EIIII!!! Help me! I admit it; I've gone insane. I just bought the Fushigi Yugi graphic novels 1 and 3 through 6. In one shopping trip, I might add. Do you think I need help? Uh huh… You know… Book 6 is so sad! Not to mention the animators (whom I personally despise) changed it! I guess I should explain what they changed, huh? Well, the scene where Amiboshi fell into the river was entirely screwed up! In the anime, they tried to make Miaka look more compassionate by her attempting to save Amiboshi and (this is going to sound really gross) she grabbed his… flute, which he somehow still had a good grip on… She said, "Chiriko…" (which isn't his name, even after he told them he was Amiboshi)and then he smiled and let go of the flute. He THEN fell into the river, smiling serenely. No, no, no…! In the manga, Amiboshi fell BACKWARKS into the river, head first, and let go of the flute on the way down. Miaka just screamed, "CHIRIKO!!" and nearly fell in herself (we could only wish), but Tamahome held her back. Amiboshi wasn't exactly smiling serenely in this scene, you might have already guessed. *takes deep breath* Okay, I'm done now. (I'm getting really bad about these long and irrelevant author's notes, aren't I?) Read on and escape the terror of Kaen's pointless (and not to mention endless) tangent!

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Nijuusei

Chapter 5: A New Meeting

By Kaen

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Papers, papers, papers, and then, more papers. There seemed to be no end to them. Their imposing presence was always just a page turn away. She hated filling out papers, but she kept these thoughts to herself. After all, this information that she was giving would be helpful to the police in making the city slightly safer. Not much safer, but it would still help nonetheless. I'm tired of being afraid, she thought to herself, and ashamed. I'm tired of being ashamed of what I did in the book, but I deserve this guilt, don't I? I brought it on myself. She heaved a sigh and looked down, reading one of the last questions in the giant packet: "Please describe those involved in the crime."

Yui blinked and stared at the question. Describe? It had been dark that night, and rather difficult to see through watering eyes. She had been so scared- afraid that what she had been told had happened when she first arrived in Kutou was about to happen for real. She hadn't been brave enough to look any of them in the eye. Her decision to even come here had been impulsive and she hadn't thought ahead about the questions she would be required to answer. But there was no way that she could back out now, was there? Crap. Yui leaned back in the chair, her eyes absently scanning the ceiling. Could she describe them as butt ugly? Probably not… She drummed her fingers against the table, debating what she should do. She couldn't give inaccurate information, but what she knew probably wouldn't be enough to help anything. Was she always so useless? Just dead weight in the life of everyone she knew? She groaned in frustration.

Subconsciously tilting her chair back, Yui found herself looking at anything remotely interesting. She really should be thinking about the event last night, but old memories were resurfacing and interfering with present thoughts. She picked up the pen off the table and twirled it with her fingers.

"Is there a problem, miss?" asked the policeman who had shown her to the private room. Yui jumped in surprise, nearly falling out of chair. Flailing her arms, she managed to regain her balance and successfully landed all for legs of the chair on the floor. The policeman looked on in mild amusement. He had stopped just outside of the room in the hall to check on her and hadn't meant to startle her like that. Grinning slightly, the kindly cop apologized.

"It's fine. I was just a little surprised." Yui responded, still slightly ruffled. The policeman nodded in acknowledgement.

"Now, were you having any difficulty with any of the questions?"

Yui was about to say no and turn him away, but she stopped herself. Surely there were people who only vaguely remembered a crime yet had still reported it, right? It was always worth a try…

"I can't clearly recall the physical assets of the group members. I'm just having trouble describing them…" Yui explained, smiling in an apologetic fashion.

"Just do the best that you can. We might be able to match what little you may give with records from a previous report. What's important is that you write down what you know."

Yui was reassured at this answer and offered a quick 'thank you' before returning to the papers in front of her. The cop nodded again before turning and walking down the hall where he had come from. As he was walking, he couldn't help but wonder what this city was coming to. In just that day, he had dealt with a confused and helpless teenage boy and now a girl who had suffered two near-assaults. He shook his head as he walked down the impersonal hall, the heels of his boots clicking lightly against the white tile. Upon returning to his temporary workstation, the desk by the cells, he checked to make sure that everything was in order. While making a quick sweep of the large room, he was sure to check on that kid who he had brought in earlier that day. He appeared to be asleep and the police officer sighed, closing his light-blue eyes. He had just been hoping that someone would come and get this kid out, but the entire afternoon and evening had passed without so much as a phone call. Just by watching over this him, he was sure that he didn't belong there. Returning the desk, he once again picked up the newspaper and skimmed it for any articles he might have previously missed. Finding no such article, he settled on reading the comics.

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Kokuei panted heavily as he leaned again the cool streetlamp. His eyes were quickly surveying the area and he immediately knew that Yui was not there for partially hidden in the shadows was a gang from which gray cigarette smoke was rising. Kokuei cautiously got a little closed to the gang and recognized them almost instantly. Maybe some members of the group didn't look familiar, but the leader sure as hell did. The slicked back dark hair, the massive build, and beady eyes were unmistakable. In the back of his mind, Kokuei wondered how the guy could have stayed alive so long, given that he was constantly taking drug overdoses and drinking like there was no tomorrow. Keeping his distance, Kokuei began looking around the surrounding area for any signs of Yui. He was slightly disappointed when he couldn't find any, but his disappointment was outweighed by his thankfulness. That group didn't mean well and had even gone so far as to beating a kid nearly to death for their mere entertainment. Approaching the lecture hall, Kokuei stole a look inside, searching for the familiar dark blond hair. Satisfied that Yui was not there at the campus at all, Kokuei turned away and began to leave.

"Hey, little rich boy…" a slurred voice called out in his general direction. "Can't cha spare somethin' for the poor? Surely you's got somethin'…"

Kokuei froze, slowly turning around to face the person who was speaking to him. It was him… Did he remember…? After ten years, did that guy remember…? Kokuei's eyes began to widen in panic as he stared in disbelief. One of the guys in the gang reached into his pocket and pulled out a switchblade, casually tossing it into the air and catching it. "So, ya gonna give it over easy or will ya put up a fight? Either way's fine with us." After this, he let out a sly and low laugh.

"I don't have anything." Kokuei explained shakily as he took a step back from the group. His breathing had quickened and he trembled slightly. It was then that it struck him that he really didn't have anything- he had left it all at that house! Groaning, Kokuei grimly noted that he was double-screwed. Damn it all.

"You really expect us ta believe that? You look like ya got plenty ta go around. Why don't you just cough it up and save yerself from a beating?" asked the leader lowly. They began to slowly advance as the subordinate who had spoken to Kokuei before flipped open his switchblade.

That was it; Kokuei couldn't take it anymore. There was no way he could win against all those people and his only other option was to run. Fast.  And he did just that. Despite his previous running, he had found that fear for one's skin prevailed over physical exhaustion. Fortunately, Kokuei had the advantage of the dark night and 20-yard head start on the gang and that gave him more than enough space to easily loose them. They were probably too damn stoned to put up much of a chase after him, anyway. Ducking into a darkened alley several blocks away, Kokuei collapsed against the garbage bags and continued to pant. When they had said that they'd beat him, they weren't just talking tough. He knew they'd do it, he knew from personnel experience.

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He had been eight years old when he had run into them that one night. He hadn't done anything to upset them, but apparently they were bored and needed something to kill time. They had scared him when he had been that little, especially the huge guy with the dark hair and eyes. Kokuei hadn't intended to even make them aware of his presence as he tried to pass through that alley to get to a restaurant's dumpster, but he had been sick again and had fallen into a coughing spell near the dumpster. This had immediately caught their attention and Kokuei had never been more terrified in his short life as when a sadistic grin crossed the bulky man's face. Kokuei had tried in vain to hide himself, but it was too late. Soon, that group had surrounded him, his back pressed against the wall. He squeezed his eyes shut with his mind of a child somehow believing that if he could not see them, he must be invisible to them. But the next thing he was aware of was the twisted laughter and the cold hand that gripped his neck, lifting him completely off his feet. He had kicked and struggled against the hold, but his protests were only met with pain. He had screamed for help, but those calls were never answered and soon more members of the gang joined in. In just a matter of minutes, he was hurt too badly to even move. When he had stopped responding to their hits, kicks, throws, and slices, the gang had lost interest in him and dropped him in the alley.  The sudden impact on his back caused him to launch into another coughing spell and he could do nothing but lay there as he watched the gang vanish into the night. He had seemed so sure that he would die that night; it was all he could expect as he was frozen with pain and his life was flowing out of him, carried by the streams of warm red blood. That night had been so cold- Kokuei still believed that the only thing that had kept him alive was the small fire that had been lit in the nearby metal trashcan. He had let his eyes rest on the dimly lit brick wall as the light from the fire flickered across it, casting shadows and designs that somehow managed to form the face of the man who'd just beat him for no reason other than that he was bored. He had watched it in a subtle and fearful fascination before drifting off to what he thought was going to be an endless slumber.

What had surprised him the most about this run-in was the fact that he awoke the next morning, feeling terrible but still stronger than he had been the previous night and alive. Yes, he had been most shocked to find that he was alive. It seemed that even stranger to him that he was no longer bleeding and his injuries felt somehow braced, as if by cast and bandages that could be felt but not seen. That was the first time it had happened…

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Kokuei yawned. He was not only tired physically, but also tired mentally. He reclined against the garbage bags; curling himself into a ball to keep some of the warmth in. He fell asleep thinking of the phenomenon that had been happening to him ever since that day ten years ago. Maybe it was my Guardian Angel, he mused resignedly before drifting off to sleep.

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Yui stretched as she stood from her chair, her pride evident in her smile. She had finally finished off the monstrous packet and for that she was very proud of herself. Letting her arms fall to her sides, she briefly wondered what she should do now. That man had left her alone after getting the essential information, but now she had to find him and give him all the stuff she had just filled out. Picking up the papers off the table, Yui made her way over to the door and looked down it in both directions, wondering which way to go. She really didn't want to have to talk to the rude cop up front who had directed her back here and her eyes scanned the halls for any signs of the preferred kinder one who had helped her with the papers. After a few seconds of waiting, neither appeared. Yui decided on trying to find the nice cop who had left towards the back of the building, rather than the front. She followed the long stark white hall to the back room, which had its door propped open with a plain brick. Stepping inside cautiously, she was relieved to find the cop sitting at his desk, apparently reading the comics in the newspaper. Muffling a giggle, she walked over to his desk while doing her best to ignore the fact that she was in the room that housed the cells.

"Excuse me," she said quietly and he lowered his newspaper, offering her a smile. She returned his smile and informed him that she had finished the packet.

"All right! Let's just make sure that you didn't forget anything before you leave, okay?" he asked as he placed his newspaper aside to take the papers from her hand. Yui nodded and walked around the desk so that she was looking over his shoulder as he skimmed over the information she had written. Yui heard a soft moan and some movement in a nearby cell, but she once again ignored it and focused on the documents. 

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Hiashi groaned, his headache intensifying as he attempted movement. He pushed himself up off the bed, swinging his legs over to hang over the side of the makeshift bed. He felt like his head was going to explode. It was already pounding with stress and worry and the inference did seem plausible. Groaning again, Hiashi brought a hand to clutch his forehead in effort to sooth his raging migraine, but instead only proved to be effective in showing that he had a fever. Great job, Hiashi; he thought bitterly, you've literally managed to worry yourself sick.  It was then that he heard voices in the room. The first one he knew to be the voice of the cop that had escorted him, but the second one… it was a feminine voice- probably a girl in her late teens or so. Figuring that he had nothing better to do, Hiashi pushed himself completely off the bed. Standing wasn't as easy of a task as he would have hoped because the room began to swirl about him and all his vision registered was the pitch dark. Reaching out to the wall to steady himself, Hiashi waited for his balance and vision to return. After a minute or two, he felt stable enough to walk across the small cell and lean his hot forehead against the cold iron bars. He gripped a bar with his right hand, allowing the other hand to rest limply at his side as he observed the ongoing scene with mild curiosity.

There was a girl there who appeared to be checking over something with the cop. She had dark blond hair that fell to around her shoulders and, from what Hiashi could see, beautiful aqua-blue eyes. She was modestly dressed, clad in a white hooded sweatshirt/jacket, and somewhat baggy denim jeans. Hiashi found himself staring at her, taking interest in even the way she tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. It looked like they were finishing up and Hiashi allowed his eyes to drift shut, listening vigilantly to the last strands of conversation.

"Thanks for coming in, Miss Hongo. We'll try to put this info to good use," said the cop. So, her family name is Hongo… noted Hiashi.

"Yes, and thank you. I hope I've helped somehow." The girl replied.

"All right. Well, I'll presume you'll be leaving now if there isn't anything else?" There was a silence there after, but Hiashi could assume that the girl had nodded or offered some other gesture to confirm his notion. He could hear footsteps heading towards the door, but the stopped abruptly as a gasp escaped the girl. Hiashi opened his eyes quickly, but the situation was not clarified by this action for the girl was staring at him with wide eyes. Blinking, he stared back hoping that she would just turn and go, but instead she began walking towards his cell and stopped when she was just outside it.

"Kokuei?" she asked, her voice soft and benign.

"Huh? Sorry, but I'm not Kokuei. I think you're mistaken," was the answer that Hiashi offered the pretty girl. She furrowed her brow at this as she cast her eyes down in deep thought. Turning to the police officer who'd been watching her carefully, she asked, "What did he do, officer?"

"You know him, Miss Hongo?" Yui nodded, which sent Hiashi into total confusion.

All right, I guess it won't do any harm. He was caught stealing at a local convenience store."

"His first offense?" Yui inquired and the cop answered 'yes.' Yui looked thoughtfully at Hiashi and a small smile crossed her face.

"I'd like to bail him, if that's all right with you, Officer?" With this, Yui put on her best puppy eyes and sweetest smile. The officer faltered and Yui smirked on the inside at this response, but maintained her cute facade.

"O-Of course! It'll be… be $75 for his first, and hopefully last, felony."

"But-but… Hey! Hold on a-" Yui turned around quickly in order to quiet Hiashi's protests. She brought a finger to her lips and Hiashi noted the slightly alarmed look in her eyes. He was confused, but he could tell that she was here to help him. Even if he'd never seen her before in his entire life… He shook his head; it just didn't make sense and it was making his head hurt more.

"40…55… 60…65… 68…68…" Yui froze in her counting, checking the other pockets of her wallet for bills that might have eluded her. It was only then that she remembered how much she'd paid for the cab and she bit her lower lip to mute the swear echoing through her mind. She clutched the bills in her hand tightly, sorely disappointed at her own misjudgment.

"75 it is, then!" exclaimed the officer cheerfully, his hand taking the $68 out of Yui's.

"But that's-" the officer shushed her and with a quick glance towards the door, he reached into his own wallet and pulled out the absent seven dollars. Giving her a reassuring wink, he put the money together on his desk and fished the keys out of a drawer. As he used one of them to open Hiashi's cell, both Yui and Kokuei stared in disbelief.

"He doesn't belong here, Miss Hongo. Please take him away," was all the answer the cop presented for his actions. He stepped aside and signaled Hiashi to step out. Hiashi was at a loss for words as he exited; casting perplexed looks at both Yui and the cop. Why in the world are these people helping me? The policeman had returned to his desk and was preparing Hiashi's file with the bail money. He looked at the two one last time as he raised a hand to wave goodbye. Yui bowed while Hiashi just stared, but he was snapped out of his daze by a tugging on his left hand. Yui had intertwined her fingers with his and Hiashi blushed a deep red. 

"I honestly can't believe you'd ever do that, darling. I mean, really…," exclaimed Yui, sounding for all the world like she and Hiashi were an item. She continued to carry on in a similar fashion until they had both stepped outside of the police station. Tugging him a safe distance away from the building, she finally let his hand go and began explaining.

"My name is Yui Hongo. The reason I helped you was because there is something I need your help with."

"Uh, I'm Hiashi Kagori. It's nice to meet you?" Hiashi held out his hand, but it somehow seemed a little ridiculous to be worrying about shaking hands now. Nonetheless, Yui had accepted it and said, "It's nice to finally meet you, Ami- I mean, Hiashi," she had begun to walk down the sidewalk as she tried to strike up some conversation, "So, care to explain what happened back there? You just don't seem like the kind of guy to shoplift."

"I really don't know, Miss Hongo. I had just walked into a 7-11, picked out the stuff I'd wanted, and was about to pay when this fat man cornered and accused me. I didn't even know what was going on until he called the cops and we all watched the security video camera. It was definitely me who stole the bread, but at the same time it wasn't. I didn't want to give anyone any trouble so I just went along with it and hoped my parents would come looking for me, but they didn't… Is this making any sense at all?"

Yui nodded, seeming to completely believe him, which surprised Hiashi. He was expecting him to at least say that he was lying or something to condemn him, but she had remained silent and patiently listen to his story. In Yui's mind, she was practically cracking up. Suboshi had stolen a loaf of bread, but his twin brother had taken the blame. The irony of it was just sickening, but she couldn't have been more amused.  Poor Amiboshi! Speaking of Ami- No Hiashi, he really didn't look too good. The flush on his cheeks wasn't just him blushing, no matter how adorable that was. She had also gotten the impression that he didn't feel like talking- whether that was a sour mood or something else entirely was still up in the air. They continued to walk along together in uncomfortable silence and Yui tucked her hands inside her sweatshirt/jacket to warm them.

"Hiashi, do you have enough money to take a cab home?" Yui asked, finally focusing on a logical topic.

"No, I don't have any money anymore. I accidentally dropped it at that gas station and I didn't exactly get it back… It's looks like it's going to be a long walk," Hiashi forced a weak smile, but it only showed Yui that he really shouldn't have to stay out in the cold on a night like tonight. It was so cold out, and it was only 7:30!

"Perhaps I can pay for a taxi for you? It's getting so cold out and I couldn't bear the thought of you walking all the way home."

"You don't need to worry about it, Miss Yui. I'll be fine and besides, aren't you as broke as I am now? Ahh! And thank you very much for what you did back there! I'm so sorry! I'd forgotten to thank you, hadn't I? I'm sorry!" Yui laughed lightly at Hiashi's rapid apologies. He really acted quite differently than Suboshi ever did; it seemed strange that the two could have gotten along as well as they supposedly had.

"You're quite welcome! And don't worry about money because my apartment is near here. I can get some more money from there. By the way, call me 'Yui.' 'Miss Yui' sounds so formal!" Yui scrunched up her nose, making a point of showing her dislike for the title. It was Hiashi's turn to laugh. He could tell right then that he and Yui would probably be good friends when this little adventure was over. Pushing aside these thoughts, Hiashi was preparing to refuse Yui's generous offer once again but Yui had beat him to it by bringing a finger to his lips and using her free hand to tug his towards the large building on their left. Hiashi pouted and Yui laughed again. What woman wouldn't thing he was adorable? It was really too bad that she hadn't had him to confide in while she was in Kutou. She could have used a good friend and it might have made all the difference in everything…

"No more arguments, Hiashi. Besides, you look kind of feverish. Here, hold still." Yui brought a cool hand to his forehead and Hiashi lowered his eyes at the touch. After a few seconds, Yui announced that he was burning up and that he should come inside to sit down while she got the money. Remembering her "no more arguments" rule, Hiashi had agreed and followed her towards the entrance of the massive complex. Walking along, Hiashi began to ponder the situation. It seemed selfish to take even more of Yui's money, especially since she had just bailed him form jail. But what was the point refusing a kind offer that he had in truth needed? And it's not like it was troublesome to be with Yui… He blushed, trying to shrug off that previous thought. Since when had he been so quick to feel so close to a girl? Stupid question, stupid answer- that answer was obviously being since he had met Yui, about ten minutes ago… What am I doing? I should be getting home now. My parent's will be worried for sure if they do finally call the station and I'm not there. Why must I always live for someone else? an insistent voice asked him, the words echoing through his mind. As much as that thought had irritated him, he knew it was true. He hadn't lived for himself for as long as he could remember.

"Hiashi? Aren't you coming?" called Yui, holding open the glass door to the building for Hiashi. He hesitated for a second, but then nodded and hurried inside to make sure he didn't set off the alarm. That smile from Yui was more than enough to convince him that this once, just this once, he should live for himself. And after all, every day is a new adventure.

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Dum-da-dum-dum! Yes, I know that I'm evil. Please don't hurt me! I needed to get a plot in there somewhere! I hope you enjoyed this chapter because I just spent seven hours in front of my computer writing it! O.O Problems, ne? So… Guess what? I have a new fic! It's called "I've Been Waiting For You…" and I know it sounds like a creepy fic about a stalker, but it's really just a short fic about the friendship between Nuriko and Houki. It's not too boring, though. There's a reason I classified it as humor as well as general, so please, please read it and review. It's my shot at anything humorous, so I need to know whether to write more like it or just boot it all together. Hm… I think this is about the 17th time I've listened to Futatsu no Kodou repetitively. You know it's getting to me when I parade around in one knee-high leather boot and one of my mother's loafers…  That's really all I have to say, so thanks for reading and please review!

-Kaen ^^

Notes more important than the mindless ramblings above:

-Ai-chan, thanks for clearing up my translation difficulties! Here are there accurate name meanings that I messed up: Shunkaku means "angle genius" and Kotoku means "high spirit of virtue." Their last name, Bu, means "warrior." (It all makes sense now!) Thank you!

-Krissy, you are the best! If you're reading this, I'd just like to know that you have a permanent fan (there's no getting rid of me now! *maniacal laughter*) and that you have no idea how much I appreciate everything you've done for me! Thank you so much!