YUME-MI

A fanfic by Jashi

This chapter is rated PG-13 for our favorite bishonen bandit and the thoughts of our favorite insane-ee. Hahah, I just love putting my characters through hell. Ayako isn't insane though, if you haven't figured that out already.

CHAPTER FOUR

(Ayako's POV)

Brrrrrr……. A night of frozen hell.

Yes, kaa-san, I slept well.

Heheh. I am scrunched in a corner, very, very, very cold. I feel frail, like I've walked a very long time. I am now aware my hair looks white and straight instead of the black-wavy it usually is. I smile. Hehehe. I'm actually in a good mood now, because I might just get out of here. Back to sunlight, fire, heat and the sky. I love the sky. That's why I hate places like this. Also because that etchi guard kept giving me weird looks. *twitch twitch* Oh, this is not the time to piss me off. But I am so, so cold. I start to focus…on heat, light, the sun. I suddenly feel it, the warmth. It's like a dream, only it's good, it's warm….

(Chichiri's POV)

I and Tasuki begin the long, long descent down the stairs to the lowest level of the dungeon. We managed to get half way down before Tasuki had to use his tessen to light the way.

"Che! It's really…" *trip*

*crash*

"Tasuki-kun, are you alright no da?" I yell.

"REKKA SHINEN!"

I jump out of the way and cling to the wall as a blossom of fire emerges from the dark. *sweatdrop*

A flame walks towards me, and I see Tasuki with a large lump on his head.

"I'm f*ckin alright."

"Heheheh, I hope, Tasuki no da."

A grumbling Tasuki sort of leads the way as we walk down the stairs, for another half hour.

We finally get there. The guard looks at us suspiciously. Tasuki waves a piece of paper in his face.

"We have a writ from Hoto- Saihitei! to take a look at this prisoner."

"Then do so."

Tasuki grins at me. He shows me a blank scroll-piece.

"It's so nice 'ta be a bandit." he sighs.

"Now where in f*ck is she?"

I clear my throat. "Oi, Ayako-san, where are you no da?"

A clear, cold voice I recognize rings from a corner.

"Over here, Chichiri-san. I'm sorta stuck." Tasuki moved his tessen over to the corner where he saw a girl, with white hair, scrunched in a corner. An iron clasp around her upper arm chained her to the wall.

"The guard didn't like the way I was looking at him." she laughed

Tasuki sweatdropped. "Eh."

"Okay, Chichiri-san, have you brought a convict down to join me?"

Tasuki grew red with rage. "I AM NOT A F*CKING CONVICT!"

"You will be if they see that writ from Saihitei."

*twitch twitch*

I couldn't help but laugh at this conversation. Ayako was sharp.

"ANYWAY, I need to tell you this stupid story so I don't get frostbite down here. My hair has already turned white."

"Okay, then, Ayako no da, tell away."

"I see things when I dream, sometimes they're just visions. I see the future. I've seen fire and the next a house burns down in my village. I see…*gulp*… a murder and the next day a merchant is struck down with an arrow right in front of me. I know this is crazy sounding, insane, but it is true. I saw Saihitei take my advice and reassure a guard of his, even though he was not worthy to be spoken to. It is what I saw that made me panic that day, and go run. I almost got to talk to him, but then some bastard hit me over the head with a sword hilt. I saw that day, a plague that will kill half of Konan. But I also saw the cure, or more, parts of it. I need to work with some advanced doctor…." she trailed off…

Suzaku….that is sad, cruel, inhuman, and insane sounding, I must admit. But it is true, this I know. I feel the aura, an aura Taiitsukun taught me to recognize, though I never thought I would feel it.

A prophet's aura.

I take a deep breath. "Hai. You are telling the truth. I can feel the prophet's or in this case, prophetess' aura from you."

I glance at Tasuki. He nods, revealing he can feel it too.

"Let's go then no da." I walk over, and I press my fingers to the lock. The lock quietly explodes. I give her my hand and I pull her up. She leans over and discreetly shakes all the white frost out of her black hair.

Tasuki gives her a weird look. "You looked better with white hair."

"Thanks oh so much, Tasuki-kun."

"Yer 'oh so welcome' Ayako-san."

I can see these two will hit it off just fine.

I decide to try to trick the guard myself. I flash the blank-scroll piece in front of his eyes and say,

"This writ also let's us take this girl from custody no da. Please let us pass."

The guard did, and we walked up the stairs, Ayako and Tasuki fighting the whole way, mostly Tasuki though.

"Heheheh. I believe that if I had not had the brilliant idea of the blank-scroll piece, you'd b' still stuck down there with the ice and the snow."

"I probably would have thought of another plan."

"Like yer last one?"

"Heheh. Very funny. It almost worked."

"Yeah, you wish it did."

"Am I supposed to feel bad about some bastard hitting me over the head with a sword?"

"Yes you are."

"But I don't."

"Then yer screwed."

"Tell me something I don't know."

We finally get to the top. I open the door. Ayako nearly screams and hides behind Tasuki.

"Yaaa! Che! I've been in the pitch black darkness for two days, Chichiri!"

Whoops. "Er…Gomen nasai."

Ayako covers her eyes with one hand and placed her hand on Tasuki's shoulder.

"Now you get to play hero," she says, "and lead me until my eyes get used to the light."

We finally get to the throne room, Ayako tripping over numerous things until her eyes become used to the light.

"Che! You could have done a better job leading me, Tasuki." she muttered.

I instruct her in what to do.

"Say you are a yume-mi when you go in no da."

"What's a yume-mi?"

"A dreamseer."

(Ayako's POV)

Big gulp. I open the doors, walk in and kneel down.

"Your Majesty, I am the Yume-mi, Ayako."

*****************

I hope ya like it so far!

Fushigi yuugi ain't mine.