Even Though It's Painful… Always
By Nokurai To-orima
Disclaimer: I don't own FY. If I did, I wouldn't be making this…
Where in the universe am I?
If I'm not in Kutuo, then where…
Then, there was a knock on my door, "Ohayo gozaimasu! Who's there? It's me Kouji! May I come in? Sure! Thank you!" and the door opened to reveal a blue-haired man holding a cloth bag on his right hand. He greeted me with a smile, "Good morning!"
This time, I sat up, ignoring the complaints of my aching head. I returned a faint smile as a sweat drop appears at my head. What a strange fellow. Is he talking to himself or what?
"Feeling well?"
Silence.
"Daijobou… it's understandable. By the looks of the injuries you've acquired, I say you're one lucky gal. I'm glad you're awake, though. You've been sleeping for three days now." He informed, removing the bandage on my right arm.
I suddenly felt embarrassed, I'm not used to people being concern about me except for my parents and my best friend. He must've noticed my colored cheeks. "It's okay, no need to be shy now."
"Thank you so much… anou…"
He smiled again, "Kouji's the name. And you?"
"Nokurai To-orima desu. Glad to meet you."
Chapter 7: Dengon (A Message)
He then put out a small bowl and put in some green liquid in it. He dipped a cloth and start tending on my wounds. I took a sharp intake of air as pain pierced my skin. He noticed it. "Gomen, I should've warned you that this stuff may hurt, but it's the best healing herb around here."
"Anou… I'm sorry for the trouble. If there's something…"
"Daijobou… I'm just doing what a person should do to an injured person, alright? You can repay us by getting well, ne?" He gave me a cheerful smile as he patted my head like a cat, his green eyes gleamed with the same expression as his voice.
"Domo…"
"Oi, Kouji, who the hell are you talking to?" An orange-haired man surprisingly appeared inside the room. The blue-haired fellow stood up and met the person near the doorway, obscuring my attempt to see the man's face.
"How's the patrol, Gen-chan?" I heard Kouji coo.
The other bandit laughed, "Still the same boring view, but the winter breeze felt good once in a while."
That voice is so… familiar… My heart came to a sputtering halt, then, it began beating again, with a different rhythm.
With one fluid motion, Kouji turned his back against the man and pointed at me, balking me in surprise. The man appeared from the doorway, his hand consciously running through his hair flame-colored hair.
Our eyes locked.
* * * * *
That's strange, I feel that I've seen those eyes before… those bloody pools that were marked with anger and forsakenness… she does look familiar… but where?
* * * * *
That's strange, I feel that I've seen those eyes before… those fiery pools that were marked with anger and forsakenness… his voice is also recognizable… but where?
* * * * *
Kouji coughed loudly before introducing us to each other, "By the way, Nokurai-chan, this is Genrou, the leader of the Mt. Leikaku's bandits. Genrou-chan, this is Nokurai To-orima, the lady you've saved three days ago."
"Nice to meet you."
"Un." Was all he said. He then turned to talk with Kouji at the far end of the room, which had given me the time to take a good look at him. Genrou, also known as invincible wolf, had a fire-touched hair and cat-like eyes. Dressed in a blue coat over a white shirt and pants and his brown leather boots, the weather wouldn't be a bother for him. I wonder what was the thing he had behind him?
I was about to ask when a sudden opening of the door intervened with my attempt. All of us found a young man in green clothes and white boots in the doorway, "Kouji, Genrou, there's a problem in the forest near the lake. Some of our people reported that they've seen Kutuo soldiers." He said, making me worried.
Have they found me?
Kouji and Genrou looked at each other before going out the door. But before Kouji closed the door, he said, "Don't worry, we'll be back after awhile." And then he closed it.
I plopped back on my bed, trying to get some sleep. It's been five days… I wonder what's happening on my world? I looked at the ceiling, still pondering on that question.
* * * * *
It's been 5 hours since she's gone…
A cherry pinked-haired girl thought as she stared at the wall clock in front of her. The ticking of it was the only the audible sound you can hear… until, several phone rings echoed through the dark room.
"Konnichiwa, Fujimiya Michiru here. How may I help you?"
"Ei Micchi! It's me, Heren."
"Konnichiwa, why you called?"
"Well, since you're the only one she's close to… have you seen To-orima? I mean… I haven't seen her all morning! She won't answer her cell phone for crying out loud! We're supposed to do our computer project due next week and she doesn't show up!" She informed, obviously panicking on the other end of the line.
A forlorn expression befell on Michiru's face, "Iie, she said about visiting her brothers to see how they're doing." She lied. She knew how her best friend hated her siblings. But what else can she say? If she told her the truth, she would actually laugh at it. Who would believe that she's a teen from the ancient times, anyway?
A pause, and then a sudden outbreak of giggles. "To-orima? Visiting her brothers? You've got to be kidding me! I know how she hates her brothers, and it would only been a miracle if she visited them!!! Is she sick or something?" Heren questioned as if she could read through Michiru's lie.
She faked a laugh, "You know her… her mind must've been twisted."
Like mine.
"Probably an angel, miraculously, infected her brain. Anyway, if she calls you up or something, please tell her to contact me ASAP so we can talk about our project, okay? You know how much I rely on her when it comes to computers."
"I will."
With that, the phone was hung up. And a lucid drop of liquid landed on the handset.
* * * * *
After breakfast was served, a bandit, who is known as Shiro, lent me some of the extra clothes they have, which turns out to be several worn out shirts, a thick coat, pants that are a little big and black boots.
As I finished dressing, I went out in search for adventure.
I talked to the men on post, I found out that Kouji and Genrou had gone with the scouting party. Instead of slumping around to wait for them, I spent the whole morning drifting aimlessly along the long corridors of the bandit's headquarters, humming a tune of a song that pops out in my head. As I came across some members of this group, they all asked me the questions about myself. I can feel a visible sweat drop forming in my temple. I declined them and returned to my little "journey".
After a few minutes of strolling across the white snow, going from one part of the camp to the other, being welcomed wherever I went, I suddenly ended up in the kitchen of the headquarters. Sitting near the cook without trepidation, I watched him, in the corner of the warm cookhouse, prepare a dozen of dishes skillfully. He gave me a quick glance before putting a knife and a cutting board in front of me. I gave him a questioning look.
"Instead of slumping over there and watching me, why don't you peel and slice these." He said before demonstrating on how to do the needed task. I just nodded. He, then, passed me a barrel of radish before going back to his cooking. I worked alongside him in the steam-laden building humming along the way. After hours of skinning and slicing the vegetables, I stood up and stretched my arms up high as if reaching the ceiling, and then cleaned my work place before heading out to the door. He called me out and gave me three peaches still bundled up. I thanked him and ran outside to the winter afternoon.
I nibbled on one as I was still on my exploration trip, holding the two fruits on my right hand. I suddenly heard several curses on the entrance… I guess they're back. I thought as I saw Genrou and Kouji walking towards the building, giving their horses to the men by the stables.
I welcomed them by waving at them.
* * * * *
"Oi Gen-chan, look who's waving..." He whispered with a sly smile as he returned the wave.
I raised my brow, "So what?! As if I care!" I grumbled. What's the problem with this guy? I mean, gushing over a girl like that? "We don't know about her and you treat her like you've known her for a long time! What if she's a spy or something?"
As we continued to walk towards her direction, Kouji's expression suddenly became serious, "When the time comes, she'll tell us something. All we have to do is wait. She just got healed so don't rush things yet. You might regret it."
What do I have to regret?"
When we reached her, Kouji patted her brown hair, asking her what she's been doing while they were gone. She talked about her 'discoveries' in the stronghold, how the men greeted her and took her in, and how she helped the cook in peeling and slicing radishes.
"Oh, I almost forgot!" She took out two peaches and offered it to us. Kouji took one. I took one also, my fingers brushing against hers. For some reason, I don't like to eat the peach. But what the heck… I chomped on it. She suddenly asked us on how was the mountain trip, and Kouji did all the talking. I suddenly remembered that night wherein the Kutuo soldiers surrounded her and Akira. I wanted to ask her about that issue. But then again, Kouji might kill me if I asked her now. Maybe I could talk to her, one on one.
A few minutes later, someone called my name. All of us looked at the source of the voice. It was a newbie. He was running on the thick snow and when he came to us, he was perspiring a lot beside of the cold weather.
"What's wrong?" I asked him.
"Sir, it's about Akira."
Continued…
* * * * *
At long last! Chapter 7 is finished…
GOMEN NASAI MINNA-SAN!!! Sorry if I wasn't able to update due to severe writer's block and I've got many plans ahead of my fanfic! Hehehehe…
Anyway, I think my survey didn't get any… answers except for one person though… Thanks Kiara! But I just decided to update people who review this fic so thanks for reviewing anyway.
By the way, for those who're familiar with the anime named FRUITS BASKET, I want to invite you to read my fanfic entitled "I WISH I KNEW…" (4 chapters and still on going.) and "BLOOD AND TEARS" (2 chapters, new project of mine). Although I know I got a couple of grammatical errors, please read and review! Arigatou!
And I'm sorry about the previous chapter! I was soooo careless! I spotted a few grammatical errors like the text messages, they're exactly the same!!! But don't worry, I replaced it! So if you want to re-read it, go ahead, no one's stopping you. ^.~
A word for my reviewers:
To Otaku Pitcher: YOU ARE SO UNFAIR!!!! You'll just send it whenever I update?! How cruel! How diabolic! How… how… oh never mind! Well, at least you already send it to me! Hehehehe… Thanks for granting my favor though… I hope I'm not… stubborn in asking for the chapters… It's a cool story, even though you don't want to admit it. I'm just curious what kind of story line it has. Thanks for reviewing my fic anyway! And do I really have a good writing strategy? My friend told me I'm losing my touch! Hehehehe… . Chapter 3 was quite confusing at first so I re-read it and I got it! ^.~ So Ryu is a new character… I wonder what will happen next… please send me the next chapter okay?
To Midnight Kitty: Oh it's okay… we're both busy and tired of all these schoolwork. I'm also sorry if I didn't review your work as soon as you updated it… I guess I got the wrong idea about your fic ne? Hehehe… Thanks for reviewing my work! I seemed to have a problem in reviewing all my reviewer's work and my favorites one! Hehehehe… Thanks again! " By the way, make sure you update me when you've posted up the new chapter okay? I'll be waiting for it… if you don't inform me… I'll never review your fic! BWAHAHAHAHA! *evil laughter* …just kidding! .
To Haruko-chan: Wow! Sugoii na! I'm getting a new reader in every chapter! Thanks for dropping in! I'm suddenly curious on how you stumbled upon my fanfic… care to share? Oh, thanks for reviewing my work! I appreciate it! And oh, sorry about the spacing… it's… ummm… because I like to "emphasize" a thought of the character that I tend to make it… spacious. And I save it in .html format sooo…. One space is equivalent to 2 spaces when posted up… thanks for dropping in anyway! By the way, I'm giving you an exercise for your fingers! You should thank me for it! .
To LanaPanther: Hora! Nice to see you again! Long time no review! Hehehe… I'm sorry if I haven't existed on one of your reviewers' list though, I've been too busy with schoolwork and my hobbies… although I can't jumble up anime and schoolwork at the same time due to the fact that they're completely different things… or subjects… anyway, thanks for dropping in again! Hope you don't mind me dropping a line in your e-mail every now and then. I just like pestering people!
To Kiara: Thanks for answering the survey… although I'll be turning it down due to some reasons… or maybe I'm more comfortable that I want to drop an e-mail or update my reviewers… I'll have a pang of guilt if I don't… hehehehe… By the way, thanks again for dropping a review! Hope to expect you in the future chapters! And I'll be checking up on your fics next week! I'm sure of it!!! . Hope you'll see me in one of your fics!
If you have any suggestions, comments, any ideas for the next chapters, or simply want to talk or pester me (or maybe not…), please e-mail me at furyoushoujo@hotmail.com and I'll be replying to you very soon!
And those who wanted to be updated, please leave your e-mail address whenever you review my work or plainly e-mail me again at furyoushoujo@hotmail.com and I'll be sending you an e-mail for notification, okay? Just reply to notify me if you ever received it.
And that's it! Until the next chapter update! Ja ne!