated before her." Read Yui.