Chapter 21
So the gang was off again, going through the country side. The horses were gone, so the walk was slow going, and Kristin was now sure that time would catch up to them, and trouble might arise as the plot line was intended to go. Before they left the city where Shoka dwelled, Caitlin had managed to persuade Mitsukake to get rid of the sickness demon within Shoka, to save the city. After many, and perhaps too much tears from Katie who was clearly over doing it, Mitsukake buried his one love from the past, knowing that he had to move on, now that the Priestess was here. The gang was on the move.
Katie walked as close as she could to Tamahome, and he kept his arms around her like a big brother would. Kristin, upon one of their daily resting stops, accidently caught the two kissing, and had to wash her eyes out many times before she thought she had gotten rid of the image.
Tasuki was clearly embarassed with what had happened between him and Caitlin, and tried to be as mutual with her as possible. Caitlin acted the same way, though deep inside, her heart was pumping for another kiss. She proceeded on friendly terms with him now, hoping it would eventually turn passionate again in the near future.
Nuriko walked beside Kristin with Mitsukake. The had interesting conversations with each other, in which Kristin gladly heard Nuriko wondering why he hadn't noticed Tamahome as attractive before. Finally, Hotohori was truly going to become hers! Mitsukake managed to get on after the tearful departation of Shoka, and didn't learn till much later that Nuriko was a guy. He later told Kristin that he had to wash his eyes out throughly, thinking Nuriko a beautiful woman and having nice fantasies with him. Ah, my virgin eyes! Was the best thing Kristin heard out of his mouth.
Chichiri was having fun pretending to be the Emperor, crying out in a badly dubbed English voice."I'm so LONELY, I think I go CRAZY." Hotohori, who now wore a thick red scarf around his neck to hide his wounds, pouted at Chichiri's poor expressions of him, and missed Kristin very much. Just her presence alone seemed to lighten the room. He missed that wonderfully, low, feminine voice and the long, dark hair that flowed passed her shoulders. He missed her witty remarks and calmness. His beloved Priestess was out there, and even though she was with her celestial warriors, he still felt as though she wasn't safe.
Tomo and Kailein were having * fun * in the woods of Kutou. but why are we talking about the Seiryu? This is supposed to be a Suzaku update!
Kristin knew she was going to run into trouble, when, upon approaching Tamahome's home village, Katie swore she heard the sound of a flute. Caitlin pulled her aside, and the three were huddled together.
"What do we do?" Caitlin asked Kristin, who obviously could not answer that question. "Are we going to accept Amiboshi as Chirko or not?" As the three knew, the last celestial warrior was Chirko. But, according to the anime, the Seiryu member, Amiboshi, was going to trick the Suzaku seishi by pretending to be Chirko, thus destroying the summoning ceremony for Suzaku. Kristin knew this day would come, and she had thought out carefully what should happen. IF only she could tell this to Caitlin.
"I think we should reveal him," Katie hissed. "I don't want anything to do with those bad Seiryu people."
At this, Kristin shook her head no. Caitlin noticed this, and said, "You think we ought to let this just go?"
Kristin nodded yes.
"I understand," Caitlin said, looking over the situation. "We should see what happens, especially since we're a bit ahead of time, and Amiboshi might not have started the plan. Not to mention, none of the Suzaku have any reason for hating the Sieryu, yet. Did you hear Tamahome? He wants to kill Andrew, not Nakago. I know the Seiryu are going to intervene, cause I know the Author needs some bad ass conflict going on here, and Nakago is not just going to turn all sweet on us, but. we can't just let Martha become an enemy of ours. I understand your position, Kristin. We're going to let him go. Katie? NO revealing or Tamahome is going to be DEAD MEAT."
Katie looked frightened, and made her vow to keep quiet about Amiboshi. Kristin had slightly different reasons for keeping Amiboshi's identity hidden (if they summon the god of Suzaku, what then happens to poor Martha and those darn tubas that won't let her go?) but was glad that Caitlin had seen wize her decision. Besides, if they were to summon Suzaku that easily, then the story wouldn't be as fun, now would it? Kristin looked up into the sky towards the Author, and gave a whine. She wanted to talk again!
In any case, Tamahome proudly showed off his village, and took the gang to his home, where his five siblings and sick dad lived. Kristin and Caitlin cringed at the sight of those poor children, hoping to divert the fate that was planned for them. Tamahome's siblings rushed outside when they heard his familiar voice call out to them, and then they stopped abruptly in front of him, staring.
"Big brother," Yurien, the youngest of them all, squeaked, "why are you dressed like that?"
A big sweat drop formed off of Tamahome's face. He didn't want to change. He liked this new look. Didn't any one understand this? The rest of the gang liked this, so why shouldn't his family?
"Uh, Big brother has a new look, Yurien," he said, trying to smile with a red face. Tasuki was already laughing behind him.
"I think Tama-chan looks wonderful like this," Nuriko cooed.
Tamahome's face turned red. At least his siblings were convinced that Nuriko was a female.
They were lead into the house by the children, and Tamahome had a heart-to-heart talk with his daddy. Yurien asked if Katie was Tamahome's wife, and Katie got red, and absolutely happy. Caitlin watched with a bored expression as the two became red and denied their relationship.
None of them found Kristin threatening or a Priestess, and Kristin found herself greatly annoyed as the kids pulled on her tail and patted her too hard. Mitsukake used his healing powers to help Tamahome's father who was stricken in bed with sickness. Because his power took out a great deal of his energy, Mitsukake slept most of the rest of the day. Kristin managed to use him as an excuse, and crawled into his room where he had put up a * do not disturb * sign on the door, and she slept, curled up, besides him.
The kids had the most fun with Tasuki and Caitlin, as the two chased them around, and played their little games, up to the point where they wanted Caitlin and Tasuki to be * mommy and daddy * and the two became red and sulked away from the kids. Nuriko made dinner, and Katie attempted to help, but everyone was afraid of what she might do. She was sent to fetch water, and came back a bit distressed since she hadn't been attacked by a Boboshi and saved by Tamahome.
Night came, though, and the gang, tired, fell asleep in the warmth and hospitality of Tamahome's home. Because they had already slept, Mitsukake and Kristin were nice and awake. Kristin did not want Katie to go out there to get herself into stupid trouble, so she forced Mitsukake into walking her out in the night. So, Mitsukake, Kristin, and his little cat Tama, walked out into the dark night. It was after a few minutes of enjoyable quiet that they heard the flute music.
Kristin stopped, alarmed.
"What's that horrible music I hear?" Mitsukake said outloud.
Kristin whined, un able to believe what she was hearing. That wasn't the usual song of Amiboshi's terrible flute music. No, that was Amiboshi playing PHIL'S THEME SONG on his flute. The three followed the noise, and found Amiboshi, playing that horrid song on his flute. Hundreds of bats hung from the trees where he stood, and a boboshi was trying to hide himself in the trees. Amiboshi stopped playing as the three came up to him, and he stammered out, "Oh no. too soon."
There was an awkward pause between Mitsukake and Amiboshi. Kristin looked up at the Boboshi in the trees. Suddenly, the Boboshi appeared excited, and jumped down, joining Amiboshi.
"That's the Priestess!" he whispered in Amiboshi's ear, a bit too loudly. Mitsukake pretended he HADN'T heard that.
"What? How?" Amiboshi whispered back.
"The rumor! The rumor!" Boboshi whispered back. "Bob 6 told me that the Lone Wolf Warrior turned Naiidoska's Priestess into a Wolf, so that she could become HIS Priestess instead."
Kristin bowed her head in understanding, and Boboshi suddenly realized he was whispering too loud. Amiboshi stammered out a lie, "Oh. so you ARE the Priestess of Suzaku! I'm Chirako, yes, one of your, um, celestial warriors."
He tried to look convincing, but his face was growing unusually red. He gripped the flute hard.
"Chirako?" Mitsukake repeated. "uh. Don't you mean, Chirko? That's what the scroll of Suzaku says."
"Ha, ha," Amiboshi laughed nervously. "I guess I'm too nervous. about meeting the Priestess, that is. I didn't think. well, I mean. it's all so. oh boy."
"I understand," Mitsukake said. Kristin gave a sigh of relief. Keeping Amiboshi's identity a secret was going to be hard.
"But why are you hanging around this man here?" Mitsukake asked, for he isn't Tamahome and picks up on these things a lot better. "He looks like one of those spies from Kutou, a Boboshi."
Everything became silent. What was Amiboshi supposed to say now? It was the Boboshi that saved the day. (well, night.)
"Kutou is in terrible condition," the boboshi said. "we've been invaded by Phil, the tube master. You heard Am--Chiriko's song. He doesn't remember his usual song, but only the notes for Phil's song. It's effected everyone in the worse possible way. And the worse part of it is. Kutou had ran out of Cheez-its."
"You can't be serious!" Mitsukake said, concerned. "That's the worse possible thing that could happen!"
"Sadly, that is the truth," the Boboshi said. Sadly, it was. "That's why I ran away, and I met Chiriko, and he told me. he would get me a good position in Konan. I'm a good Boboshi. I can become an Official for the Emperor."
"That could work out nicely for you," Mitsukake said. "What position are you?"
"I'm Boboshi 2."
Kristin smiled as Mitsukake said, "I'm sure they were meaning to replace one of the Officials." Caitlin will love this, Kristin thought. She had been on such sour terms with Number 2!
Mitsukake shook hands with Boboshi 2, who now had no choice but to become the new Official Number 2 to Hotohori. Amiboshi was going to have to send word that they had lost a Boboshi, but on a better note, he was going suceed in the plan.
As Kristin lead them back to Tamahome's house, a screeching scream told her that Katie had flashed a flashlight right into Nuriko's eye. This was going to be a long night.
So the gang was off again, going through the country side. The horses were gone, so the walk was slow going, and Kristin was now sure that time would catch up to them, and trouble might arise as the plot line was intended to go. Before they left the city where Shoka dwelled, Caitlin had managed to persuade Mitsukake to get rid of the sickness demon within Shoka, to save the city. After many, and perhaps too much tears from Katie who was clearly over doing it, Mitsukake buried his one love from the past, knowing that he had to move on, now that the Priestess was here. The gang was on the move.
Katie walked as close as she could to Tamahome, and he kept his arms around her like a big brother would. Kristin, upon one of their daily resting stops, accidently caught the two kissing, and had to wash her eyes out many times before she thought she had gotten rid of the image.
Tasuki was clearly embarassed with what had happened between him and Caitlin, and tried to be as mutual with her as possible. Caitlin acted the same way, though deep inside, her heart was pumping for another kiss. She proceeded on friendly terms with him now, hoping it would eventually turn passionate again in the near future.
Nuriko walked beside Kristin with Mitsukake. The had interesting conversations with each other, in which Kristin gladly heard Nuriko wondering why he hadn't noticed Tamahome as attractive before. Finally, Hotohori was truly going to become hers! Mitsukake managed to get on after the tearful departation of Shoka, and didn't learn till much later that Nuriko was a guy. He later told Kristin that he had to wash his eyes out throughly, thinking Nuriko a beautiful woman and having nice fantasies with him. Ah, my virgin eyes! Was the best thing Kristin heard out of his mouth.
Chichiri was having fun pretending to be the Emperor, crying out in a badly dubbed English voice."I'm so LONELY, I think I go CRAZY." Hotohori, who now wore a thick red scarf around his neck to hide his wounds, pouted at Chichiri's poor expressions of him, and missed Kristin very much. Just her presence alone seemed to lighten the room. He missed that wonderfully, low, feminine voice and the long, dark hair that flowed passed her shoulders. He missed her witty remarks and calmness. His beloved Priestess was out there, and even though she was with her celestial warriors, he still felt as though she wasn't safe.
Tomo and Kailein were having * fun * in the woods of Kutou. but why are we talking about the Seiryu? This is supposed to be a Suzaku update!
Kristin knew she was going to run into trouble, when, upon approaching Tamahome's home village, Katie swore she heard the sound of a flute. Caitlin pulled her aside, and the three were huddled together.
"What do we do?" Caitlin asked Kristin, who obviously could not answer that question. "Are we going to accept Amiboshi as Chirko or not?" As the three knew, the last celestial warrior was Chirko. But, according to the anime, the Seiryu member, Amiboshi, was going to trick the Suzaku seishi by pretending to be Chirko, thus destroying the summoning ceremony for Suzaku. Kristin knew this day would come, and she had thought out carefully what should happen. IF only she could tell this to Caitlin.
"I think we should reveal him," Katie hissed. "I don't want anything to do with those bad Seiryu people."
At this, Kristin shook her head no. Caitlin noticed this, and said, "You think we ought to let this just go?"
Kristin nodded yes.
"I understand," Caitlin said, looking over the situation. "We should see what happens, especially since we're a bit ahead of time, and Amiboshi might not have started the plan. Not to mention, none of the Suzaku have any reason for hating the Sieryu, yet. Did you hear Tamahome? He wants to kill Andrew, not Nakago. I know the Seiryu are going to intervene, cause I know the Author needs some bad ass conflict going on here, and Nakago is not just going to turn all sweet on us, but. we can't just let Martha become an enemy of ours. I understand your position, Kristin. We're going to let him go. Katie? NO revealing or Tamahome is going to be DEAD MEAT."
Katie looked frightened, and made her vow to keep quiet about Amiboshi. Kristin had slightly different reasons for keeping Amiboshi's identity hidden (if they summon the god of Suzaku, what then happens to poor Martha and those darn tubas that won't let her go?) but was glad that Caitlin had seen wize her decision. Besides, if they were to summon Suzaku that easily, then the story wouldn't be as fun, now would it? Kristin looked up into the sky towards the Author, and gave a whine. She wanted to talk again!
In any case, Tamahome proudly showed off his village, and took the gang to his home, where his five siblings and sick dad lived. Kristin and Caitlin cringed at the sight of those poor children, hoping to divert the fate that was planned for them. Tamahome's siblings rushed outside when they heard his familiar voice call out to them, and then they stopped abruptly in front of him, staring.
"Big brother," Yurien, the youngest of them all, squeaked, "why are you dressed like that?"
A big sweat drop formed off of Tamahome's face. He didn't want to change. He liked this new look. Didn't any one understand this? The rest of the gang liked this, so why shouldn't his family?
"Uh, Big brother has a new look, Yurien," he said, trying to smile with a red face. Tasuki was already laughing behind him.
"I think Tama-chan looks wonderful like this," Nuriko cooed.
Tamahome's face turned red. At least his siblings were convinced that Nuriko was a female.
They were lead into the house by the children, and Tamahome had a heart-to-heart talk with his daddy. Yurien asked if Katie was Tamahome's wife, and Katie got red, and absolutely happy. Caitlin watched with a bored expression as the two became red and denied their relationship.
None of them found Kristin threatening or a Priestess, and Kristin found herself greatly annoyed as the kids pulled on her tail and patted her too hard. Mitsukake used his healing powers to help Tamahome's father who was stricken in bed with sickness. Because his power took out a great deal of his energy, Mitsukake slept most of the rest of the day. Kristin managed to use him as an excuse, and crawled into his room where he had put up a * do not disturb * sign on the door, and she slept, curled up, besides him.
The kids had the most fun with Tasuki and Caitlin, as the two chased them around, and played their little games, up to the point where they wanted Caitlin and Tasuki to be * mommy and daddy * and the two became red and sulked away from the kids. Nuriko made dinner, and Katie attempted to help, but everyone was afraid of what she might do. She was sent to fetch water, and came back a bit distressed since she hadn't been attacked by a Boboshi and saved by Tamahome.
Night came, though, and the gang, tired, fell asleep in the warmth and hospitality of Tamahome's home. Because they had already slept, Mitsukake and Kristin were nice and awake. Kristin did not want Katie to go out there to get herself into stupid trouble, so she forced Mitsukake into walking her out in the night. So, Mitsukake, Kristin, and his little cat Tama, walked out into the dark night. It was after a few minutes of enjoyable quiet that they heard the flute music.
Kristin stopped, alarmed.
"What's that horrible music I hear?" Mitsukake said outloud.
Kristin whined, un able to believe what she was hearing. That wasn't the usual song of Amiboshi's terrible flute music. No, that was Amiboshi playing PHIL'S THEME SONG on his flute. The three followed the noise, and found Amiboshi, playing that horrid song on his flute. Hundreds of bats hung from the trees where he stood, and a boboshi was trying to hide himself in the trees. Amiboshi stopped playing as the three came up to him, and he stammered out, "Oh no. too soon."
There was an awkward pause between Mitsukake and Amiboshi. Kristin looked up at the Boboshi in the trees. Suddenly, the Boboshi appeared excited, and jumped down, joining Amiboshi.
"That's the Priestess!" he whispered in Amiboshi's ear, a bit too loudly. Mitsukake pretended he HADN'T heard that.
"What? How?" Amiboshi whispered back.
"The rumor! The rumor!" Boboshi whispered back. "Bob 6 told me that the Lone Wolf Warrior turned Naiidoska's Priestess into a Wolf, so that she could become HIS Priestess instead."
Kristin bowed her head in understanding, and Boboshi suddenly realized he was whispering too loud. Amiboshi stammered out a lie, "Oh. so you ARE the Priestess of Suzaku! I'm Chirako, yes, one of your, um, celestial warriors."
He tried to look convincing, but his face was growing unusually red. He gripped the flute hard.
"Chirako?" Mitsukake repeated. "uh. Don't you mean, Chirko? That's what the scroll of Suzaku says."
"Ha, ha," Amiboshi laughed nervously. "I guess I'm too nervous. about meeting the Priestess, that is. I didn't think. well, I mean. it's all so. oh boy."
"I understand," Mitsukake said. Kristin gave a sigh of relief. Keeping Amiboshi's identity a secret was going to be hard.
"But why are you hanging around this man here?" Mitsukake asked, for he isn't Tamahome and picks up on these things a lot better. "He looks like one of those spies from Kutou, a Boboshi."
Everything became silent. What was Amiboshi supposed to say now? It was the Boboshi that saved the day. (well, night.)
"Kutou is in terrible condition," the boboshi said. "we've been invaded by Phil, the tube master. You heard Am--Chiriko's song. He doesn't remember his usual song, but only the notes for Phil's song. It's effected everyone in the worse possible way. And the worse part of it is. Kutou had ran out of Cheez-its."
"You can't be serious!" Mitsukake said, concerned. "That's the worse possible thing that could happen!"
"Sadly, that is the truth," the Boboshi said. Sadly, it was. "That's why I ran away, and I met Chiriko, and he told me. he would get me a good position in Konan. I'm a good Boboshi. I can become an Official for the Emperor."
"That could work out nicely for you," Mitsukake said. "What position are you?"
"I'm Boboshi 2."
Kristin smiled as Mitsukake said, "I'm sure they were meaning to replace one of the Officials." Caitlin will love this, Kristin thought. She had been on such sour terms with Number 2!
Mitsukake shook hands with Boboshi 2, who now had no choice but to become the new Official Number 2 to Hotohori. Amiboshi was going to have to send word that they had lost a Boboshi, but on a better note, he was going suceed in the plan.
As Kristin lead them back to Tamahome's house, a screeching scream told her that Katie had flashed a flashlight right into Nuriko's eye. This was going to be a long night.