Ji-na smiled to herself as she got ready for bed. Everything was
turning out perfect. Hotohori seemed to be happy with Houki, she found out
about her past, and - she blushed when she thought of it - Chichiri liked
her.
She got into her pajamas and pulled the covers over her. She didn't know why, but she had the feeling she was being watched. She closed her eyes and tried to get to sleep.
I always get this feeling, she thought.
"BOO!" cried Hotohori, jumping into her room. Ji-na jumped.
"WHAT DID YOU DO THAT FOR?" she yelled. "YOU SCARED ME!" Hotohori was rolling around on the floor laughing.
"You should have seen your eyes," Hotohori said between fits of laughter. "Big as dinner plates!" Ji-na got out of bed and threw one of her pillows at him. It hit him in the face.
"Heeeeeeyyyyyyyyyyy!" he cried. He hit Ji-na back. A pillow fight ensued.
A few minutes later, Ji-na and Hotohori were lying on the floor, exhausted. Feathers were everywhere; on the bed, the furniture, them. Ji- na was reminded of the time she traveled with her family to the north and the land was covered with pure white snow.
Yeah, Ji-na thought. Snow white feathers. She looked over and saw Hotohori lying down next to her, asleep. A feather was on his lips and flew up every time he exhaled. Ji-na suddenly realized her own tiredness.
I'm glad the Hotohori I know is still lurking under that cover of an emperor, she thought to herself.
It started to drizzle outside. Ji-na listened to the rain hitting the roof as she snuggled up next to Hotohori and waited for sleep to some.
She didn't notice a ghostly hand brush across her cheek and a voice whisper, "Suzaku, protect her."
~*~
Chichiri awoke the next day to the sound of rain outside. Looking out the window, he discovered that rain was coming down in sheets.
Ug, he thought. I don't feel like going to breakfast today. His stomach, though, had other ideas.
Reluctantly, he got dressed and made his way to breakfast. Walking along the porch that wrapped around the courtyard on his way to the dining room he thought he heard a voice singing. He looked and saw Ji-na inside the gazebo in the middle of the courtyard singing a song that seemed to make the rain silver and the pond shimmering glass. Chichiri let the melody wrap around him and enter his soul. He couldn't hear the words so well, but if he strained his ears, he could just make out what she was singing.
"Distant thunder on the mountain Distant thunder in the sky Distant thunder says that rain is coming by and by
Scattered rainfall in the garden Scattered rainfall in the afternoon Scattered rainfall says that flowers will blossom soon"
"She's got a beautiful voice, doesn't she?" Chichiri turned around to see Hotohori leaning on the railing. "She's too shy to sing in front of other people most of the time, though. So she does it when she thinks no one's watching."
"She sounds just like Kouran no da," Chichiri replied.
"Well of course! They were sisters!"
"No, but I mean really alike. If they weren't born so many years apart, they could've been twins no da."
"Oh-oh the flowers that grow will open their petals one by one A flower has just one season in the sun"
"That's such a beautiful song," Hotohori sighed. "I've heard her sing it before but I never knew where it was from. I've asked her before, but she didn't know." Chichiri took off his mask.
"It's a lullaby from my village," he said. "Kouran and Jun-ling's mother used to sing it to them every night." "Jun-ling?"
"Ji-na's old name."
"The sun it will fly across the sky racing to chase the moon The moon will rise and set again too soon"
Chichiri noticed that the rain was flooding the courtyard. The water was getting steadily higher. He put his mask back on.
"Distant thunder on the mountain Far away but coming fast But the thunder and the dark will soon be past
Yes the storm will blow But in time we know That the sun will shine at last"
Chichiri and Hotohori applauded. Ji-na noticed them and blushed. She looked down and noticed the water rising higher and higher. Chichiri saw fear dance across her face. She took a deep breath and stepped in the water. In a flash she was gone.
"Ji-na!" Hotohori yelled. He jumped over the railing and into the water to try and rescue her. "Ji-na!" he called again. As soon as his feet touched the water, he was dragged under.
"Hotohori!" Chichiri called. "Why do you have to be so - so -"
"Stupid, right?" Chichiri turned around and saw the ghost of Hikou standing smugly with his arms crossed over his chest.
Chichiri didn't question this strange appearance of his best friend. He was too preoccupied with Hotohori's safety. He saw a hand sticking up out of the water not too far from the porch. If he reached out, he could grab it without having to step into the water and risk being dragged under. He grabbed the hand and much to his happiness found out it was attached to Hotohori.
~*~
Help me, Suzaku! Ji-na thought. Please! Suzaku, Hotohori, Chichiri, Miaka, Tasuki, Tamahome, Chiriko, Mitsukake, Kouran... anyone... help... A wave came and her head broke the surface. She sucked in mouthfuls of air, glad to be alive. When she went under again she found herself in a clump of seaweed.
Oh man, she thought. This can't be good. She struggled to free herself, but it seemed that the more she struggled, the more tangled she became. She became panicked. She was losing air. She couldn't breathe...
~*~
"Question: why are you here no da?" Chichiri asked Hikou as he helped dry off Hotohori.
"I haven't seen you for six years," Hikou responded. "I thought it would be nice to have a little reunion. Especially since the Three Warriors have changed so much."
Three Warriors no da? Chichiri thought. Who are they?
Duh! a voice in his head exclaimed. That's the name Hikou gave to the three of you!
Oh, yeah. And Ji-na was called 'The Other One'.
"... two are dead and one looks like a squirrel," Hikou said, unaware that Chichiri had just slipped into a daze.
"I do not no da! This is just a mask! See?" Chichiri took off his mask to prove that he didn't really look like a squirrel. He saw Hikou's eyes rest on his scar.
"How did that happen?"
"When that log hit me in the eye on the day of the flood - "
"Will you two just shut up and save my sister already?" Chichiri and Hikou turned around and saw Kouran leaning on the porch railing.
"I was just about to say that," Hotohori said.
A wave came and Ji-na's head broke the surface. She screamed. "Praise be to Suzaku! She's alive!" Hotohori cried as he scrambled to the railing. "I'm going to go in and save her!"
"Don't go, Hotohori!" Chichiri said. "I'll go save her." He put his mask in his pocket for safekeeping.
"Yeah, but do you really want to risk your life for some chick?" Hikou put his ghostly arm around Chichiri's shoulders. "C'mon," he started leading Chichiri away. "You should get some hot tea."
"Chichiri, what are you doing?" Kouran yelled. "Ji-na's in danger! You would never have walked out on someone in danger six years ago."
Chichiri didn't pay attention. He just kept walking.
"Are you listening to me, buster?"
When Chichiri had calculated enough distance, he turned around and took a running leap into the water.
"Kid's crazy," Hikou said. "Always was."
That was the last thing he heard before he hit the water.
A/N: Well, after a HUGE and not-so-well deserved break, writer's block, winter vacation, going somewhere for five days without a computer, and getting a new computer, you can see what took this chapter so long. I hope you all aren't too mad. I know that it can be aggravating to see that a story you really like hasn't been updated since last month at least. (That's happened to me more than once, believe me.)
I was wondering, does anyone want me to translate the Hebrew conversation that goes on between Ji-na and Hotohori? Not that it's terribly important to the plot, but it's always nice to know what's going on.
To all the Lucy Moses people that might read this chapter: If I got some of the lyrics to "Distant Thunder" wrong, it's because I'm too lazy to watch the video, and I think I lost my copy of the lyrics.
To the non-Lucy Moses people: "Distant Thunder" is by no means mine. All rights go to Lucy Moses, Sean Heartly, and anyone else who took part in writing the song. I have absolutely nothing to do with it aside from the fact that I sang it.
And now, on to the thank yous
TA Maxwell: I was really thinking that the boxers were Miaka's. Although she -could've- given them to Tasuki.... *evil pictures start to form in celestial princess' mind*
shadow sorceress: About what you said in chapter six; yes, Ji-na is Kouran's sister. That's why Chichiri mistakes her for Kouran in the water and why they both get flashbacks. I'm happy that you said you were glad that you came upon this story. It always makes me feel good that people appreciate my work. ^_^
She got into her pajamas and pulled the covers over her. She didn't know why, but she had the feeling she was being watched. She closed her eyes and tried to get to sleep.
I always get this feeling, she thought.
"BOO!" cried Hotohori, jumping into her room. Ji-na jumped.
"WHAT DID YOU DO THAT FOR?" she yelled. "YOU SCARED ME!" Hotohori was rolling around on the floor laughing.
"You should have seen your eyes," Hotohori said between fits of laughter. "Big as dinner plates!" Ji-na got out of bed and threw one of her pillows at him. It hit him in the face.
"Heeeeeeyyyyyyyyyyy!" he cried. He hit Ji-na back. A pillow fight ensued.
A few minutes later, Ji-na and Hotohori were lying on the floor, exhausted. Feathers were everywhere; on the bed, the furniture, them. Ji- na was reminded of the time she traveled with her family to the north and the land was covered with pure white snow.
Yeah, Ji-na thought. Snow white feathers. She looked over and saw Hotohori lying down next to her, asleep. A feather was on his lips and flew up every time he exhaled. Ji-na suddenly realized her own tiredness.
I'm glad the Hotohori I know is still lurking under that cover of an emperor, she thought to herself.
It started to drizzle outside. Ji-na listened to the rain hitting the roof as she snuggled up next to Hotohori and waited for sleep to some.
She didn't notice a ghostly hand brush across her cheek and a voice whisper, "Suzaku, protect her."
~*~
Chichiri awoke the next day to the sound of rain outside. Looking out the window, he discovered that rain was coming down in sheets.
Ug, he thought. I don't feel like going to breakfast today. His stomach, though, had other ideas.
Reluctantly, he got dressed and made his way to breakfast. Walking along the porch that wrapped around the courtyard on his way to the dining room he thought he heard a voice singing. He looked and saw Ji-na inside the gazebo in the middle of the courtyard singing a song that seemed to make the rain silver and the pond shimmering glass. Chichiri let the melody wrap around him and enter his soul. He couldn't hear the words so well, but if he strained his ears, he could just make out what she was singing.
"Distant thunder on the mountain Distant thunder in the sky Distant thunder says that rain is coming by and by
Scattered rainfall in the garden Scattered rainfall in the afternoon Scattered rainfall says that flowers will blossom soon"
"She's got a beautiful voice, doesn't she?" Chichiri turned around to see Hotohori leaning on the railing. "She's too shy to sing in front of other people most of the time, though. So she does it when she thinks no one's watching."
"She sounds just like Kouran no da," Chichiri replied.
"Well of course! They were sisters!"
"No, but I mean really alike. If they weren't born so many years apart, they could've been twins no da."
"Oh-oh the flowers that grow will open their petals one by one A flower has just one season in the sun"
"That's such a beautiful song," Hotohori sighed. "I've heard her sing it before but I never knew where it was from. I've asked her before, but she didn't know." Chichiri took off his mask.
"It's a lullaby from my village," he said. "Kouran and Jun-ling's mother used to sing it to them every night." "Jun-ling?"
"Ji-na's old name."
"The sun it will fly across the sky racing to chase the moon The moon will rise and set again too soon"
Chichiri noticed that the rain was flooding the courtyard. The water was getting steadily higher. He put his mask back on.
"Distant thunder on the mountain Far away but coming fast But the thunder and the dark will soon be past
Yes the storm will blow But in time we know That the sun will shine at last"
Chichiri and Hotohori applauded. Ji-na noticed them and blushed. She looked down and noticed the water rising higher and higher. Chichiri saw fear dance across her face. She took a deep breath and stepped in the water. In a flash she was gone.
"Ji-na!" Hotohori yelled. He jumped over the railing and into the water to try and rescue her. "Ji-na!" he called again. As soon as his feet touched the water, he was dragged under.
"Hotohori!" Chichiri called. "Why do you have to be so - so -"
"Stupid, right?" Chichiri turned around and saw the ghost of Hikou standing smugly with his arms crossed over his chest.
Chichiri didn't question this strange appearance of his best friend. He was too preoccupied with Hotohori's safety. He saw a hand sticking up out of the water not too far from the porch. If he reached out, he could grab it without having to step into the water and risk being dragged under. He grabbed the hand and much to his happiness found out it was attached to Hotohori.
~*~
Help me, Suzaku! Ji-na thought. Please! Suzaku, Hotohori, Chichiri, Miaka, Tasuki, Tamahome, Chiriko, Mitsukake, Kouran... anyone... help... A wave came and her head broke the surface. She sucked in mouthfuls of air, glad to be alive. When she went under again she found herself in a clump of seaweed.
Oh man, she thought. This can't be good. She struggled to free herself, but it seemed that the more she struggled, the more tangled she became. She became panicked. She was losing air. She couldn't breathe...
~*~
"Question: why are you here no da?" Chichiri asked Hikou as he helped dry off Hotohori.
"I haven't seen you for six years," Hikou responded. "I thought it would be nice to have a little reunion. Especially since the Three Warriors have changed so much."
Three Warriors no da? Chichiri thought. Who are they?
Duh! a voice in his head exclaimed. That's the name Hikou gave to the three of you!
Oh, yeah. And Ji-na was called 'The Other One'.
"... two are dead and one looks like a squirrel," Hikou said, unaware that Chichiri had just slipped into a daze.
"I do not no da! This is just a mask! See?" Chichiri took off his mask to prove that he didn't really look like a squirrel. He saw Hikou's eyes rest on his scar.
"How did that happen?"
"When that log hit me in the eye on the day of the flood - "
"Will you two just shut up and save my sister already?" Chichiri and Hikou turned around and saw Kouran leaning on the porch railing.
"I was just about to say that," Hotohori said.
A wave came and Ji-na's head broke the surface. She screamed. "Praise be to Suzaku! She's alive!" Hotohori cried as he scrambled to the railing. "I'm going to go in and save her!"
"Don't go, Hotohori!" Chichiri said. "I'll go save her." He put his mask in his pocket for safekeeping.
"Yeah, but do you really want to risk your life for some chick?" Hikou put his ghostly arm around Chichiri's shoulders. "C'mon," he started leading Chichiri away. "You should get some hot tea."
"Chichiri, what are you doing?" Kouran yelled. "Ji-na's in danger! You would never have walked out on someone in danger six years ago."
Chichiri didn't pay attention. He just kept walking.
"Are you listening to me, buster?"
When Chichiri had calculated enough distance, he turned around and took a running leap into the water.
"Kid's crazy," Hikou said. "Always was."
That was the last thing he heard before he hit the water.
A/N: Well, after a HUGE and not-so-well deserved break, writer's block, winter vacation, going somewhere for five days without a computer, and getting a new computer, you can see what took this chapter so long. I hope you all aren't too mad. I know that it can be aggravating to see that a story you really like hasn't been updated since last month at least. (That's happened to me more than once, believe me.)
I was wondering, does anyone want me to translate the Hebrew conversation that goes on between Ji-na and Hotohori? Not that it's terribly important to the plot, but it's always nice to know what's going on.
To all the Lucy Moses people that might read this chapter: If I got some of the lyrics to "Distant Thunder" wrong, it's because I'm too lazy to watch the video, and I think I lost my copy of the lyrics.
To the non-Lucy Moses people: "Distant Thunder" is by no means mine. All rights go to Lucy Moses, Sean Heartly, and anyone else who took part in writing the song. I have absolutely nothing to do with it aside from the fact that I sang it.
And now, on to the thank yous
TA Maxwell: I was really thinking that the boxers were Miaka's. Although she -could've- given them to Tasuki.... *evil pictures start to form in celestial princess' mind*
shadow sorceress: About what you said in chapter six; yes, Ji-na is Kouran's sister. That's why Chichiri mistakes her for Kouran in the water and why they both get flashbacks. I'm happy that you said you were glad that you came upon this story. It always makes me feel good that people appreciate my work. ^_^