I do not own everything here!!!
Chapter 2
"Taiitsukun can she really help us save this world?" Miaka sat on the chair beside the bed where the Princess of Mars slept. "I mean we were even having a hard time fighting off the new enemy and I was just wondering how she can help us." Miaka cringed a bit from the way the guardian stared at her. No one really knew what was on the mind of the old hag, even Chichiri who spent several years training magic with her.
"She was sent here by the gods themselves and I never doubt their judgment." The guardian floated down to the level of Rei. "I believe she can solve our dilemma."
"She looks so fragile and so vulnerable." Hotohori , who was sitting on the bed and looking intently at the girl's face, spoke up. "I can't imagine how she can fight against those monsters that we ourselves could barely defeat."
Taiitsukun seemed to be contemplating her answer for a few minutes when she finally muttered, "Looks can be deceiving..."
"That's very true and I am one in fact." Nuriko hovered gently above the giggling occupants of the room.
"Oh yeah that's right. I remember Nuriko used to dress like a girl and we were completely fooled!" Taka was holding his stomach when Nuriko sent a telephatic punch to him.
"Listen, all of you..." Taiitsukun looked around for everyone's attention. "Where's that loud mouth now?"
"Tasuki left not a moment ago." The little guy named Chiriko came out from Mitsukake's side and sat beside the dead emperor on the bed. "He was complaining about a woman being our savior."
Taiitsukun rolled her eyes. She knew a while ago that the fiery leader of the bandits hated girls.
He doesn't have a choice, the gods have given her to us. That idiot will have to deal with it...
Everyone was staring at the grinning guardian, wondering what could have summoned the twitch on her lips.
"One of you should look after the girl over the night and then switch with someone else to avoid getting tired. Any volunteers?"
"I'll guard her first." Hotohori offered.
"OK then, take a rest everyone. Tomorrow is another day." With that everyone left the room leaving the sleeping princess and the ghost of the emperor alone.
It was already past midnight. Hotohori grew a little weary and had to pace back and forth to keep himself from falling asleep. Even a ghost needed his rest. He stopped mid step as he heard the girl moaned. Sitting himself beside her again, he gently wiped the perspiration that started to form on her forehead telephaticaly. He wondered what she was dreaming about that made even her brows crunched together, as if she's in pain.
"Hush now, you are safe here..." Hotohori looked behind him as one of his comrades approached the bed. He looked back at the grimacing girl, who was now clutching the sheets with her clenched hands.
"What's wrong with her?"
"I don't know, but she's probably having a nightmare." Hotohori went to wipe her forehead again with concern in his eyes. "Tasuki you stay here while I'll go get some water." The red head didn't even have a chance to respond back when his ghost of a friend disappeared through the wall.
Why do I have to end up here? This is such a waste of time. I should be sleeping right now if Chichiri hadn't woke me up telling me it's time for me to replace Hotohori and watch over the girl. Damn it!
He was interrupted from his musings by a sudden jolt of the girl on the bed.
"Now what..." Tasuki grumbled. "What kind of nightmare are ya having, huh?" He was answered by a sob coming out from the sleeping girl's lips.
Tasuki felt a little sorry for her. He reached out for her hands, offering just a bit of comfort even though he was still frowning slightly at her. "Hey calm down now would ya."
He was surprised as Rei grasped his hands rather tightly. "Hey let go..."
He wanted to snatch them away from her, but he was even more surprise as she pulled his hands towards her face causing him to pull himself closer to her lying form. That action stirred something within him that it almost scared the lights out of him. He didn't know when he relaxed as he kept staring at the sleeping girl's face. He didn't know when he stopped frowning at her. He had no idea what made him stop snatching his hands away from her grip. Whatever this new experience he was facing, he had no clue how to get out of the sudden stirring from within him as he unconsciously held the hands that was holding him in return.
"I see that she's finally calmed." Hotohori finally arrived with a glass of water in his hand. He watched Tasuki nod his head without even looking up at him.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing..." The red head grumbled
"I can stay with her if you're not up to the task." Hotohori looked at the girl, who was still clutching on to Tasuki's hands. "Tasuki? You can go back to sleep if you want."
"I...ah...I'll keep an eye on her." He finally averted his eyes from the girl. "Thanks buddy."
Hotohori nodded and left the two alone.
Several hours have passed since Hotohori left the room. It was already nearing dawn and the sun's rays could be seen in the horizon. Everything was quiet except the sound that could be heard in the room where the Princess of Mars laid. Tasuki had fallen asleep and was snoring while lying his head on the bed comfortably. If anyone was sleeping in that same room he or she should have been awake by now. Tasuki's snores could wake the dead and Rei was no exception. The Princess of Mars who was used to peace and silence, except when she was with the girls, was not immune to the strange sound of what could be the person beside her was emitting. Obviously she had to wake up and find out where the annoying sound was coming from.
Slowly, Rei opened her still heavy eyelids and looked down. She wanted to shriek and run. She kept staring at the man sleeping by her. She wanted to slap the daylights out of the guy, but she kept her mouth shut. She took few calming breaths and organized her hazy mind. She felt nothing weird, and that he didn't touch her or anything. She looked tidy enough, in good condition, and holding on to his hands. Rei almost jumped at the sudden realization that she herself was holding onto his hands. Her eye sockets were about to bulge out, and she had to bite her lips from reprimanding herself. Slowly, ever so slowly, she untangled her hands from his grip. She didn't want to wake him up, whoever he was. Rei was thinking he was probably one of those people whom those four men, who pulled her away from her friends and from her home, were talking about.
She finally got down from the bed and slipped outside the room. She felt a little dizzy, from the spell cast upon her to transport her to wherever she was right now. Slightly wobbling with each step she took, she managed to hold on to the wall for balance.
Am I having a dream? Why am I here and why did they choose me?
Sighing, Rei continued on with her trek. She had no idea how long she was unconscious before the snores from the man woke her out of her sleeping state. She knew she was dreaming before that, dreaming of the quest she and these people had to take.
Those men who brought me here...they said I will able to help them save their world...but still...why?...who is this enemy?...why does my life have to be complicated?...I just want to stay with my friends...I just want to go home...
Rei stopped her thoughts as she heard some shuffling and running behind her.
"WHERE IS THAT DAMN GIRL!"
It's probably that guy in the room...wait a minute why is he calling me damn girl?! Who does he think he is?
"Hey stop right there! Don't move!"
Of course she couldn't move because she would not want to move. The Martian princess was boiling with the crass demands this man was yelling at her. Rei definitely wanted to confront the idiot.
Moreover, everyone was already awake and was running after Tasuki who was yelling like a mad man while knocking on their chamber doors. Tasuki was in panic when he felt that his hands were empty. He rushed to the others and woke them up.
The red head turned the stiff girl around and gasped. Trying to hide the surprise from the piercing eyes of the most beautiful woman he had ever seen, Tasuki retaliated the way he always did when caught in an uncomfortable circumstance.
"You should have woke me up when you decided to finally get your lazy ass off the bed woman!"
"La...zy...ass?" Rei had to clench her fists from punching the guy. "How dare you yell at me! You don't even know me!"
Tasuki had to cringe at the truth of the girl's words. He knew he went overboard this time, but he'd be damned if he ever apologize to a woman.
Before a major fight emerged, Miaka coughed to get their attention. "Uhm excuse me guys, but can you please keep it quiet. Taiitsukun will be grouchier than ever if she couldn't get enough sleep."
Rei turned to the voice and to the people that were now looking at her. The anger she felt was forgotten for a moment as she regarded the new comers with interest.
They must be the ones I have to help...what did that man with startling red eyes said again?...
"Please pardon our rudeness. We should have introduced ourselves. I am called Hotohori and we are the Suzaku seven."
Now I remember...Suzaku Shichiseishi...
Everyone introduced themselves, even Tasuki who muttered his name to her, earning him a non- welcoming glare from Rei.
"I'm Miaka and I'm the Priestess of Suzaku." Miaka extended her hand to Rei.
Rei just looked at it, never really understanding why Miaka did that. So she just smiled at her and introduced herself. "My name is Rei and I..."
"Welcome to my realm and I am the guardian of this world, the Universe of the Four Gods."
Rei stared at this strange being. She didn't want to stare but her eyes wouldn't budge away from the mysterious person's face.
"Geez old hag, you have to scare the wits out her?!" Tasuki noticed the girl's awestruck expression and wanted to laugh. He had to remind himself that she was nothing but a nuisance like her kind.
"SHUT UP TASUKI! For the last time, keep that loud mouth of yours shut!"
So she must be Taiitsukun...she sure is grouchy...but he damn well deserved it.
Rei gave Tasuki a mocking smile and slowly advanced to meet the guardian of the world she's suppose to save. She still felt a little hazy and wobbled slightly when Taka held her steady.
"You seemed to be needing a lot more rest." Taka mentioned beside her.
"Yeah I guess, but I can manage thank you." Turning to the guardian, Rei said, "Can we talk? I need to know exactly why was I sent here and what I have to do to complete this mission."
Taiitsukun nodded at her and gestured for all of them to follow her.
Taka offered his arms for Rei to hold on to since she still hadn't replenish her energy.
"Weak woman had to be tended to." Tasuki muttered loud enough for Rei to hear. She stiffened at the insult and glared back at him. She almost stumbled and tightened her grip on Taka's arms. Tasuki would have laughed at her clumsiness, but her tight hold on Taka, which brought her body closer to him, infuriated him and he was not exactly sure why he felt such emotion. He pondered that a bit while whistling an unknown tune.
Well that's the end for now!