AN: Hi minna ^_^ This will the last chapter in a while ^^;; School's starting on Monday, so unless I can get my act together and write another chapter, this will be the last update until maybe Easter. Just to remind you in case you forgot, this is still a Hotohori/Usagi fic… I know it's my fault since Hoto-chan didn't play a big part in the previous chapters, but don't worry Hoto-chan, you're still my favourite Suzaku seishi ^_^ *squeezes her Hotohori plushie* And big hugs for Aidenn-chan for pre-reading this chapter ^_^
Thanks to: Usa-chan (Of course I missed you! How can I not?), Moonlight and Starlight, Akiko-chan (*giggles* you did review already, but it's always nice to get more reviews ^^;; And see, it's out by March ^_^), Tenshi Cat, Kitty 116, Gakkuri Naishinnou ( thanks ^_^ but I still think that I need to improve. It was really nice chatting with you ^_^ Hope that we can do it again next time), Bunny Winner (hehe… you might just find your love circle in this chapter), LOVENURIKO (sorry, this one is going to be a Hotohori/Usagi fic), JLSCORPIO78 (I feel sorry for Suboshi too, and you'll see why), Ivory-chan (*hides behind Nakago* I'm so sorry! I know that I promised Hoto/Usa scenes, but they just didn't fit. But I swear that there'll be lots and lots of Hotohori/Usagi scenes in the next chapter! I already started writing it…and it'll be out by Easter… Forgive me?), Blue Angel (*giggles* but how dare you burn my Naka-kun?), Fleur de Lys (Happy birthday! *sweat drop* Sorry I don't know when you're birthday is, but I hope that I'm on time), themoonmaiden (romance starts next chapter, and yeap, Usagi is the Seiryuu no miko ^_^ *hugs moon maiden* thanks for being a such a great fan ^_^), Darkrose (thanks for telling me that the site had a problem ^_^), Bunni V (sorry, I didn't leave it, but it was cut off the by FF.net), Aidenn-chan ( little more than a brother? You'll see ^_^), and Bluejello
Disclaimer: Don't own anything.
Chapter 3
He cursed for the hundredth time that day. He cursed Seiryuu for making him a seishi, he cursed Nakago for ordering him to baby-sit, but most of all, he cursed his miko, for getting him into this situation.
"Suboshi! Be quiet!" the said miko hissed angrily and slapped a dirty hand over his mouth.
What did he do to ever deserve this? The young seishi cried out in his head. Did he commit some horrible crime in his past life, and this was his punishment? The small hand that covered his mouth smelt like dung… which was not surprising, since they were hiding in a barn, in a stall, behind a donkey. Funny, he never noticed how donkey looked the same as a horse from his position under the donkey's legs. But then again… when was he ever forced to hid under a donkey?
It was all HER fault! Suboshi glared at the deceptively innocent blonde girl, who shoved his head down further into the smelly straws as another group of male voices passed.
Why did Nakago have to pick him out of all the seishi? Suboshi kept complaining in his mind. Surely Tomo or Soi would be able to keep the enthusiastic bunny from getting into trouble. Even his aniki would be better … maybe not. Their crafty miko would surely take advantage of Amiboshi's sweet nature just like she did to him, the young man thought ruefully to himself. It wasn't his fault, it was impossible to refuse when the bunny was looking at him with those huge tear filled eyes. Little did he know what it was a trick, the second he agreed to her outrageous plan, those shimmering tears disappeared instantly, revealing the calculated glitter from her sapphire depth.
He had a bad feeling about their outing form the beginning. But never in his wildest dreams did he know that their trip to the market would turn into such a nightmare. Nakago would have his head for sure this time, Suboshi thought fearfully as he looked up at his miko, whose golden mane was matted down with precipitation, and her face was streaked with dirt, not to mention that they both smelt terrible.
"Why are you staring at me?"
The seishi blushed and quickly lowered his eyes. Even though she was in this state, he couldn't help but admire the playful glow and vibrant energy that she radiated.
"There they are! Get them!"
Unfortunately, their pursuers also heard the blonde girl. How did they get into this mess in the first place? Suboshi didn't have time to answer his own question, before he was dragged out by his miko again, the group of rogues hot on their trail. It seemed like ever since they left the palace, he had done nothing except to be dragged around.
~*~*~*~
"Suboshi! Hurry up!"
The young seishi sighed again, as his miko waved from a stand. Where did she find all this energy? Suboshi murmured under his breath as he blindly put one foot in front of another.
"Watch where you are going young man!" a cane came down on the poor seishi's head as he accidentally stepped on a little old lady.
It wasn't his fault that he couldn't see anything! The boxes he carried were way over his head. His arms were ready to fall off anytime, and to think, Usagi still wanted to buy more. She told him that she wouldn't go back, until she spent all the money Nakago gave her. But did she even know that the gold in the purse Nakago gave her, was enough to feed a whole village of people for a whole year?
And, it wasn't as if she was buying things for herself. Up to now, every single thing the miko purchased was for the blond shogun. And now, she was standing next to a stand, holding a pair of boots, bargaining back and forth with the seller. It still amazed Suboshi at his miko's negotiating skills. She was as good as any money lenders, if not better. But where did she learn this skill? As the Seiryuu no miko, she has unlimited wealth at her disposal. Oh well, the seishi shrugged, she must have had a lot of practice in her world.
"Ne, Suboshi-kun! Which pair do you think will look better on Nii-chan?" Usagi asked, holding up a blue pair and a black pair of boots.
That was another mystery to him. Why did the miko insist on calling Nakago Nii-chan? Sure they resemble each other a lot, but wasn't the miko from a different world?
"I'll take the blue ones, they match his armor," the blonde answered for herself when Suboshi didn't speak.
Taking the box containing her newest purchase, the bunny was about to add it to the pile in Suboshi's arms, when she saw his devastated expression.
Deciding to take pity on her seishi… or was it slave? Usagi took some of the packages herself. "Let's go find a place to eat Su-chan. I'm starving!"
"Su…Su-chan?" the seishi almost dropped his boxes when he heard the nick name, which wouldn't have been a good idea.
"Hai!" the bunny giggled and she silently commented to herself on how cute Su-chan was when he blushed. "We have to replenish our energy first. How else do you think we can continue to do some more night shopping?"
"Night… shopping?" All the relief he got from the idea of eating quickly vanished, as he Suboshi wondered how long he could survive serving this miko.
~*~*~*~
"Let's see… I want ten steamed dumplings, one roast duck, two bowls of hot and sour soup, five bowls of rice, and two of your best vegetable dishes."
"Will that be all Miss?" the waiter asked.
"What do you want Su-chan?" Usagi turned to her seishi.
"What do I want?" Suboshi asked confused. "Usagi-sama…san… chan, didn't you just order for me?"
"That was only for me silly," the bunny snickered as both the waiter and the seishi blinked in shock.
"I'll just have a bowl of noodles…" the young man finally murmured. His miko just kept throwing surprises at him… where did she pack away all those food?
"And I want a bottle of the best sake you have," the miko called out to the waiter before he disappeared into the kitchen.
Sipping her warm alcohol, Usagi had a content smile on her face. Everything seemed so perfect. She had her nii-chan, and even though she didn't have her memories, it didn't bother her at all, knowing that whatever happens, all that mattered was that she was back by Nakago's side.
"Excuse me young lady, do you want your fortune to be told?" A voice broke through the bunny's thoughts.
"Hun?" the blonde girl blinked intelligently at the old man, dressed in a Taoist clothes. "Oh sure…"
The old gentleman grabbed one of the miko's hands, caressing the soft skin before examining it carefully. "Young lady, you better be careful…"
"Why's that?" Suboshi asked in mid-bite, tensing.
"Because you are going to lose your purse today."
Usagi gave the fortune teller a strange look… what kind of fortune was that? But none the less, she paid for the fee, and went back to her feast as the Taoist walked around the room, telling fortunes to others who were interested.
~*~*~*~
"That will be one gold piece please," the waiter smiled as a loud burp sounded from the girl. It was more than the actual price of the meal, but then again, it wasn't everyday when people this rich came here to eat. He had to take advantage of those who do come.
"Only one gold piece? Sure thing!" Usagi said, reaching into her pocket for her purse. Her face immediately darkened as it came out empty.
"Usagi-sama…chan, what's wrong?"
"I can't find my purse!" The bunny cried jumping up. She searched every pocket and all the boxes, but it was no where to be found.
The waiter looked uneasily at the two young people before moving to block the door. Would the two kids be the kind to eat and run?
"I had it a minute ago!" the blonde panicked.
"Calm down for a second Usagi-chan! Do you remember when you took it out last?" the seishi tried to push his miko down into her seat. With all the noises that she was making, they had the attention of almost all the patrons in the restaurant, and frankly, Suboshi didn't like the leering looks directed at Usagi at all.
"It was here! We were sitting here eating, and then…" the bunny blinked. "And then I used it to pay for the fortune teller!"
"He said that you are going to lose your purse today too. So he must have been the one who stole it!" Suboshi finished for Usagi. Already scanning the room for the thief. It wasn't very hard to find the fortune teller, considering the man was sitting with a bunch of other men drinking and waving around a bag that suspiciously looked like Usagi's purse.
Before he could stop her, Usagi had already left the table and was stomping across the restaurant, bringing everyone's eyes with her.
The miko stopped by the fortune teller, glaring down at his smirking face. "Give it back."
"Not my fault little lady. I warned you that you would lose your purse today if you weren't careful. You can't blame me, since I warned you in advance," the man smirked, and his buddies around the table started laughing. "But if you want it back, I'm sure that we can always find a way for you to earn it back…"
Face red with anger, words failed her as all the men cheered. Suboshi groaned to himself. Even though he hadn't know Usagi for long, it wasn't hard to tell that she was on the edge of blowing up. And as he predicted, her hand was already gripping the handle of her sword, knuckles white. He had to stop her now… it's true that if Nakago taught her how to fight, then she would be safe… but still with a whole room of gang members, no matter how good she was, the odds were against her.
The Seiryuu seishi quickly put down his noodles, and moved closer to his miko. His ryuuseisui already out and ready. As soon as he moved up to Usagi, men around the room stopped eating, and surrounded the two young people. The light reflected against the bare metals of knives and swords. The owner of the restaurant was hiding under a table while trying to persuade the everyone to stop fighting, or at least take their arguments outside.
"I'm not kidding, give me back my purse, or else, I'm make sure that no one will recognize your ugly face ever again!" the blonde girl threatened, drawing out her new sword. "Not that anyone can stand your face right now…"
"Why you little twit!" the fake fortune teller growled out deep in his throat. "When I catch you, I'll sell you and your little friend to the first brothel that I see!
"Get them!" At the command, a wave of gang members fell upon Usagi and Suboshi.
"Please, don't destroy anything here!" the owner of the restaurant pleaded, but it was unheard over the ding of the swords as everyone piled over the two young people.
But when the dust cleared, and everyone got up, to the shock of all that were present, the blonde girl and her companion were no where in sight!
Cursing, the leader of the gang, who appeared to be the fake fortune teller forced everyone to get up, and the gang rushed out, searching for their two preys.
~*~*~*~
"Su-chan! Let me go!" a blonde girl screamed and kicked wildly from her position on the seishi's shoulder as the young seishi jumped across the roof tops. "Suboshi! I swear, if you don't put me down this minute, I'll tell nii-chan!"
Sighing, the short haired boy stopped and put the girl on the roof. It wasn't as if he liked to carry her, she might look small, but she weighed a ton. But his duty came before his own personal needs, and right now, he had to bring his miko back to the palace before she could get into more trouble. "Usagi-chan, we have to go back. It's not safe for you to fight with these people."
The bunny brushed away his advice. "Su-chan don't be a chicken. You're a Seiryuu seishi for god's sake, don't tell me that you are afraid of these puny little men! Plus, I still want to try my new sword on them, and we left everything back at the restaurant! Let me go back, I just want one fight, then I'll let you take me back!"
Suboshi cursed as he was suddenly attacked by the baby blue eyes which looked up at him so sadly. To add to the affect of the broken hearted girl, a little sob escaped the miko's trembling pink lips. "Su-chan… you're so mean!"
He was really in trouble now, the young man thought as the water works began. How could he explain this to Nakago now? He couldn't possibly bring Usagi back now, the tear stains would be all too obvious that the miko was hurt, and he would be the prime suspect, and the most convenient person for Nakago to take out his anger on. "How about we just go back to get the stuff?"
Like magic, the tears suddenly all disappeared, and Suboshi suddenly found a happy, hyper bunny bouncing around him. But unfortunately, the display of happiness also caught the attention of the gang members who were looking for them.
"There they are! Someone go get a ladder!" Shouts sounded below the roof of the house where Suboshi was with his miko.
"No need to get a ladder! Here I come!" Usagi said, eagerly jumping down. The young seishi groaned… why did the miko want to get into a fight so bad? By Seiryuu, why couldn't see just be like every other girl, and behave properly? Not having any choices left, Suboshi had to jump down to and be ready to save the bunny when the time came…
~*~*~*~
Which brought him back to the present situation as Suboshi was dragged out of the barn behind Usagi. He had to admit that for a girl, his miko was kicking ass. But in the end, they had still lost, but it wasn't their fault though! How were they to know that the gang planed a trap? And they just had to fell for it too.
"Stop running away! You have no where to go!"
The blonde miko stopped running when men surrounded them from everywhere. "Come on Suboshi, let's teach them a lesson! How dare they mess with the Seiryuu no miko and her seishi!"
"Seiryuu no miko? This little girl?! You have got to be kidding me!" Loud laugher rang from the gangsters.
"Why you ignorant jerks! How dare you call me a little girl!" Usagi cried out in anger, and if it wasn't for Suboshi who got a good hold on her, she would have blindly slashed out at the gangsters. "Su-chan! What are you doing? Let me go!"
"What's wrong little miko? Are you afraid of getting hurt?" the men started to taunt the blonde.
But before the words were barely out of their mouths, a flash of lightening appeared in the darkened sky.
"I won't let you insult the Seiryuu no miko like this," the new comer said as another bolt of lightening struck, on this time, the target was the fake fortune teller.
"Who's that?" Usagi asked, as the new comer jumped down in front of her and Suboshi.
"Soi!" The younger seishi in blinked in surprise as the older woman took care of their pursuers in no time.
"Soi?"
When the last of the gangsters fell down to the ground charred, the red haired seishi turned and dropped to one knee in front of Usagi. "Usagi-sama, I am the Seiryuu seishi Soi."
"You are also one of my seishi? But I thought that all seishi had to be male." the bunny asked as she stared at the woman in front of her. "And you are so beautiful too!"
"I see that you take after your onii-sama, always so clever with words," Soi laughed softly and patted the blonde's head.
"You know my onii-chan?" the bunny blinked. "Did he send you here?"
"He knew that Suboshi wouldn't be able to handle you, so he sent me to look after you to in secret," Soi answered, before she turned to an embarrassed Suboshi. "I see that you still have a lot to learn Suboshi, before you can become a real seishi. Because of you, Usagi-sama was almost hurt. I have to report to Nakago-sama about this."
"Soi, please don't blame Su-chan! It was my fault for making him fight those men with me. He had nothing to do with it."
Suboshi looked up in surprise when he heard the blonde girl pleading for him. "Demo… Usagi-chan, it was my fault for not protecting you better…"
"Don't tell nii-chan about this Soi, I'll never pick a fight ever again, I promise, please?" the bunny begged, using her tricks again. "I'll tell nii-chan that you are the nicest person in the whole country."
Soi blushed when the miko hit her weak spot. "You'll tell him that?"
"Of course I will, but you have to promise not to tell on Su-chan first."
The older woman hesitated, she shouldn't be keeping secrets from Nakago-sama, but the miko made such a tempting deal… It wouldn't hurt to tell a little white lie once in a while. "You got a deal. But next time, if you get into any trouble, then I'll have to tell him about it, okay?"
"Okay! Thank you so much Soi!" Usagi cried out, hugging the older woman. They would make a great team, between the two of them, Nakago would surely turn to putty in their hands. "Let's go back."
~*~*~*~
To everyone's surprise, Nakago didn't seem to notice when his long lost imouto came back all dirty and smelly. On the contrary, all he did was pat her head and gave her a absent minded kiss on the cheek before he told her to go and clean up with Suboshi.
Secretly smug that she didn't get into any trouble, Usagi quickly dragged a blushing Suboshi towards the baths, leaving Soi to deal with Nakago, if he ever remembered to question their trip.
~*~*~*~
"Usagi-chan? Can I ask you something?" Suboshi asked from the other side of the screen. The sound of splashing water was heard as the bunny played around the bath… which was more like a small swimming pool complete with floating flower petals and scented candles.
"Sure what is it? Are you sure that you don't want to take a bath with me?"
The seishi blushed at that thought, before he stuttered. "I…It's okay Usagi-chan... I'll just clean up after you are done."
"What did you want to ask me about?"
"Well…" the young man hesitated. "Why do you always call Nakago-sama 'nii-chan'?"
"Because he's my brother silly."
"I know that but… how isn't possible, I mean you are the miko. So you must be from another world. And Nakago-sama is from this world.."
"It's a little complicated to explain Su-chan, and I don't really want to talk about it right now." Usagi's tone suddenly changed from playful to serious.
"I'm sorry." the seishi apologized.
"It's okay. I'm done now."
Closing his eyes, Suboshi opened a large towel, and wrapped it around the miko when she stepped out.
"Usagi-sama," a servant girl bowed. "Nakago-sama requires yours and Suboshi-sama's presence right now at his chambers.
Sharing a nervous look, the bunny hastily went to get dressed in a clean blue robe. "Ne, Su-chan, do you think that Soi told nii-chan about what happened in the market?"
"I don't think so, Soi isn't that kind of person. And plus, he was looking a little troubled when we got back."
"I'm ready now…"
Suboshi wasn't prepared for the sight that greeted him when his miko walked out. The dim lantern light softly highlighted each strand of the wet blond hair that fell straight down her back. The bath had given her a rosy hue on her cheeks, she looked more like a tennyo than a mortal girl.
"Yeah… let's go…" Closing his mouth, which he didn't know was open, he unconsciously took hold of the miko's hand and guided her through the halls to Nakago's chambers.
~*~*~*~
"Konan has declared war against Kutou. The emperor has already ordered me to ride to the border tomorrow." Nakago said as he paced around in the room. "I don't know why all of a sudden Konan would make war…. Usagi-sama, I wish for you to come to the battle field with the army."
"Me?" the bunny squeaked out, when her nii-chan suddenly turned piercing blue eyes in her direction.
"Yes… it'll give the soldiers more courage and hope if they see their miko fighting along side of them. Do you wish to go?"
Looking around the room, everyone's eyes were turned to her. "If it can help, then I'll go."
"Good. Soi, you and Suboshi will accompany Usagi-sama also, to protect her just in case something goes wrong. Is that understood?"
"Hai Nakago-sama. We will protect the miko with our lives!" the two seishi kneeling.
Tbc…
AN: More Hoto/Usa moments next chapter I swear upon my kitty ^_^