A/n: Hahahah well I just realized that I have been writing Jielain's name
with a Chou at the end instead of Kou because one is Nuriko's family name
and one is Tasuki's family name and I was all confused. So I changed it
some places and forgot to change some, so if it bothers you, ignore it. The
main thing is that her name is Jielain Ryuuen Tasuki Kou/Chou depending on
my current state of mind. Feel free to tell me how it is supposed to be for
real.. anyway, this is a very nice chapter (if I do say so myself) even if
it is a bit.uuuuh.. dunno how to describe it but whatever. I think it is
cool. Warning, there are some spoilers so if you are going with the Viz
comics, they haven't gotten that far yet. (Must go get my new Animerica
Extra!!! I dread the next issue if you know what I mean though-the
mountain.eeeek!) Enough blabber. Here is the story.
Part Eight: Dinner and a strange gathering
After school, Chuei cut baseball practice and invited Kourin to his house for dinner . Then she could call her brother and ask him to come over. She agreed, and they did.
Miaka was home when they got there, and was super pleased to find out that Kourin was the next warrior. Kourin called home and gave her brother directions to Chuei's house. No one told Miaka about Chiharu, but instead described their fight with the demon and all clues about Shin, a supposed warrior of Seriyuu.
Miaka began making dinner and the kids helped, Kourin being an okay cook about the same as Chuei, and Jielain standing around grumbling and making sure Miaka didn't eat any, when the doorbell rang.
"I'll get it!" Chuei said, going to the door. He opened it to a handsome young man with purple hair tied into a braid. He was dressed in khaki pants and a white dress shirt.
"Hi, I'm Ryuuen, Kourin's brother." Chuei smiled and shook his hand.
"I see the likeness, come in. I'm Chuei. We're just making dinner." A plate crashed to the floor just as they appeared. "I'll get it," Miaka said, leaning over and sighing. When she looked up she dropped the shards of porcelain to the floor again.
"Oh, Suzaku." She said. Her face was white as a ghost.
"Brother!" Kourin hugged Ryuuen. "Took you long enough!" he laughed.
"Sorry sis, I came right after work." Jielain surveyed the man long enough to realize that he looked exactly like the deceased warrior Nuriko from her photograph.
Miaka burst into tears. "I didn't forget this time! I won't try and hug you cause you're dead and resting in peace! I'd walk through you or it really isn't you and you're really a girl!" She hid her face in her hands. Ryuuen walked through the broken porcelain to her. "Ma'am, are you alright?" Miaka looked up and wiped her eyes.
"Miaka?" he asked. She sniffled and poked his chest, nodding.
"I know it isn't you because you died and Chichiri said you'd never come back. I wanted to say that you were my best friend but it's not you so why am I crying? You look the same. No boobies." She looked up quickly and stepped back. "I'm very sorry sir, you just remind me of an old friend. I've been very rude. I apologize." Ryuuen looked blank.
"Miaka? I'm Ryuuen. I was Nuriko, but now I'm just plain old Ryuuen." Chuei took his mother's hand. "Mom, this man used to be a warrior, but now he's reborn in this world. Please try and understand." She shook her head.
"No, I have to face the truth. Nuriko died a long time ago just like Chiriko and Mitsukake and Hotohori. I'll never see Tasuki or Chichiri again and Taka is just a regular guy I met." The former Nuriko pondered for a second.
"I remember Taka. He came and didn't remember me. Some friend." He then turned to Chuei. "Are you her son? And you," he asked looking at Jielain, "are you her daughter?" Chuei nodded, but Jielain reached to shake his hand. "No, I'm Jielain Ryuuen Kou, daughter of the former Celestial warrior and leader of the Mt.Reikaku bandits, Genrou who is also known as Tasuki."
"Tasuki name you after me?" he asked. "And wasn't Jielain one of Tama's little siblings? Wait a second, Tasuki actually had a kid?" Jielain nodded solemnly, then frowned when Ryuuen started laughing. "This is too much." He took Miaka's hand from Chuei and led her to the living room. "Come on Miaka let's go talk things over."
"But dinner-"
"Don't worry mom." Chuei said, shooing her towards the living room. He turned to Jielain and Kourin. "Well, lets get this plate cleaned up and finish dinner." Kourin and Jielain agreed heartily.
Twenty minutes later, Taka and Chiharu arrived home just in time for dinner. "Taka!" Miaka yelled, jumping off the couch to greet him. "Look who came! Oh Suzaku Taka!" She pulled Taka by the arm and led him to the living room squealing.
"Miaka what-?" he stopped short when he saw Ryuuen sitting in his living room.
"Are you.Nuriko? The mad cross-dresser.?" Ryuuen stood and offered to shake his hand. "I'm Ryuuen, I used to be Nuriko in my past life, but now my younger sister is Nuriko and I'm just plain old Ryuuen. Tamahome? What's the matter?" Taka stared blankly, and then hugged his old friend, ignoring the hand. Ryuuen grinned.
"Not a cross-dresser any more, sorry." Taka stared.
"What?! But that's you! You were born for drag! Remember when we all went to that hidden women's hot springs and me and Tasuki had to do that? You could tell we were men from a mile away, but you tricked me and Hotohori and Miaka for a month!"
Nuriko scratched his head. "Well, the girls don't like cross- dressers." They laughed like the old friends they were and headed to the dinner table to eat, Miaka tagging along.
Chuei was relieved that his father hadn't thrown a hysterical fit like his mother had upon seeing Kourin's brother. Kourin and Jielain were glad also, but the three of them avoided Chiharu through out the entire meal. She didn't attempt to make conversation with them, but observed what she could.
Ryuuen, Miaka and Taka did most of the talking, after introducing everyone to each other. They attacked each other with personal questions, some of which made the kids want to disappear. Jielain found herself explaining her life story to the entire table, including everything about Boshin and others.
Finally, dinner was over. Miaka invited Ryuuen to stay the night, Kourin could sleep in the trundle bed in the guest room and he could have the couch. It would probably be late when they went to bed anyway, but the girls could close the door when they got tired.
Everyone agreed, so Jielain and Kourin went to the bedroom with Chuei to talk away from the adults. Chiharu went to her room.
Jielain sat on the floor and watched Chuei slide the other mattress out from under the larger bed with interest. He even put sheets on it. Back home, hardly anyone ever made their beds, except at the palace where there were maids. She was back to her bandit clothes, but unarmed. Her daggers rested under the pile of clothes in her closet, along with her pictures and the book. The tessen was still beside her though, in case of an emergency.
"Jielain, what do you know about the other warriors who died?" Kourin asked. Jielain scratched her head. She had grown up hearing stories about them mostly from Chichiri, but her dad had his share of things to say.
"Well, lets see, Chichiri says there were seven marks, and there has to be one on each of the new warriors. I have the mark of Tasuki, Chiharu has the mark that Tamahome had, Chuei, you have the same mark Chichiri had, Boshin has the one of Hotohori, Kourin, you have the mark of Nuriko, so we need a Mitsukake and a Chiriko."
WARNING: skip the next paragraph if you don't want spoilers!!!!
"Dad says that Chiriko was a little kid who was really smart, some kinda kid genius, and Mitsukake was a healer guy who didn't talk too much. Chichiri says that they both gave their lives for the cause, the enemy warrior Miboshi killed Chiriko by invading his mind and taking over his body, and Mitsukake gave his life to save a city full of suffering people."
Kourin looked at her thoughtfully. "I bet some of the same powers will be present in the other two warriors huh? A smart person and a healer. Shouldn't be too hard."
Jielain was tired from a big day and fighting monsters. "Ya got any sake left?" she asked. Chuei frowned.
"You drank it all. And besides, drinking is bad for your health at such a young age." Jielain sighed. Drinking was a way of life! Its not like she was some kind of alcoholic or nothing. "I've been drinkin' since I was twelve. It can't hurt. Especially since I don't drink much." Chuei shook his head.
"You drink more than anyone I ever met." He said. Suddenly Jielain was confused. Why should he care if she drank? Her dad certainly didn't care. Did that mean Tasuki was wrong? She scowled darkly. "I like it, and bandits can drink if they wanna." That settled, she ventured to the living room to see if someone would go get her some.
"Uh, Priestess, ya got any sake left?" Miaka looked up from talking to Ryuuen.
"Oh, I don't know." She said, looking to Taka. Ryuuen blanked.
"How old are you?"
"Fifteen."
"And you drink?"
"Hell yeah." Ryuuen shook his head. That little girl was so much like Tasuki it scared him, even (Or especially) the messy orange hair and fangs.
"Well I'll get you some, if you promise not to drink it all tonight." Jielain nodded and went back to the guest bedroom. Ryuuen and Taka went to the store and told her they'd bring it in when they got back. Miaka raced to the kitchen to get some food ready.
When Jielain went back, she saw Chiharu sitting on the bed. "What the hell d'ya think yer doin'?" she asked. Chuei moved to get up, but Kourin stopped him.
"I came to apologize for the way I acted today. It was inappropriate, but I will be nicer from now on. Oh, and I meant what I said this morning." Jielain blushed. All the nerve of her! Saying that like what happened was a stupid cafeteria argument. Then she paused, realizing that it was a stupid cafeteria argument.
"Jielain? You okay there?" Kourin asked. Jielain realized she'd been staring into space. She glared at Chiharu.
"Yeah, I'm fine. I accept your apology. This time." Chiharu let out a deep breath.
"Good. Now what?" They all stared around at each other for a minute.
"When the sake gets here we can gamble and dare each other to drink and the first one to pass out loses." Jielain suggested this casually. She was a very good drinker, not as good as her dad though. The rest of the group sweat dropped.
"We don't drink." Kourin said. Jielain scowled. She liked her idea. Oh well, more sake for her.
"How about if we play truth or dare?" Chiharu asked. Chuei groaned. That game was torture when playing with his sister. She always came up with the weirdest things.
"Ok," Kourin said. She liked games. Jielain was hesitant, but agreed. Finally Chuei said he'd play, but only because everyone else wanted to.
They sat in a circle on the floor. Chiharu volunteered to go first.
"Jielain, truth or dare?" she asked. Jielain thought for a minute. She really didn't have anything she wanted to keep a secret, and she would do almost any dare. Dare would be more fun.
"Dare." She said. Chiharu smiled widely.
"I dare you to let me dress you in something and wear it until you go to bed." Jielain groaned. "Fine, what do I gotta wear?" The blonde girl giggled and ran to her room, coming back with a pile of clothes.
"Aha, a push up bra, a tiny miniskirt, this low cut blouse, some cute sandals, these ribbons for your hair, lipstick, eyeliner, earrings, and a necklace."
"WHAT?!" Jielain did not expect that, but, unwilling to turn down a dare for fear of a worse one, she went into the bathroom to change. Kourin went with her, giggling hysterically, and Chuei sighed.
In the bathroom, Jielain changed and Kourin helped her with the make up and jewelry. When they were done, Kourin stood back and whistled.
"Wow, I wish I had a body like that!" Jielain blushed deep red and swore to get that dumb blonde back twice as good. The miniskirt failed to cover her panties from the back, and the stupid bra was very uncomfortable. Not to mention the red ribbons tying her hair into pigtails. She felt like a living Soi.
Back in the bedroom, Chuei didn't try to hide his awe, and Chiharu didn't try to hide her hysterical laughter. Jielain sat cross-legged on the floor.
"NO!" Chiharu yelled. "You can't sit like that! Look, put your legs like this and sit on them." Jielain grumbled but complied, not wanting to make a more fool of herself-if that was possible.
"Ok Chuei, your turn." Chuei felt bad for Jielain, so he decided to get his sister back for her. He had the perfect dare.
"Chiharu, truth or dare."
"Dare." She said quickly.
"Ok, I dare you to call Mako right now and ask him to date you, then hang out with him all day tomorrow at school."
"NOOOOOO!" she whined, but the only response was that Kourin ran to the kitchen and got the phone.
"He's had a crush on you all year, and he's a really nice guy." Chuei said.
"But he is so nerdy. I couldn't possibly-" she paused, remembering their earlier conversation
"Ahem?" Chuei cleared his throat with much authority.
"Fine. Give me the phone, and what's his number?" She grabbed the phone and dialed the number Chuei recited.
"Hello? Is Mako there? Ok." She waited for a minute then continued.
"Hi, this is Chiharu, Chuei's sister. Yeah. Well, I was wondering if you would let me hang out with you at school tomorrow, then maybe we can catch lunch sometime this weekend. You would? Well, ok. Yes, I'm at home. Right. See you tomorrow." She hung up and sighed. "I did it. But still, that was an evil dare." Chuei just smiled. If he knew his sister, she wouldn't mind Mako one bit once she saw him. If it weren't for his glasses and nerdiness, you might mistake him for one of her ex-boyfriends.
"Ok Kourin your turn."
"Um, Chuei, truth or dare."
"Truth." He said. Kourin looked thoughtful for a minute.
"Hmmm, I know it's lame, but who do you have crush on right now?" He looked surprised, then blushed. "It probably seems kinda perverted at the moment, but." he looked up at the rest of his friends. "I really have liked this one girl since I met her. The only reason I don't want to say is cause I don't think she'd like me. I'm not exactly her type."
"Who?" Kourin asked blankly. Chiharu rolled her eyes. Like it wasn't obvious.
"Err, It's Jielain." He blushed deep red and didn't meet her eyes. Jielain nearly cried. He liked her? She knew she'd been falling for him, but oh, wow, he liked her. She smiled, and met his gaze finally.
"Chuei, I really like you too." The boy looked up quickly.
"Really?"
"Yer the psychic one, you tell me." She grumbled.
"Ok, enough of that, your turn Jielain." Jielain looked around. Only Kourin was left to ask.
"Truth or dare?"
"Truth."
"Uh," Jielain thought. What could she ask? Crushes was already used, they knew a little about her family, soooo. "What's the worst trouble you've ever been in?"
Kourin was very quiet. "Trouble as in with my parents or trouble as in situation to get out of?"
"Situation." Jielain said, pulling her miniskirt down a little more.
"Well, I guess I'll tell you from the beginning a little about myself. Normally I don't tell people, but you guys are warriors of Suzaku, and I shouldn't hide anything.
"I live with Ryuuen because my parents died when we were younger, and he and our other brother Rokou work long hours to pay for our apartment and things. Well, one day I was home alone after school, and someone knocked on the door. I thought it might be a neighbor so I opened it, but it wasn't. It was a man, who said he was a friend of my brothers. I let him in, and as soon as I did he attacked me.
"It was so scary, being helpless against a grown man in the tiny apartment. He had a knife and it was at my throat. He told me to get undressed but I screamed and screamed. Ryuuen heard me from the parking lot and came up. He beat the man to a bloody pulp, and I cried and cried for him to stop, but he wouldn't. He just kept hitting him. I was afraid they would send him to jail and I'd never see him again, but he kept saying something about not letting me die.
"Finally I called the police and they came and an ambulance took the scary man away. Ryuuen was taken to the jail with the police and they asked me what happened.
"Anyway, there was a trial and the man was sent to prison for attempted rape and murder of a minor, and Ryuuen was released as innocent, using violence in self defense and defense of his dependant. That was the worst trouble I ever got in. They never leave me by myself anymore." The others just stared, dumbstruck by her story. Jielain could relate to her, but Chuei and Chiharu were surprised. Finally, Jielain stood up.
"Kourin, I'm sorry that you had to go through that and I can totally relate. But I heard the mechanical horse pull up and I need a drink freakin' bad."
She left the room, covering her behind with her hands as she walked. A few times her father had killed people for trying to rape or murder her. That was why he taught her to use a dagger and the tessen, and probably why he sent her to the palace too. It was much safer there than the hideout.
Ryuuen, Taka and Miaka stared when they saw Jielain dressed like a modern Soi. "Well I'll be damned." Taka said. "Tasuki's kid is a girl." Jielain growled at him.
"Be damned then, where's the liquor?" Ryuuen handed her the bottle.
"Need a glass?" he asked.
"Naw, and just if yer wonderin' it was a dare." She stalked off to the guest room quickly, ignoring Miaka's question about whose bra she was wearing.
When she got back, she had a little drink, then Chuei and Chiharu went to their rooms for bed, and she and Kourin got into their nightclothes. (An extra shirt from Chiharu for Kourin and bandit clothes for Jielain.)
Lying in their beds, Jielain told Kourin about how her father had saved her from rape and murder and how Chichiri taught her a few spells to freeze people in their tracks so she could run away. It seemed to cheer her up anyway, that at least someone else knew how she felt. Jielain also confided enough to tell her that she missed Boshin and Hinako, even though they weren't really that close. They didn't know it but those two were her only friends in that world her age. Finally, they fell asleep.
Questions? Comments? I Love the feedback (thanks Otaku Pitcher) and constructive criticism as long as it is nice. Thanks!!! ^^
Part Eight: Dinner and a strange gathering
After school, Chuei cut baseball practice and invited Kourin to his house for dinner . Then she could call her brother and ask him to come over. She agreed, and they did.
Miaka was home when they got there, and was super pleased to find out that Kourin was the next warrior. Kourin called home and gave her brother directions to Chuei's house. No one told Miaka about Chiharu, but instead described their fight with the demon and all clues about Shin, a supposed warrior of Seriyuu.
Miaka began making dinner and the kids helped, Kourin being an okay cook about the same as Chuei, and Jielain standing around grumbling and making sure Miaka didn't eat any, when the doorbell rang.
"I'll get it!" Chuei said, going to the door. He opened it to a handsome young man with purple hair tied into a braid. He was dressed in khaki pants and a white dress shirt.
"Hi, I'm Ryuuen, Kourin's brother." Chuei smiled and shook his hand.
"I see the likeness, come in. I'm Chuei. We're just making dinner." A plate crashed to the floor just as they appeared. "I'll get it," Miaka said, leaning over and sighing. When she looked up she dropped the shards of porcelain to the floor again.
"Oh, Suzaku." She said. Her face was white as a ghost.
"Brother!" Kourin hugged Ryuuen. "Took you long enough!" he laughed.
"Sorry sis, I came right after work." Jielain surveyed the man long enough to realize that he looked exactly like the deceased warrior Nuriko from her photograph.
Miaka burst into tears. "I didn't forget this time! I won't try and hug you cause you're dead and resting in peace! I'd walk through you or it really isn't you and you're really a girl!" She hid her face in her hands. Ryuuen walked through the broken porcelain to her. "Ma'am, are you alright?" Miaka looked up and wiped her eyes.
"Miaka?" he asked. She sniffled and poked his chest, nodding.
"I know it isn't you because you died and Chichiri said you'd never come back. I wanted to say that you were my best friend but it's not you so why am I crying? You look the same. No boobies." She looked up quickly and stepped back. "I'm very sorry sir, you just remind me of an old friend. I've been very rude. I apologize." Ryuuen looked blank.
"Miaka? I'm Ryuuen. I was Nuriko, but now I'm just plain old Ryuuen." Chuei took his mother's hand. "Mom, this man used to be a warrior, but now he's reborn in this world. Please try and understand." She shook her head.
"No, I have to face the truth. Nuriko died a long time ago just like Chiriko and Mitsukake and Hotohori. I'll never see Tasuki or Chichiri again and Taka is just a regular guy I met." The former Nuriko pondered for a second.
"I remember Taka. He came and didn't remember me. Some friend." He then turned to Chuei. "Are you her son? And you," he asked looking at Jielain, "are you her daughter?" Chuei nodded, but Jielain reached to shake his hand. "No, I'm Jielain Ryuuen Kou, daughter of the former Celestial warrior and leader of the Mt.Reikaku bandits, Genrou who is also known as Tasuki."
"Tasuki name you after me?" he asked. "And wasn't Jielain one of Tama's little siblings? Wait a second, Tasuki actually had a kid?" Jielain nodded solemnly, then frowned when Ryuuen started laughing. "This is too much." He took Miaka's hand from Chuei and led her to the living room. "Come on Miaka let's go talk things over."
"But dinner-"
"Don't worry mom." Chuei said, shooing her towards the living room. He turned to Jielain and Kourin. "Well, lets get this plate cleaned up and finish dinner." Kourin and Jielain agreed heartily.
Twenty minutes later, Taka and Chiharu arrived home just in time for dinner. "Taka!" Miaka yelled, jumping off the couch to greet him. "Look who came! Oh Suzaku Taka!" She pulled Taka by the arm and led him to the living room squealing.
"Miaka what-?" he stopped short when he saw Ryuuen sitting in his living room.
"Are you.Nuriko? The mad cross-dresser.?" Ryuuen stood and offered to shake his hand. "I'm Ryuuen, I used to be Nuriko in my past life, but now my younger sister is Nuriko and I'm just plain old Ryuuen. Tamahome? What's the matter?" Taka stared blankly, and then hugged his old friend, ignoring the hand. Ryuuen grinned.
"Not a cross-dresser any more, sorry." Taka stared.
"What?! But that's you! You were born for drag! Remember when we all went to that hidden women's hot springs and me and Tasuki had to do that? You could tell we were men from a mile away, but you tricked me and Hotohori and Miaka for a month!"
Nuriko scratched his head. "Well, the girls don't like cross- dressers." They laughed like the old friends they were and headed to the dinner table to eat, Miaka tagging along.
Chuei was relieved that his father hadn't thrown a hysterical fit like his mother had upon seeing Kourin's brother. Kourin and Jielain were glad also, but the three of them avoided Chiharu through out the entire meal. She didn't attempt to make conversation with them, but observed what she could.
Ryuuen, Miaka and Taka did most of the talking, after introducing everyone to each other. They attacked each other with personal questions, some of which made the kids want to disappear. Jielain found herself explaining her life story to the entire table, including everything about Boshin and others.
Finally, dinner was over. Miaka invited Ryuuen to stay the night, Kourin could sleep in the trundle bed in the guest room and he could have the couch. It would probably be late when they went to bed anyway, but the girls could close the door when they got tired.
Everyone agreed, so Jielain and Kourin went to the bedroom with Chuei to talk away from the adults. Chiharu went to her room.
Jielain sat on the floor and watched Chuei slide the other mattress out from under the larger bed with interest. He even put sheets on it. Back home, hardly anyone ever made their beds, except at the palace where there were maids. She was back to her bandit clothes, but unarmed. Her daggers rested under the pile of clothes in her closet, along with her pictures and the book. The tessen was still beside her though, in case of an emergency.
"Jielain, what do you know about the other warriors who died?" Kourin asked. Jielain scratched her head. She had grown up hearing stories about them mostly from Chichiri, but her dad had his share of things to say.
"Well, lets see, Chichiri says there were seven marks, and there has to be one on each of the new warriors. I have the mark of Tasuki, Chiharu has the mark that Tamahome had, Chuei, you have the same mark Chichiri had, Boshin has the one of Hotohori, Kourin, you have the mark of Nuriko, so we need a Mitsukake and a Chiriko."
WARNING: skip the next paragraph if you don't want spoilers!!!!
"Dad says that Chiriko was a little kid who was really smart, some kinda kid genius, and Mitsukake was a healer guy who didn't talk too much. Chichiri says that they both gave their lives for the cause, the enemy warrior Miboshi killed Chiriko by invading his mind and taking over his body, and Mitsukake gave his life to save a city full of suffering people."
Kourin looked at her thoughtfully. "I bet some of the same powers will be present in the other two warriors huh? A smart person and a healer. Shouldn't be too hard."
Jielain was tired from a big day and fighting monsters. "Ya got any sake left?" she asked. Chuei frowned.
"You drank it all. And besides, drinking is bad for your health at such a young age." Jielain sighed. Drinking was a way of life! Its not like she was some kind of alcoholic or nothing. "I've been drinkin' since I was twelve. It can't hurt. Especially since I don't drink much." Chuei shook his head.
"You drink more than anyone I ever met." He said. Suddenly Jielain was confused. Why should he care if she drank? Her dad certainly didn't care. Did that mean Tasuki was wrong? She scowled darkly. "I like it, and bandits can drink if they wanna." That settled, she ventured to the living room to see if someone would go get her some.
"Uh, Priestess, ya got any sake left?" Miaka looked up from talking to Ryuuen.
"Oh, I don't know." She said, looking to Taka. Ryuuen blanked.
"How old are you?"
"Fifteen."
"And you drink?"
"Hell yeah." Ryuuen shook his head. That little girl was so much like Tasuki it scared him, even (Or especially) the messy orange hair and fangs.
"Well I'll get you some, if you promise not to drink it all tonight." Jielain nodded and went back to the guest bedroom. Ryuuen and Taka went to the store and told her they'd bring it in when they got back. Miaka raced to the kitchen to get some food ready.
When Jielain went back, she saw Chiharu sitting on the bed. "What the hell d'ya think yer doin'?" she asked. Chuei moved to get up, but Kourin stopped him.
"I came to apologize for the way I acted today. It was inappropriate, but I will be nicer from now on. Oh, and I meant what I said this morning." Jielain blushed. All the nerve of her! Saying that like what happened was a stupid cafeteria argument. Then she paused, realizing that it was a stupid cafeteria argument.
"Jielain? You okay there?" Kourin asked. Jielain realized she'd been staring into space. She glared at Chiharu.
"Yeah, I'm fine. I accept your apology. This time." Chiharu let out a deep breath.
"Good. Now what?" They all stared around at each other for a minute.
"When the sake gets here we can gamble and dare each other to drink and the first one to pass out loses." Jielain suggested this casually. She was a very good drinker, not as good as her dad though. The rest of the group sweat dropped.
"We don't drink." Kourin said. Jielain scowled. She liked her idea. Oh well, more sake for her.
"How about if we play truth or dare?" Chiharu asked. Chuei groaned. That game was torture when playing with his sister. She always came up with the weirdest things.
"Ok," Kourin said. She liked games. Jielain was hesitant, but agreed. Finally Chuei said he'd play, but only because everyone else wanted to.
They sat in a circle on the floor. Chiharu volunteered to go first.
"Jielain, truth or dare?" she asked. Jielain thought for a minute. She really didn't have anything she wanted to keep a secret, and she would do almost any dare. Dare would be more fun.
"Dare." She said. Chiharu smiled widely.
"I dare you to let me dress you in something and wear it until you go to bed." Jielain groaned. "Fine, what do I gotta wear?" The blonde girl giggled and ran to her room, coming back with a pile of clothes.
"Aha, a push up bra, a tiny miniskirt, this low cut blouse, some cute sandals, these ribbons for your hair, lipstick, eyeliner, earrings, and a necklace."
"WHAT?!" Jielain did not expect that, but, unwilling to turn down a dare for fear of a worse one, she went into the bathroom to change. Kourin went with her, giggling hysterically, and Chuei sighed.
In the bathroom, Jielain changed and Kourin helped her with the make up and jewelry. When they were done, Kourin stood back and whistled.
"Wow, I wish I had a body like that!" Jielain blushed deep red and swore to get that dumb blonde back twice as good. The miniskirt failed to cover her panties from the back, and the stupid bra was very uncomfortable. Not to mention the red ribbons tying her hair into pigtails. She felt like a living Soi.
Back in the bedroom, Chuei didn't try to hide his awe, and Chiharu didn't try to hide her hysterical laughter. Jielain sat cross-legged on the floor.
"NO!" Chiharu yelled. "You can't sit like that! Look, put your legs like this and sit on them." Jielain grumbled but complied, not wanting to make a more fool of herself-if that was possible.
"Ok Chuei, your turn." Chuei felt bad for Jielain, so he decided to get his sister back for her. He had the perfect dare.
"Chiharu, truth or dare."
"Dare." She said quickly.
"Ok, I dare you to call Mako right now and ask him to date you, then hang out with him all day tomorrow at school."
"NOOOOOO!" she whined, but the only response was that Kourin ran to the kitchen and got the phone.
"He's had a crush on you all year, and he's a really nice guy." Chuei said.
"But he is so nerdy. I couldn't possibly-" she paused, remembering their earlier conversation
"Ahem?" Chuei cleared his throat with much authority.
"Fine. Give me the phone, and what's his number?" She grabbed the phone and dialed the number Chuei recited.
"Hello? Is Mako there? Ok." She waited for a minute then continued.
"Hi, this is Chiharu, Chuei's sister. Yeah. Well, I was wondering if you would let me hang out with you at school tomorrow, then maybe we can catch lunch sometime this weekend. You would? Well, ok. Yes, I'm at home. Right. See you tomorrow." She hung up and sighed. "I did it. But still, that was an evil dare." Chuei just smiled. If he knew his sister, she wouldn't mind Mako one bit once she saw him. If it weren't for his glasses and nerdiness, you might mistake him for one of her ex-boyfriends.
"Ok Kourin your turn."
"Um, Chuei, truth or dare."
"Truth." He said. Kourin looked thoughtful for a minute.
"Hmmm, I know it's lame, but who do you have crush on right now?" He looked surprised, then blushed. "It probably seems kinda perverted at the moment, but." he looked up at the rest of his friends. "I really have liked this one girl since I met her. The only reason I don't want to say is cause I don't think she'd like me. I'm not exactly her type."
"Who?" Kourin asked blankly. Chiharu rolled her eyes. Like it wasn't obvious.
"Err, It's Jielain." He blushed deep red and didn't meet her eyes. Jielain nearly cried. He liked her? She knew she'd been falling for him, but oh, wow, he liked her. She smiled, and met his gaze finally.
"Chuei, I really like you too." The boy looked up quickly.
"Really?"
"Yer the psychic one, you tell me." She grumbled.
"Ok, enough of that, your turn Jielain." Jielain looked around. Only Kourin was left to ask.
"Truth or dare?"
"Truth."
"Uh," Jielain thought. What could she ask? Crushes was already used, they knew a little about her family, soooo. "What's the worst trouble you've ever been in?"
Kourin was very quiet. "Trouble as in with my parents or trouble as in situation to get out of?"
"Situation." Jielain said, pulling her miniskirt down a little more.
"Well, I guess I'll tell you from the beginning a little about myself. Normally I don't tell people, but you guys are warriors of Suzaku, and I shouldn't hide anything.
"I live with Ryuuen because my parents died when we were younger, and he and our other brother Rokou work long hours to pay for our apartment and things. Well, one day I was home alone after school, and someone knocked on the door. I thought it might be a neighbor so I opened it, but it wasn't. It was a man, who said he was a friend of my brothers. I let him in, and as soon as I did he attacked me.
"It was so scary, being helpless against a grown man in the tiny apartment. He had a knife and it was at my throat. He told me to get undressed but I screamed and screamed. Ryuuen heard me from the parking lot and came up. He beat the man to a bloody pulp, and I cried and cried for him to stop, but he wouldn't. He just kept hitting him. I was afraid they would send him to jail and I'd never see him again, but he kept saying something about not letting me die.
"Finally I called the police and they came and an ambulance took the scary man away. Ryuuen was taken to the jail with the police and they asked me what happened.
"Anyway, there was a trial and the man was sent to prison for attempted rape and murder of a minor, and Ryuuen was released as innocent, using violence in self defense and defense of his dependant. That was the worst trouble I ever got in. They never leave me by myself anymore." The others just stared, dumbstruck by her story. Jielain could relate to her, but Chuei and Chiharu were surprised. Finally, Jielain stood up.
"Kourin, I'm sorry that you had to go through that and I can totally relate. But I heard the mechanical horse pull up and I need a drink freakin' bad."
She left the room, covering her behind with her hands as she walked. A few times her father had killed people for trying to rape or murder her. That was why he taught her to use a dagger and the tessen, and probably why he sent her to the palace too. It was much safer there than the hideout.
Ryuuen, Taka and Miaka stared when they saw Jielain dressed like a modern Soi. "Well I'll be damned." Taka said. "Tasuki's kid is a girl." Jielain growled at him.
"Be damned then, where's the liquor?" Ryuuen handed her the bottle.
"Need a glass?" he asked.
"Naw, and just if yer wonderin' it was a dare." She stalked off to the guest room quickly, ignoring Miaka's question about whose bra she was wearing.
When she got back, she had a little drink, then Chuei and Chiharu went to their rooms for bed, and she and Kourin got into their nightclothes. (An extra shirt from Chiharu for Kourin and bandit clothes for Jielain.)
Lying in their beds, Jielain told Kourin about how her father had saved her from rape and murder and how Chichiri taught her a few spells to freeze people in their tracks so she could run away. It seemed to cheer her up anyway, that at least someone else knew how she felt. Jielain also confided enough to tell her that she missed Boshin and Hinako, even though they weren't really that close. They didn't know it but those two were her only friends in that world her age. Finally, they fell asleep.
Questions? Comments? I Love the feedback (thanks Otaku Pitcher) and constructive criticism as long as it is nice. Thanks!!! ^^
