Notes: Okay - this fic takes place during the time that the Suzaku shichiseishi, minus Hotohori, are in Hokkan. In my story, they have just arrived in Hokkan but, instead of searching immediately, I'm changing it slightly, so that they arrived late and had to camp out before going to the city. Note - in this story, Chiriko gave everyone the fireworks BEFORE they were in the city.
Type: Adventure, General - Man vs. God story.
Spoilers: Up to ep. 30 - they've just arrived in Hokkan.
Dedication: The Posse. Arigatou gozaimasu! You guys are the best. Mer-chan, Josh-kun, Neir-san - thanks to you all. And yes, Mer-chan, Hotohori will be in this story. He will have a nice big part later on. I swear.
Disclaimer: I don't own Fushigi Yuugi. I am, however, using the characters of Fushigi Yuugi in my story. Deal with it.
Isekai kara Miko ga kite Shichiseishi
To tachiagaru toki
Tami no kokoro hitotsu
To nari mune no mannaka ni akai hi ga tomoru
When from another world the Miko
Stands up with the seven Seishi
The souls of the people are united
A crimson flame burns inside their hearts
~Chiriko no theme, Akai Iitsutae
A figure stood up, illuminated by the setting sun. It cast a shadow to the ground, darkening the places that it touched, brightening the places that it didn't. The red-orange glow of the falling sun blocked the view of the figure, its light hurting the eyes. But the figure came nearer, so that one could see more than a shadowed outline, and the sun was blocked out by its tall form. Once it was close, one could see the shimmering red glow about the person's body, giving an almost majestic look. The form came closer and with an almost hesitant voice, began to speak.
Child... hear me, child, and listen...
The whispering voice was intoxicating, its sound wrapping around oneself as if to drown them. The child, caught up in rapture, could do nothing but listen. The voice was everywhere, was everything, and was all that existed at that moment. The calm, whispering voice was soothing, peaceful; the child did listen.
Hear me and obey, my child, shown by the stars. You are to travel for me, and you will go once you wake. Hear me and obey, for it is of grand importance. You will know where to go.
As the voice spoke it grew louder, until it was almost yelling. But it didn't appear to be shouting, for the voice grew softer; the person speaking was being pulled away, it seemed. As it tried to speak it was fading, causing it to have to nearly scream its instructions. The child was worried, but could do nothing as the figure disappeared, leaving the youth in a dark, desolate place.
The child could see nothing, could hear nothing, but a fear wrapped around him, choking off his breath. Without the other person there, this place was nothing, and so was he. The sun had set.
And thus, he woke up.
The child sat up quickly, his sea-green eyes wide. He instantly began to shiver, though whether from the cool air or the remaining fear, he didn't know. The darkness of the room was overwhelming and suddenly, the child knew what he was to do. He stepped out from under the covers and, as lithe and quiet as a cat, began to pack some imperative travel necessities. Trying hard not to wake his companions, the small child crept silently out the door, mentally whispering a prayer to guard his friends. He had to leave and so he did, leaving the room as soundless and dark as it had been before the child had even stirred. No one had noticed that he had left.
The night moved on.
Footsteps in the Sand
What do you mean, he's gone'?! Tasuki snapped hurtfully at a seemingly calm Chichiri. He was here last night! I saw him go to bed!
Tasuki, I'm sure that he just went for a walk, Chichiri began, not believing himself even as he said that. He was a bit upset at Tasuki's outburst, mentally reeling from the bandit's hurtful reaction. Chichiri couldn't blame him, though - the child's disappearance was startling. He might have gotten lost.
Really, Chichiri? A light, feminine voice interrupted them, and both men turned to see the form of Nuriko in the corner, his arms around an upset Miaka. His lustrous, violet hair was unbraided, falling like honey around his shoulders, and his face was wise. His eyes shone with an uncanny deepness and bore into the two men, casting them a knowing gaze. You don't believe that. It's Seiryuu, it has to be.
It can't be, no da! Chichiri replied back, fists clenching. I would have felt their chi.
No one noticed Chiriko leaving, Nuriko murmured. His voice rose an octave as he said this, giving a reminder of his past days in the harem. Wouldn't you have noticed his chi leaving? Besides, the Seiryuu shichiseishi do have people who can hide their chi.
Chichiri winced at Nuriko's explanation, knowing that the younger man was right. Before he could respond, though, another voice broke through.
I don't care what happened, personally. Tamahome said, stopping the possible fight - though, Nuriko and Chichiri fighting was as likely as... well, as Chiriko leaving in the middle of the night for no apparent reason. Today wasn't a good day for mixed emotions. Shouldn't we be searching for Chiriko? I mean, come on, he's thirteen. He couldn't have gotten far.
Miaka's head perked up at Tamahome's comment. Her brown eyes grew wide with excitement as another idea struck her. Chichiri! Couldn't you find Chiriko's chi? I mean, you've done it before, right? Then we could find him right away.
I've tried, no da. I can't even find a glimmer of his chi - it's like he's completely vanished, Chichiri answered her, his tired voice suddenly sounding around ten years older than he was. He had woken up at dawn that morning, hoping to be able to meditate before they had to leave, but had been worried to find that Chiriko wasn't in the tent. After searching around for the young child for awhile, Chichiri had been forced to wake the rest of his companions up - Chiriko was missing, and they were going find him. Unfortunately, it appeared as though Chiriko had disappeared into thin air; no trace of the child could be found.
Chichiri took off his mask instinctively, knowing as he did so that it was a nervous reaction of his. Chiriko was gone. Chichiri knew that nearly everyone in their group viewed the youngest of the Suzaku shichiseishi as a younger brother, with his wide, innocent eyes and kind disposition. Everyone was worried, fearing for the worst, but Chichiri knew that Seiryuu hadn't done this. He just knew it. But if that were true, then where was Chiriko?
At the sudden sound of loud arguing, Chichiri looked up, a bit abashed that he had tuned out his brother seishi and his miko. Tamahome and Tasuki were snapping loudly at each other, their tempers short, while Nuriko comforted a quiet Miaka, who's shimmering auburn hair was unbrushed and falling limply down her back. Mitsukake was as stoic-looking as ever, though he had an unusual droop in his posture. He was standing beside the sitting Nuriko and Miaka, watching Tamahome and Tasuki bicker. Chichiri knew why the quiet healer wasn't doing anything - both Tasuki and Tamahome were simply converting their fear to anger in the harshness of the morning. Still, they were upsetting Miaka, Chichiri realized, and he took a step towards the two bickering men.
Tamahome, you need to calm down. You as well, Tasuki, Chichiri calmly stated, placing a hand on each of their shoulders. Arguing won't find Chiriko. Besides, your fight is making Miaka feel even worse.
Tamahome, casting a glance at the woman he loved, calmed almost instantly. Tasuki was slower to listen to Chichiri's voice of reason, but didn't say anything. After a few moments of silence, Tamahome began speaking.
Chichiri's right. We should try and see if anyone has seen him. He might have gone to the city, right? The last part of the sentence was directed at Chichiri, who nodded to Tamahome's thought. All right, then, we should split up and look for him.
I s'pose ya could be right bout that. Tasuki muttered, looking towards the door. We haven't gone to the city yet. In fact, he's prob'ly there! Tasuki's face cheered up as he said this, but Chichiri would venture to guess that the excitement was for Miaka's sake only. Tasuki wouldn't be satisfied until Chiriko was found, reproved and safely back with the small group of travelers.
Chichiri agreed, seeing Miaka's brightened expression, Tamahome, you take Miaka and explore the south side. Tasuki, you and Mitsukake look at the north, and Nuriko, the east. I'll take the west, and we can meet up at the center square near midday or so.
Everyone gave a slight nod, satisfied with the solution for the moment. As they all moved to gather their things, Tamahome's head perked up with a sudden thought.
What if we find something before midday? Should we continue on, or try and find everyone?
Chichiri frowned, noting this, but Nuriko spoke up before the monk could speak a word.
We still have those signal flares, right? Use those, answered Nuriko, who was helping Miaka pack her blanket. As an afterthought, the violet-haired man muttered, The Shinzaho will have to wait.
With that last comment stated, everyone continued to pack up their assorted belongings. It was then that Chichiri remembered that Chiriko's things were gone, another reason that he was sure that it hadn't been the Seiryuu shichiseishi. The child's clothes, his scroll, and a few other items of his were missing, as well as some food and a container for water - all of which were items that one would need for a journey. Chichiri knew this from experience, and he wouldn't doubt the explanation that Chiriko had left the group on his own. The question was, why? Why would Chiriko do that? Chichiri was positive that Chiriko wouldn't be able to survive on his own on the road, and he knew that the young shichiseishi was aware of this. So again, why?
Chichiri didn't know, and at the moment he wasn't going to try and venture a guess. It was time to go.
It was too cold to be out here. Chiriko had known that before he stepped onto the boat, but he knew that he had to go. No time to get his friends (not that they could come if he were able to), no time to explain why he had left. Chiriko bit his lip as he thought the latter, hoping that they wouldn't worry too much. He wasn't in any danger, after all, just...
Chiriko jerked to the side as a wave suddenly crashed up against the side of the ship. In the darkness, he could barely make out any of the sailors on board, and the sound of the waves blocked out any noise. It was depressing, what he was doing - he was a stowaway. Him. A stowaway. Chiriko closed his eyes as he thought this, feeling disgraceful. He had been brought up in a so-called respectable household, and his mother had constantly lectured him about obeying the law and the evils of transgression. Yet, here he was, having smuggled himself on board. His face was hot with shame.
Though, he realized bitterly, it was his own two feet that brought him here.
Chiriko remembered what had happened, as he should, considering that it had only been that very morning. Waking up, he had been startled by the sudden urge to leave, to go... somewhere. He still didn't know exactly where he was supposed to go, just that he needed to get on the boat. So, after leaving the tent and the clearing that his friends were staying in, Chiriko ventured down the dusty dirt path towards the city.
It was cold that morning, while he was walking, a sure harbinger of a coming winter. The air nipped at his face and nose, and he placed his hands on his cheeks to keep warm. He was wearing the cloak that he had received earlier, the pink one like Miaka's - Chiriko remembered wincing slightly when they bought it. Although he would never voice his selfish opinions to the group (after all, they were nice cloaks, and it wasn't his money that was buying them), Chiriko felt kind of babyish in that little cloak. True, his friends probably saw him as the baby of the group, but still... would Tasuki have wanted to wear a pink cloak?
Oh, well, there was nothing that he could do about it now, anyway. Besides, it kept him warm.
Chiriko trudged on down the path until he reached the familiar outskirts of the city. It was the early hours and few people were venturing in the streets. There was an wrinkled old man sitting by a temple shrine, looking almost as if he were still sleeping. Across the street from the man stood a brown-haired woman and her young, somewhat rotund son, walking out of one of the many inns in the town. A few other people were out as well, opening shop for the day, and Chiriko smiled to himself. If shops were already opening, the first ship would be casting sail quite soon.
He walked until he reached the docks, and stood quietly in the shadows of some kind of shack. He most certainly didn't want to draw attention to himself, especially since he could almost hear a small voice reminding him, Go where I tell you. Go now. Don't let anything stand in your way. Chiriko, having no money, knew that he'd have to find a way onto the ship without paying. He ignored the familiar pang of worry and fear in his chest, and he decided to go for it - after all, the longer he waited, the more people that would come. He didn't want the chance of being spotted to increase.
Chiriko had studied ships when he was younger, and the way with Chiriko and information was this: once read, never forgotten. Or once heard, in the case that he wasn't reading. Anyway, Chiriko knew how to get into this ship. It was one of of the bigger ones, and by the boxes that were piled inside it, it looked like it was shipping goods to different cities by sea. Good, that meant there was a less of a chance for someone to find him.
With a tremble of fear inside him, Chiriko walked onto the ship. He was actually surprised at how easy it was, even though he knew that it was early morning and there were few people at the docks. Still, Chiriko's spirits rose slightly as he boarded the ship, crawled down to the bottom deck and hid in the most shadowy corner that he could find. It was behind some ropes and other random objects, so Chiriko wasn't too afraid of being discovered now that he was successfully on the ship. He had made it.
That's where he had been the rest of the morning, and during that time, the ship had taken off.
It was after he was out to sea that the real emotions began to sink in. Thoughts of his friends, his companions, worried about him. Of them having to stop their search for the Shinzahou just to come and look for him. Chiriko's mind was wrenched with guilt, knowing for an absolute fact that his friends would be worried about him. He knew that what he was doing right now - hiding in the corner of a ship - was illegal. Yes, he had been told to come here, so what? Hide behind that excuse all he wanted, Chiriko knew that he had been the one to leave, he had been the one to steal his way onto the ship. Now, he was the cause of his friends' worry, not Seiryuu, as it usually was. They would be worrying about him... and here he would be, alone at the bottom deck of a ship, having stolen his way on board.
Chiriko shook his head slightly, trying to breath deep and free himself of his disconsolate emotions. He needed to get his mind off of his friends, off of the crime that he knew he was committing. He had to do this. There was no other way around it, he knew it. But the feelings of guilt and worry, not to mention loneliness... they just kept coming back to him. Already, he missed Miaka's bubbly attitude, Chichiri's calmness, Mitsukake's silent but warm kindness. Chiriko gave an amused half-smile; he even missed Tasuki's swearing and the way Nuriko punched the aforementioned bandit into walls. Soon his cynical amusement turned to sorrow, though, because reality was still there: he was alone.
In a corner of the storage room, where shadows flocked and spiders crawled, a small boy began to cry.