Hello fellow readers! I don't have much to say this chapter **hears an echo of gasps from the readers** Yes, yes I know I talk a lot and usually before each chapter but today er...right now...I'm hungry and I haven't had lunch. Eating takes priority over filling up space in my stories. Besides I'm sure you'd all rather be reading than listening to me ramble anyway. And if you DO like to hear me ramble 1. You've got to be odd (lol! J/K!) and 2. Go to my online journal cause I ramble way more! It's here if you're intersted-

Fushigi Yuugi isn't mine!

We all ate around the campfire. We had an assortment of noodles and rice made dishes with tea to drink. Mokoto and I used our own cups. There was some fish too. It was all really good.

"Yum!" I said, eating a fried shrimp, "You guys are good cooks!"

"Arigatou," Mitsukake said eating.

"So," I said wiping my hands off, "Can I ask about each of you? I'd like to know more about you if that's ok."

"Well I'm from another world," Miaka smiled, raising her hand busily stuffing her mouth full of food, "And currently I'm studying for exams. They're so hard."

"O-Oh… Exams? …Can you eat them?" I asked a bit puzzled.

Miaka laughed, "No, it's a kind of test for school."

"Oh…" I said, not really understanding, but just agreeing.

"I've trained at Mt. Taikyoku," Chichiri volunteered.

"I know where that is!" I smiled, "It's by Nyosei! In between Kutou and Konan empires!"

"Hai," Chichiri nodded.

"I'm a genius," Chiriko smiled.

"Wow," I said, "At such a young age!"

"It's because of his constellation," Tamahome said.

"Oh. Well, it's still neat."

"I'm a bandit," Tasuki shrugged, "That's about it."

"You don't have to be modest," I said.

"What about you, Nuriko?" Mokoto said, clearing her throat, turning slightly pink.

"Eh? Me? Well, my sister died when I was young and I'm cross-dressing today to keep her alive. She looked just like me. And I've been in Hotohori's harem since then. Of course he's in love with Miaka not me," Nuriko said dramatically, "My life is so tragic."

I looked over at Mokoto as she bought into all his drama. I stifled a laugh.

"I'm done so I think I'll go pick some flowers," I said, pushing my plate back, "If I can find some. But first I'll wash my plate. Can someone tell me where the nearest fresh spring is?"

"I'll take you, no da," Chichiri said standing up with me, "Maybe Tasuki should come too just in case something happens."

"Ok," Tasuki said standing up; "We'll be back in a few."

"Be careful," Miaka nodded.

Then, carrying our plates, we exited the campsite and walked for several minutes until I couldn't smell the smoke of the fire anymore and came up on a spring.

"Wai sugoi, sugoi!" I cried rushing over to it. I touched my fingers into the water. It was hot; "This is a hot spring?"

"This isn't the spring we're going to wash the dishes off in," Chichiri said, "We're going to a cold fresh water spring, no da."

"I see. Can I take a bath in this later?" I asked.

"Do whatever floats yer boat," Tasuki said walking on.

"Yay!" I said running to catch up with Tasuki.

We walked on and came up to another spring, which was cold, I could tell because there was no steam rising from the water.

"Here," Tasuki said handing me his plate, "I'll look out while you guys wash."

"Alright," I said taking his plate.

Chichiri and I turned to the spring and scrubbed off the plates with a rag he brought along. We were almost done when I looked over at Chichiri. His face was…peeling.

"Um…C-Chichiri?" I said softly.

"Nani?" (1. Nani- What?)

"Y-Your face… It's peeling off…"

"Oh? Is it?" Chichiri said feeling his face, "So, it is starting to peel. Don't worry about this Kumiko, I wear masks. This is just a mask peeling, no da."

"Oh… Why do you wear masks?" I asked.

"Because people would rather look at this mask than my face," he smiled.

"Aw Chichiri!" I cried, hugging him, "Don't be negative like that!"

"It's ok, Kumiko," he said peeling half of his mask off, "You see?"

I touched his real cheek; "You're not bad to look at…"

"You haven't seen the bad part yet," he smiled, ripping off the other side. His other eye was scarred heavily. It was so scarred up that his eye would never open again, if his eye was even usable.

My eyes widened. I reached up and lightly touched his scarred eye.

"Does it hurt?" I asked softly.

"Only on the inside. It healed a long time ago."

"I'm sorry Chichiri. But…" I smiled, "You're still not bad to look at."

He smiled and I hugged him again. But when I pulled back to look at him a new mask had already been replaced. He smiled at me. I sighed and we finished washing the dishes.

"Ya done yet?!" Tasuki yelled running up to us.

"We are now!" I said standing up with Chichiri holding the clean dishes.

"Good," Tasuki said, "Let's go."

We walked all the way back to camp safely and gave our dishes to Tamahome.

"So!" I said walking away from Tamahome with Tasuki and Chichiri, "What can we do now?"

"What'd ya mean 'we'? I'm going over here to polish the Rekka before sundown," Tasuki said walking away. (2. In case you didn't know the Rekka is Tasuki's weapon, a metal fan.)

"Hmm," I sniffed, "I don't think he likes me much."

Chichiri put an arm around me and playfully smacked my arm; "He's like that to everyone, no da."

"Oh, I see," I said, "I guess I should get ready for bed anyway."

"Hai," Chichiri nodded smiling, "Ja matte ne!" (3. Ja matte ne- Same as 'ja'. means til later)

"Ja," I smiled and waved as he walked away.

I turned around right into Mokoto.

"Ah," Mokoto said stepping back a few steps, "Be more careful! You almost smacked heads with me."

"Gomen," I smiled, scratching my head, "Have you talked to Nuriko?" (4. Gomen- Sorry)

"…About what?" Mokoto said getting pink.

"About your undying love of course!" I smiled.

"Eh… Be quiet about that, baka," she sighed looking a different way. (5. BAKA DESU! Baka = idiot)

"Oh, come on, I'm sure he doesn't bite!" I urged.

"I-I don't know…" Mokoto said nervously.

"Hey!" Nuriko yelled running up to us, "I've been asked by Miaka to find out who to make beds for. So, are you two sleeping over here or with Yui's pack of rabid dogs?"

"I'm going to sleep with them tonight," I replied, "But Nuriko-senpai...can I ask you a favor?" (6. Nuriko-senpai - senpai is a surname. it just means that Nuriko is older and that Kumiko respects him/admires him and whatnot.)

"Hai?" Nuriko said.

"Can you please take care of Mokoto-chan? She's afraid of the people with blue auras. She feels safer here with you Nuriko-senpai."

"O-Oh?" Nuriko said, blushing a bit, glancing down at Mokoto, "Well I'll make sure she stays safe here then."

"Arigatou gozaimasu!" I smiled.

Nuriko nodded and I gathered up my pack and headed over to the other side of the forest. Tomo was waiting for me with open arms.

This was it. They had really become my family!

A/N: Thanks for reading! Now...review?