Disclaimer: Fushigi Yuugi belongs to Yu Watase and not me. I'm only doing this for fun so please don't sue me.

Chapter 4

Meiling walked out of her room and waited for Chichiri outside the inn. She told the monk about her plan last night and both of them had agreed that it would be best if Chichiri run the idea by with the emperor first.

The young demi-goddess sat on a bench and did not have to wait long for Chichiri. Meiling stood up and picked up her bundle of belonging when she saw him walking towards her.

"So, how'd it go?" she asked excitedly.

"His Highness liked the idea. He didn't even hesitate to give his approval, no da. He asked me to bring you to the dock this morning so we can introduce you to everybody, no da."

"Great! So what are you waiting for? Come on!"

She ran pass Chichiri and the latter had to run as well in order to catch up with her. When Meiling reached the dock she stopped in her tracks and gazed at the gigantic ship in front of her.

"It's something, isn't it?" Chichiri asked from behind.

"Uh-huh," she replied in awe.

The seishi chuckled softly. "Come on, the emperor is waiting for us on the deck, no da."

"Ah, Chichiri there you are," exclaimed a gray-haired man as they reached the ship's deck. "I was beginning to wonder if you had forgotten about what we discussed last night. Is this the girl you were telling me about?"

Meiling kept her eyes on the young man. Just from the way he spoke so eloquently and from the fancy clothes he was wearing, she could only guess that he was the emperor.

"Yes, your Highness," replied Chichiri as he and Meiling stopped in front of the emperor. "May I present to you Emperor Saihite of Konan. Also known as Hotohori, one of the Suzaku seishis. Your Highness, this is Mei … ah …" The monk faltered as he realized that he couldn't give away the demi-goddess' real name.

"Woo, My name's Mei Woo," Meiling quickly threw in. "It's an honor and a pleasure to meet you, your Highness. Wow, she never said anything about the emperor being a seishi too."

"She?" asked Hotohori.

"Oh, nobody," Meiling hurriedly said. "It's nobody, just babbling really."

"Oh, in that case it's a pleasure to finally meet you as well. I shall introduce you to the Priestess of Suzaku as soon as she … Ah , there she is. Miaka, come and meet the girl Chichiri and I told you about this morning."

Meiling turned around to greet the priestess and was surprised when she recognized the brunette she saw from last night.

"Hi, my name's Miaka Yuki," said the priestess cheerfully. "And this is Tamahome of the Suzaku Seven," she added, pointing to the blue-haired boy beside her. "Hotohori and Chichiri said you'd be coming along as my lady in waiting or something like that. I think I'm still kinda confused of what that means."

"Miaka," said Tamahome. "His Highness already explained that she'd be your female companion of sorts or something like a personal assistant."

"Not to mention your chaperone," Hotohori added in. "As the priestess of Suzaku, I wish to ensure that no improper advances are made on you."

Both Miaka and Tamahome blushed as Hotohori pointedly looked at the younger seishi after this remark.

Meiling wasn't really paying attention. She was too preoccupied with the realization that this girl was the priestess. 'If this were her seishis,' she thought to herself. 'Then maybe, just maybe the red-head I saw with her last night could also be one of the Suzaku Seven.'

(A/N: To make in easier on me and you, starting at this point I will be referring to Meiling as just Mei from now on until the secret is out I guess.)

"Look, he got carried on to the ship."

Tamahome's voice broke through Mei's thoughts and turned to where everyone was looking. Her breath caught when she recognized the young man hanging on to the soldier's leg.

As Tamahome and the red-head began to argue, Mei quietly asked Chichiri if the other boy was also a seishi.

"Oh, you mean Tasuki. Uh-huh, but don't let his behavior fool you, no da. He's a very good warrior, no da."

"Hey! What's he …" Mei exclaimed suddenly. She was about to help Tasuki as Tamahome threatened to throw the other seishis overboard, but stopped when she spotted the purple-haired lady that was with Miaka and Tasuki last night come towards them with an exceptionally high stack of supplies.

"Will you two quit fooling around and help me with this things? I don't want to overdevelop my musculature," she said.

"Is she …" Mei asked in shock.

"Uh-huh, the Suzaku seishi Nuriko," answered Miaka cheerfully. But 'she' is actually a 'he'. Hey guys look over here!"

Mei blinked as the box that Miaka lifted to her eyes released a bright flash. The young demi-goddess leaned over to see the picture Miaka was holding. She was as amazed as Tamahome, Tasuki, and Nuriko when the seishis saw themselves on the paper.

"Hey, that guy in there's a fake! I'm the real me. I am!" Tasuki suddenly yelled .

Mei looked at the red-head and giggled as the seishi continued to protest. Tasuki stopped yelling when he noticed a green-haired girl laughing at him. Mei froze when Tasuki stared at her with a funny expression, then proceeded to glare at everybody and her.

"Okay, who the heck is this brat? And what the freak is she doing here on the ship?!"

Tasuki felt a twinge of regret when he saw the girl flinch from his verbal attack. He quickly quenched it and gave himself a mental shake for having a momentary lapse of softness.

Miaka missed Mei's reaction and just laughed. "I'm sorry. I forgot to introduce you to the others. Mei, meet Tasuki and Nuriko. Oh, here comes Mitsukake and Chiriko. Guys, come over here, I want you to meet Mei. Everybody this is Mei, she's my lady in waiting. She'll be going to Hokkan with us as my female companion."

"It's nice to meet you Mei," Chiriko said as Mitsukake nodded his agreement.

"Great," Tasuki said sarcastically. "Just what we need, another girl on the trip. Ouch!"

"Be nice," Nuriko told Tasuki as the latter glared at the purple-haired seishi. "Don't give me another excuse to hit you again."

"Hey, I've got an idea," exclaimed Miaka. She motioned for one of the soldiers to come over and explained to him how to operate the camera. "Come on everybody, let's stand over here so I can have a group picture. Here Mei, stand next to me. Everybody ready? Say Cheese!"


Author's notes: I know, it was kind of a lame cover up for Meiling, but I was really drawing a blank when I came to this part.