~ Chapter 13 ~
Change of Plans?!
-One seishi to find is enough!-
The palace was beautiful.
Far different from what I had ever seen in the animé, or the manga, it was beautiful … and huge! The sun shining brightly cascaded over the lot, making it more appealing to the eye. But we had other things to worry about at the moment.
"You really think they'd let us inside as we are?" I turned to Chichiri and Tasuki behind me, who were climbing down from the tree we had landed in. "They might let you guys in, but as far as I'm concerned, I'm a stranger who could be capable of anything."
Chichiri landed first before Tasuki. "I think if you're coming in with us, they should understand no ... da…" He trailed off as we stared at Tasuki, falling right out of the tree and slamming into the ground, making us wince and turn away, pretending as if we didn't notice a thing.
"ITAI!!" Tasuki screamed, lifted himself from the hole in the ground, and walked to us with a pissed expression. Not only that, but he was covered in dirt and dust.
"Are you really going in there like that?" I looked him over skeptically, cocking an eyebrow at his disgruntled look as he brushed himself off a little. I shrugged.
"Guess that'll do…" I sighed roughly. "Do we really have to go see Hotohori-sama in order to find the other seishi?" I turned to face Chichiri and Tasuki.
"Well…now that I think of it … we do happen to be the two living seishi of Suzaku no da …" Chichiri looked up at the sky, touching his chin as he thought. "…we could probably travel freely without so much as a second glance no da!"
I looked at Tasuki, who seemed very impatient with our talking. "What?? A change of plans?!" He asked us loudly. "Didn' we plan everythin' out already??"
Chichiri and I looked at each other, silently confirming our new plan.
"Yes, Tasuki … but one seishi to find is enough!"
~ A couple of hours later, at least three or four at most…
"Chichiri!! WHERE are we going?!"
"I'm not exactly sure myself no da, but my senses tell me to go this way no da…so just follow na no da!!"
I sighed. I knew I was complaining, but I couldn't help it. We've been traveling on foot for this long, and I was starting to lose energy, as well as my patience.
Chichiri led the way, as he knew where the hell he was going. Tasuki and I followed up behind him, bringing up the rear. Both of us were far spent, but Tasuki seemed to have a bit more energy in him. I smiled as an idea popped into my head. Slowly inching behind Tasuki as to not look suspicious, I mustered up what little strength I had left and sprung at him, landing on his back and gripping his shoulders to stay on. I wasn't about to let go … I wanted a ride, dammit!!
"WHAT the hell do you think yer doin'?!" Tasuki asked as he stumbled a bit, but regained his balance.
"Piggyback ride!" I said simply. I was slowly slipping off, so I held on really tight around his neck. That wasn't good, as he started to gag and bend backwards.
"I…can't breath!!"
"Whoopss!" I grinned with my fangs and got on once again, getting a looser hold this time. "I'm not gonna let go, you know!" I yawned obviously and closed my eyes.
"Oh … that's great…" He replied sarcastically under his breath, then raised his head and shouted ahead to Chichiri. "Oi! Can't yeh carry her fer awhile?! I'm fuckin' tired!"
Chichiri kept his pace, but turned around and smiled briefly. "Sorry, Tasuki, but I have to keep my strength up too no da!" He turned, facing the path again. "She's asleep anyway no da."
"Oh…" He replied, shortly followed by a large sweatdrop as he supported my dead weight. "How long 'till we git there again?"
Chichiri doubled back to Tasuki's pace, not wanting to leave Tasuki to suffer alone. "Shouldn't be long now no da…I think we're close no da."
Tasuki shifted me on his back. "Who're we goin' ta find? Sakura said only one seishi ta find is enough…"
"Ohh…you'll see no da," Chichiri grinned. "Let's just say Joanna will be very pleased with us no da."