Disclaimer: Fushigi Yuugi is the creation of Yu Watase. It does not belong to me. But enjoy the story anyway.

Author's note: Phew! Finally done with all the packing and unpacking. Here's the next chapter at last. Thanks for another review Sanomi and Lan-chan this chapter is for you.

Chapter 10

Mei slowly stood up and wiped her mouth with the sleeve of her robe. However, as soon as she started walking, the floor seemed to shift from under her and the room began to spin. Tasuki snapped out of his momentary paralysis and again caught her before she hit the floor.

The demi-goddess pulled herself up and frowned. "Sorry 'bout that. I think the floor moved or something."

The redhead gave a crooked smile at her serious expression. "Maybe I should help you to your room."

As they headed towards the stairs, the couple saw Chichiri descend and call out to Mei.

"There you are. I was looking for …" Chichiri abruptly stopped when he saw that Mei was leaning on Tasuki for support. He quickly rushed over to them and asked, "Tasuki, what happened, no da?

"Um … hee hee … well …" Tasuki rubbed the back of his neck.

"Hi Chichiri," Mei slurred out. She tried walking up to the blue-haired seishi, but managed to trip on her own feet.

Chichiri lunged forward to break her fall and Mei grabbed his arms for support. She giggled as she pulled herself up.

"Sorry. *hiccup* The floor kept moving on me. Does that happen to you much?" Mei moaned and leaned her head on her friend's chest. "I don't feel so good."

"You're drunk!" exclaimed the stunned monk. He turned to Tasuki. "She's drunk, no da!"

The bandit just started at the arms Chichiri had around Mei's waist and tried not to get jealous.

"Tasuki, why is she drunk!?" the other seishi asked a little louder to get the redhead's attention. "She's never had liquor, no da. What if something happened?"

Chichiri gulped at the thought of the drunk demi-goddess unconsciously using her powers. 'If she messes up while sober,' he told himself, 'who knows what accidents she may cause in this condition, no da.'

"I can't believe you let this happen," Chichiri accused Tasuki.

"Me!?" the redhead yelled, looking indignant. "I didn't freakin' force her to drink the sake! Besides, she's fine. I was just about to take Mei back to Miaka."

The monk shook his head. "I'll do it, no da." He swung her up into his arms and turned away, missing the glare Tasuki gave him. "Wouldn't want you to turn into a toad, no da."

"Huh?"

******

Mei woke up with a groan and squinted at the bright light flooding the room. She sat up and immediately placed her hands on both sides of head.

"Arrggh, gods let the pain stop," she moaned pitifully. She was thinking about crawling back to bed when the door opened.

"Oh hey, you're awake," Miaka said.

The other girl had turned at the priestess' words and wished she hadn't. She let out another moan as the throbbing pain sliced through her temples.

"That bad, huh?" Miaka asked with sympathy and sat next to Mei.

"Feels like someone's pounding a sledgehammer in my head," came the muffled response.

Miaka laughed. "Well, what do you expect from a hangover? You missed breakfast by the way. But don't worry. I told everybody that you just wanted to sleep in. Even Tasuki and Chichiri kept their mouths shut."

"What exactly happened?"

"Don't you remember? Chichiri came by last night to ask you something, but when I looked at your bed, it was empty. So he left to find you. I got worried when he came back carrying you. But he said you jut had too much sake."

Events from last night came rushing back. Mei moaned again, but this time it was more out of embarrassment than in pain.

"By the way, what were you doing drinking sake with Tasuki so late last night?" Miaka frowned. "I didn't realize you were that kind of a girl."

"What are you talking about? Tasuki and I were just clearing up some misunderstanding. I never had sake before and I guess I drank too much. Is everybody still downstairs?"

"No, we split up into groups to look for clues about the shinzaho all over the city," Miaka said with a smile. "Tamahome and Nuriko are waiting for me downstairs. I just wanted to check up on you before we leave."

"I'll go with you," Mei said standing up.

"What about your headache?"

"Oh, that. It's not so bad anymore. In fact, it's almost gone." Silently the demi-goddess let out a thankful prayer as her body healed itself at a rate far more faster than that of a mortal.

Once outside, the group of four headed towards the market place to ask some questions. On their way there Nuriko noticed a shrine of sorts that had Genbus's mark on the top.

"This could be a clue," Tamahome announced. "But those inscriptions look like worm tracks. Does any of you know how to read this?"

Miaka and Nuriko shook their heads. Mei stepped forward and looked at the writing more closely.

"I think I recognize a word here and there," she said thoughtfully. "Let's see … It talks about a shinzaho shaped like a shell. Priestess … protect … land … and something about a cave in Mt. Kouku."

"That's it!" Miaka excitedly cried out. She stopped an old woman passing by and asked which way it was to Mt. Kouku.

"Just head on to those mountains over there," the lady said as she pointed behind her.

"Thank you," replied the priestess. She turned back to the others and said, "Let's go find the others and tell them."

"Yeah, why don't you and Tamahome do that," Nuriko told Miaka. "Mei and I will go ahead so we don't waste any time."

Something passed between the two men just before the group split up. Mei wondered, but kept silent. She held her tongue until she and Nuriko were galloping towards Mt. Kouku on a lone horse.

"How do you do it?" she asked the seishi in front of her. "How do you keep on loving someone and know that that person doesn't feel the same way?"

"What are you talking about?"

"I know about you and Miaka. I know you love the priestess. I saw how you looked at her after we rescued you from the storm. I also saw how sad you looked in the woods when Miaka promised to stay here with Tamahome after all this is over." When Mei felt the man tense up, she quickly apologized. "I didn't mean to spy on you. I was making sure the priestess would be alright and you just happened to be there as well."

Nuriko was quiet for awhile. "I guess there's no point in hiding it from you now. I love Miaka. And I want her to be happy. If being with Tamahome makes her happy, then so be it. To love someone is to want what's best for them."

Mei thought about her own situation with Tasuki. She did not know if she loved the seishi. But she knew that she's never felt this way about anyone before. And Mei knew that she would do exactly what Nuriko had said - want what was best for the one you love.

"I think I understand," Mei replied.

"Why are you asking me this anyway?"

Mei was quick to respond. "Nothing. Just curious I guess."

Nuriko smiled mischievously. "This wouldn't have anything to do with Tasuki, now would it?" He felt Mei's arms tighten around him and his smile widened.

"Tasuki?" her voiced nearly squeaked. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"You don't have to pretend," the purple-haired seishi laughed. He looked over his shoulder at Mei and winked. "I have eyes too you know. If you're worried about him, I can assure you that he …"

Nuriko's sentence ended in a scream as the horse abruptly stopped and reared on its hind legs. Mei sreamed as well when they were both unseated. The green-haired girl sat up and watched as the horse ran away. She turned to see if Nuriko was alright, but froze when she saw the figure of a half man, half wolf standing several feet from them.

Nuriko saw Mei sit up then suddenly tense up. He opened his mouth to ask if she was hurt some where, but was cut off when he heard a guttural voice speak up.

"Suzaku seishi, I am Ashitare of the Seiryuu seven. I will not let you advance any further."

Mei cursed silently. She had been too distracted by what Nuriko was about to say that she failed to sense the danger.

The Suzaku seishi slowly stood up and walked in front of the young demi-goddess. "Mei, get out of here now."

"But …"

"I said go! I'm gonna take down this brute."

Having said that, Nuriko activated his bracelets and charged at Ashitare. Mei still hesitated to leave her friend and watched in horror as the Seiryuu seishi made a swipe at Nuriko with his claws. The latter jumped away in time, but did not escape harm. His robe had been torn and trails of blood were visible on his chest. Nuriko charged again and jumped to land a kick on his opponent. Ashitare, however, had a quicker reflex and grabbed Nuriko's leg. He spun the Suzaku seishi by his ankle and let him fly towards a tree trunk.

Mei gasped as Nuriko hit the tree and crumpled to the ground. She turned to Ashitare and yelled, "Hey, over here you monster! You think you're so tough? Well, come and get me!"

Mei intertwined her fingers and cast a levitation spell. Rocks began to float around her and then with a yell hurled it all at Ashitare. The enemy sneered and swatted the projectiles like flies and with a roar advanced on the girl.

Mei's body and mind froze as Ashitare ran towards her at a frightening speed. She closed her eyes and waited for his claws to rip her apart. She heard the sickening sound of ripping flesh, but felt no pain.

"Didn't I … tell you … to go," said a weak voice above her.

Mei's eyes flew open and widened in shock as she realized that Nuriko had used his body to shield her from Ashitare's attack. She gasped in horror when she saw the claw protruding from Nuriko's chest.

With a snarl, Ashitare pulled back his hand and watched as one of the Suzaku warriors fell.

"Nuriko …" Mei knelt beside the seishi as tears swam in her eyes.

"Don't worry. You'll be joining him soon," said Ashitare.

Mei lifted her eyes towards the Seiryuu seishi and felt the anger rise within her. She did not know where the power came from, but she let it fill her body. Mei calmly stood up and stretched out an arm in front of her. Her palm began to glow and with a single purpose in mind, Mei released a stream of energy that blasted him away.