Vacation from Boredom
Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon or Fushigi Yuugi, though I DO wish I owned Tasuki-chan and Chichiri-chan! Anyway, the story belongs to me, the characters don't, just dun steal my fic or I'll cry *pouts* And then my muses will come after you with a vengeance *evil smirk*
Note: All right, I've been wanting to write a SM/FY fic for a long time now so here it is. Don't be surprised if the chappies to this one are produced a lot faster than other fics. I get bored with just writing SM/GW or SM/DBZ so *shrugs* I started another one… I'm bad *blushes* Anyway, I have no idea where this is gonna head, I'm just makin it up as I go (which is the case with most if not ALL of my fics… keeps me interested in writing *shrugs*.) Expect lots of plot twists *evil smirk* I'll keep ya on your toes with em, I promise *smiles kawaiily*. And don't get mad when I leave ya with cliffhangers cuz it's gonna happen… That is, if anyone even reads this sides my Imouto-chans and Oneesans *shrugs* Well, on to the story… oh yeah, email me at pokahydee@hotmail.com
Chapter 3 – Race for Rice
Nuriko held the girl against him while he rode on in silence. Miaka was whining about how much her butt hurt and that she'd never be able to sit again after this trip. Nuriko couldn't get this strange girl out of his mind. Where had she come from? Who is she? Why was she dressed so unusual? Was she another Miko?
"Hey, Nuriko." Hotohori called back to Nuriko, who was riding behind.
"Hai?" He called back, as Hotohori's voice sliced into his thoughts.
"We're going to stop for the night in this village ahead." He called back.
"Demo, there's still a few hours before sunset!" Nuriko called back up, getting a little aggravated. Not only had that little Miaka stolen his Hotohori, but she was slowing them down. He frowned to himself and kept riding, he didn't want to upset Hotohori. It was obvious that he had a thing for Suzako no Miko. Nuriko sighed.
"Look Hotohori-chan!" Miaka cried as they rode into the small village. There was a small marketplace in the town and she was pointing to a small necklace with a crescent moon hanging from the chain. "It's so pretty!" She squealed in delight. Miaka smiled sweetly up at Hotohori who gladly helped her down and walked over to the table that the trinket was laying upon.
"Hotohori-sama…" Nuriko growled, frowning. "If we're going to stop, shouldn't we find the Inn first?" Hotohori only waved a hand and Nuriko and handed the dealer a few coins for the necklace.
****
Usagi didn't know what had happened to her. She was just so tired; she'd fallen asleep in some strange person's arms. It sounded like a girl, but when she lay her head against the person's chest, it was rock hard like a man's.
"You're finally awake princess." A quiet voice whispered in Usagi's ears. Usagi peered around her but saw only darkness. She sensed her surroundings and felt someone's arms wrapped around her waist. She could hear people around and guessed they were in some market. She felt something shift impatiently and realized that she was seated on a horse and that the person behind her seemed to be angry over something.
"If we're going to stop, shouldn't we find the Inn first?" The voice demanded. It was strange, Usagi was still unsure if the person was a woman or a man. The voice sounded kind of feminine, but the person was built differently. Usagi could feel the toned muscles as she leaned up against the person.
"Let me go!" She said firmly as she pulled herself out of the person's arms that held her. She felt herself falling forward and put her hands in front of her, attempting to catch herself.
"Baka!" Nuriko shouted as the girl pulled away from him and went plummeting to the ground. Lucky for her Nuriko had quick reflexes or she'd have landed on her face on the hard ground.
"Let me go!" Usagi cried as she fought against Nuriko. Of course, Nuriko was much stronger than she was and easily pulled her back up into a sitting position on the horse.
"Let go of the princess!" A small voice piped up. The next thing Nuriko knew, the little gray kitten was attached to his face, hissing and scratching. He lost his hold on the girl in front of him and she went tumbling off of the horse and landed in a pile of material.
"Itai…" She mumbled as she struggled to her feet. Before she could run, though, she felt a set of hands on her shoulders.
"Matte!" The deep voice said as he held onto her.
"Did that cat talk?" Miaka asked, her eyes wide in surprise.
"Kuso!" Nuriko shouted as he pulled the kitten away from his face and held her back away from him. The cat continued to claw and bite at his hands and anywhere else she could reach.
"Let me go!" Usagi cried again, fighting against the tall man that held her. "What do you people want with me?!? Why did you do this to me?!?" She demanded.
"Do what to you?" Hotohori asked in surprise.
"First you kidnap Mamo-chan, then try to make me do something I don't want to do, then you make me blind!" She cried, still fighting against him. Hotohori gasped as a silver glow began to surround the upset girl.
"What are you talking about? We found you in the forest all alone. We wanted to help you." Nuriko said as he stepped up behind the girl, holding the kitten away from him. "Take this!" He said thrusting the gray kitten into Usagi's arms.
"Diana-chan… do you think they're telling the truth?" Usagi asked the kitten, patting her head gently.
"Hai, Usagi-sama. He was nice to me and he even gave me some food." Diana said happily. "Demo, no one talks to Usagi-sama the way he did!" She growled out, a low hiss escaping her throat.
"It's all right Diana-chan… I guess they seem friendly enough." Usagi said quietly. She let herself be led back to the horse and lifted up onto it.
"Your name is Usagi then?" Miaka asked. "That name sounds familiar…"
"I'm Tsukino Usagi, I attend High School in Tokyo, demo-" Usagi was cut off by Miaka a moment later.
"You're from Tokyo?!?" She demanded, her eyes the size of saucers. "Did you find the book too?"
"Book?" Usagi questioned, a perplexed look on her face. "What book?"
"How did you get here if it wasn't by the book?" Miaka asked curiously.
"Some woman with long dark hair kidnapped me… I had to go… she would have killed Mamo-chan." Usagi said quietly as tears formed in her sightless eyes. "I'm so scared, they're going to hurt him because I left… I'm a terrible person…"
"Who is them?" Hotohori asked her gently.
"I don't know, demo, a man with a deep voice called one of the people Soi." Usagi said, trying to remember. "I think the guy with the deep voice was called Nakago-sama…"
"Nakago?!?" Nuriko nearly shouted. "What did HE want with you?!?" Usagi looked slightly sad and just sat there petting the small kitten.
"I don't have any idea." Usagi said after a few moments of silence.
"Well, Usagi-san." Miaka piped up. "You can stay with us, the Suzako Seishi won't let anything happen to you. Nakago won't go anywhere near you."
"Did you say Senshi?" Usagi questioned, hearing a word she thought was mispronounced.
"You mean like the Sailor Senshi in Tokyo?" Miaka asked. Usagi nodded her head. "Iie, they're not like the Sailor Senshi. They're Seishi and they protect me, Suzako no Miko."
"Suzako no Miko?" Usagi questioned, not having a clue what the term meant.
"Don't worry Usagi-san, I'll tell you all about it all right?" Miaka asked.
"Hai, I'd really appreciate it." Usagi said, smiling slightly in the direction of Miaka's voice.
"Great!" Miaka said happily.
****
"Nakago, what happened to your hand?" Yui asked as she lay down for the night. "It looks like something bit you." Nakago frowned slightly at her observation.
"One of the search dogs bit me." Nakago said simply.
"Search dogs?" Yui inquired.
"Hai, there is an escaped prisoner I had to send the dogs after." Nakago continued.
"I thought I heard something today. It sounded like a cat." Yui said as she spoke softly with Nakago. She was dreadfully lonely and hoped that there was something, anything, even a cat that would keep her company.
"There are a lot of cats around here." Nakago said in response. She just frowned slightly and lay down to sleep. Nakago stood and walked out of the room, heading for his quarters.
"What is the status of the search?" Nakago asked Tomo before he entered his chambers.
"Suboshi is searching for the Suzako Seishi right now to make sure that the girl doesn't fall into their hands. We have sent a few dogs along to aid in his search. Soi is searching for the girl." Tomo reported. "We have received no report of their targets being located."
"If she is found alone, bring her before me, demo… if she is found residing with the Suzako Seishi, report to me first but keep a close eye on them. I will retrieve her myself." Nakago said with authority.
"Hai, Nakago-sama." Tomo said before bowing his head and walking down the hallway.
****
It had been about an hour since they had rented the room in the small Inn of the town and already Usagi knew much about her new surroundings. She was in ancient China with the Emperor of a country called Konan, a man named Nuriko, and a hyperactive girl that reminded her so much of herself when she was that young.
"You look kind of familiar Usagi-chan." Miaka said. She had asked all of them to stop being so formal. She hated when people spoke to her or anyone with a false respect. Respect was something that was earned and not just given away.
"Honto? Well, maybe we've seen each other before in Tokyo." Usagi commented. She hadn't told them that she was Sailor Moon. Even though she was very far from home, she couldn't just go around telling everyone who she really was.
"Maybe…" Miaka said as if she was in thought. "Why do you wear your hair like Sailor Moon?" Usagi felt her blood run cold.
"Umm… well…" Usagi started.
"I know!" Miaka piped up. "It's because you're a fan of hers ne?" Usagi fell over on her face with her legs twitching slightly in the air.
"Hai, hai! That's it!" Usagi said with a sweatdrop on the back of her head.
"Explain to me again why the cat talked?" Nuriko asked, scratching his head.
"Well, she has a translator around her neck that my genius friend Ami made. It translates whatever Diana says so I can understand her." Usagi said slowly so maybe Nuriko would stop asking.
"All right… I guess I'll buy that." Nuriko stated, still suspicious. "Demo, there's something you're not telling us." Usagi's eyes fell to the ground and she sank into her own thoughts.
"I've told you everything…" Usagi stated quietly. "If I could see, though… I'd be able to save my Mamo-chan." She said sadly as tears pricked her eyes.
"We'll do anything we can to get your sight back all right, Usagi?" Hotohori broke into the conversation. "Now, are you hungry?" Usagi's eyes lifted in the direction of the voice and a smile broke out across her face.
"Hai!" Usagi and Miaka called in unison.
"All right. Let's go." Hotohori said, smiling at the two girls. From the way Usagi acted, you'd never think that she was any older than Miaka. He walked over to Usagi and helped her to her feet. He led her down the stairs, letting her lean up against him for support with Miaka bouncing along behind and Nuriko taking up the rear. I'm going to find out your secret, Usagi… Nuriko thought to himself as he scooped up the gray kitten and followed them into the tavern below.
****
Suboshi had been out searching for the Suzako Seishi almost immediately after that strange girl had disappeared. It had been several hours now and he was starting to get tired. He slowed his horse as he approached a small town and his thoughts drifted to that girl. Her long blond hair was something strange to him. It wasn't every day that a girl with that color of hair was seen. Even Nakago was a strange sight to many people. He had a million questions he'd like to ask Nakago, but he knew he'd get no straight answer from the tall, cold man. Why did the Seiryuu Seishi need the help of some girl anyway? They already had their Miko, what was that girl's purpose? Was she supposed to be used if Yui couldn't call Seiryuu or something?
Suboshi sighed as he approached the town and jumped down off of his horse… yet another village in Konan country that needed to be searched. At this rate, he'd never find the Suzako Seishi. Those damn dogs Nakago had forced him to take were barking like crazy and running toward the village. He couldn't count how many times he'd been bitten by one of the flee-filled mutts.
Suboshi's muscles tightened as he felt a familiar burning sensation in his arm. He lifted up his sleeve to read the message that was being left there.
~If the girl is with the Suzako Seishi, do not attempt to retrieve her. Nakago-sama, will take that upon him self, but keep an eye on her.~ The message read. He rubbed the words away and prepared to reply to the message. He was standing next to the small tavern and Inn in the town when he had received the message and nonchalantly glanced in the window. He gasped in slight shock as he saw them… the Suzako Seishi and their… companion… It was her!! That girl from before!! Suboshi let out a sigh of relief at her sight and stopped to reply to the first message.
~I have located the girl and the Suzako Seishi. Send someone for retrieval.~ He wrote along with the location of the small village.
He glanced back in at the small group and a large sweatdrop appeared on the back of his head and the corner of his mouth twitched upward slightly at the sight. The small girl was sitting at a table with a huge bowl of rice in front of her and she was shoveling it in like she had never eaten before. He'd never seen anything like it… not even Suzako no Miko, who sat across from her, could manage to keep up but was trying desperately.
****
"I've never had REAL Chinese food before." Usagi said between bites. She had already eaten what she had ordered as well as half of Nuriko's and was starting to steal food from Miaka, who was very protective over her meal. "It's SO good!" She squealed as she felt around the table for another bowl of rice. She grabbed the bowl but it was stuck on something.
"Hey!" Miaka cried as Usagi grabbed the bowl of rice.
"Lemme have some more!" Usagi cried as she tried to pull the bowl away from the younger girl.
"I'm younger so I need more food to grow!" Miaka cried as she pulled on the bowl.
"I'm older and have more authority so I say, GIVE ME THE BOWL!" Usagi cried as she tried to yank the bowl out of Miaka's grasp.
"Iie! It's mine!" Miaka growled back. People all around the tavern had stopped what they were doing and were gawking at the two girls fighting over a bowl of rice that would feed four people normally.
"More rice please." Hotohori said nonchalantly to a waiter that was standing around with a sweatdrop on his forehead.
"What's everyone staring at?" Nuriko asked as he leaned back with his arms crossed over his chest and a frown on his face. No one moved an inch. Nuriko growled to himself and stood up. "I said, what is everyone looking at!?!" Nuriko growled out as he slammed his hand down on the table next to him. Unfortunately for him, though, the table collapsed under his fist and he went sprawling to the ground in the remains of it along with glass shards from a few glasses that had been broken as well. Nuriko stood up and dusted off his clothes to see that everyone's eyes were looking at anything except for the two girls. He smirked triumphantly and sat back down with his hands tucked behind his head.
"Here's your rice." The waiter said as he came back with another large bowl of rice for the girls. He placed the bowl on the table and Miaka snatched it away before Usagi had a chance. Usagi pulled the first bowl away to find that it was completely empty.
"Hey! Gimme some of that!" Usagi cried as she grabbed the new bowl. She reached her chopsticks in and began to eat the rice while still hanging onto the bowl with a deathgrip.
It took about another half and hour of fighting over food before the two girls sat back and patted their stomachs.
"That was a lot better than any of the stuff they serve at the restaurants at home." Usagi said happily. She and Miaka sat back and chatted happily about home and all of the yummy foods they missed.
"What will you be having?" The waiter asked the younger man that came in and sat behind Usagi's table.
"I'll just have some water for now." He stated. The waiter narrowed his eyes at the young man he hated freeloaders. This guy was probably going to keep asking for water until someone decided to just buy him a drink. Usagi heard the young man's voice and her face went pale.
"N… nani?" Usagi gasped as she dropped the bread she had been nibbling on.
"What's wrong with you, Usagi?" Nuriko asked, the look on his carefree face changing drastically at the fear-stricken look Usagi held on her face.
"That… that voice…" Usagi mumbled as she turned in the direction of the voice. Suboshi froze in fear as the blond girl turned to face him.
"Kuso…"
::Fin::
March 29, 2002
Well, there's that chapter. I know it took me a while to post it but no one was reviewing so *shrugs* Lost my inspiration. Anyway, I dunno when the next chappie'll be out… depends on if anyone reviews. Email me at pokahydee@hotmail.com Ja for now!