Chapter
Two
Seiji
smiled endearingly down at the girl as he said softly, "So you know us, huh? Mind
telling us where we are?"
Touma snickered softly as he said, "Ah, Seiji's at it again with the girls!" Ryo
just chuckled and shook his head in amusement.
The girl huffed, brushing dirt off her clothes. "Yuuki Miaka! Last year junior high
school student! I've seen you around school."
Genrou and Kouji sweatdropped. She was so weird. "This is why I hate girls."
Genrou groused.
Miaka turned an icy glare on Touma. "What are you doing here anyway?!"
"MIAKA!!!!!" Two others ran in, one carrying a sword at the ready. Extremely
long brown hair fell down his back.
Another, a long purple braid flowing in the breeze, cracked its fingers. "Looks like
we found some more to mess with Hotohori-sama!"
Smirking slightly at the two newcomers, Seiji checked out the brown haired man subtly.
Touma snickered again as he came over by Seiji. Looking at the one named Miaka, Touma
said, "Well, we aren't exactly sure how we ended up here, so we couldn't really tell
you our purpose here. My name's Touma, that is Seiji, Shu, Shin, and our leader,
Ryo." he said amiably and pointed at each of the Ronins as he said their names.
Ryo stepped forward and said soothingly, "We mean you no harm. We're just lost as to
where we are and how we got here."
Shu snorted, "Yea and these bozos decided to pick a fight...a losing fight that
is." he said smugly and cracked his knuckles, earning a disapproving glare from Shin.
Miaka nodded. "Oh well...These are my friends. This is Hotohori." She indicated
the long brown haired man.
Hotohori eyed them suspiciously, but bowed in greeting. "It's a pleasure."
Grinning, Miaka bounced. "And this is Nuriko!"
Nuriko smiled, nodding in greeting.
Frowning, Miaka looked up at them. "You guys got any food? I'm hungry."
The Ronins stared at Miaka, then Shin Said softly, "Don't tell me we have a female
Shu among us now?" Shu glared at Shin as the other three started snickering
uncontrollably, all of them visibly relaxing.
Miaka pouted, crossing her arms across her chest. "Now I know why me and Yui-chan
always stayed away from you guys. You guys are bakas."
"Hey! I resemble that remark!" Shu Said indignantly as he crossed his arms as
well.
Touma leaned against a grinning Seiji as he laughed and Shin Said, "Don't compare us
to him! He's the comic relief!' Shu growled softly and waved his fist at Shin.
"Thankless job too..." Shu muttered and Ryo smiled at him as he placed a
friendly hand on his friend's arm.
"Uhm..." Hotohori frowned, staring at the new arrivals. "Are you saying
they're from your world, Miaka?"
Miaka nodded enthusiastic. "Hai! But how you guys got here I don't know. Onichan has
the book..."
Nurkio shrugged. "It makes no difference. They're here. And we still have to find
Tasuki, Miaka."
Genrou rubbed the back of his neck and grinned sheepishly. He remained silent, however.
"Uhm..." Hotohori frowned, staring at the new arrivals. "Are you saying
they're from your world, Miaka?"
Miaka nodded enthusiastic. "Hai! But how you guys got here I don't know. Onichan has
the book..."
Nurkio shrugged. "It makes no difference. They're here. And we still have to find
Tasuki, Miaka."
Genrou rubbed the back of his neck and grinned sheepishly. He remained silent, however.
The Ronins looked at each other and grinned slightly. Ryo looked at the other people and
asked, "Why are you looking for this Tasuki?"
"And how did you get here, Miaka?" Touma asked as they all watched their
'hosts'.
"Well...it's kinda a long story..." Miaka sighed. They had nothing better to do.
And they obviously had no food on them. "I got here through a book. A red light
engulfed me and Yui-chan and sent us here. I'm what they call Suzaku no Miko. I kinda have
to find seven schiseishi (check spelling). After I do I can some the southern god,
Suzaku."
Nuriko and Hotohori looked at each other and rolled their eyes. Leave it to Miaka to
condense things into four sentences.
All of the Ronins stared at Miaka like she had just grown another head. Snorting, Shu
looked at his friends and Said, "Um, anyone else wanna say that we lead weird
lives?"
Ryo snickered and rolled his eyes as Seiji glared at him. Touma just grinned as Shin Said,
"Well, here's a question for you. Where are the Warlords?"
The others looked at him in horror. "Shit...I forgot about them! If they aren't here,
then where are they?" Shu Said and they all looked at each other again.
"What?" Miaka blinked, looking back at them.
Genrou frowned. "Who are these...warlords?"
Miaka shrugged. "Don't know. But if they came with you five, then chances are they
might be in Kutou. That's where...Yui-chan is...and Tamahome..." Her voice hitched
and she looked down, tears filling her eyes.
The Ronins looked at each other and sighed. "If they're with this Yui-chan, then
chances are she's in major trouble." Ryo Said and Shu snorted.
"No kidding! Let's just hope these guys aren't as bad as they are." Touma Said
and Seiji nodded in agreement.
"Not as bad?!" Nuriko snorted. "I don't know what island you came off of
pal. But the Seiryuu have done everything they can to get rid of us. They even tried to
kill Miaka!"
Miaka flushed, looking down. "It wasn't her fault, Nuriko!"
Snorting, Seiji crossed his arms. "Great. The warlords and these Seiryu together.
Wonderful. That's all we need." he Said softly and Ryo glanced at him and sighed
again.
"Well, we'll just have to work with what we have." Ryo Said resignedly. Crossing
his arms, he called off his armor, followed by the others and they stood in normal clothes
before their 'hosts'.
"Oh wow! That's cool!" Miaka gushed, clasping her hands together in wonder.
Unfortunately, the other three had quite a different reaction.
Hotohori immediately drew his sword and glared at them menacingly. "What are
you?!"
Genrou brandished his fan and glared, while Nuriko cracked his knuckles and got ready to
defend his friends.
The Ronins just stared at the three warriors and smirked. "We already told you."
Ryo Said as they either crossed their arms or put their fists on their hips. "Now,
back down. We don't want anymore fighting." He Said soothingly and the others nodded.
Miaka waved her hands at her friends. "Down you guys! It's okay! Really!"
Hotohori eyed them one more time, then sheathed his sword. "If you say so,
Miaka."
Seiji snorted as Shu Said, "Jeez...does she like, rule you pansies?"
Ryo glared at Shu and snapped out, "Knock it off, Shu. We don't judge people,
alright? We have a job to do!" Shu grumbled and nodded and Ryo sighed as he cast one
more glare at the Hardrock holder.
Shin grinned and looked at Hotohori. "You seem to be the leader outside of Miaka-san.
Can you tell us where we are?" he asked politely and smiled softly at the brown
haired man.
Hotohori was about to say, of course he was the leader, until he stared at Nuriko. He
narrowed his eyes and shook his head. Nodding, he just shrugged. "Perhaps. But we
have to be on our way. You may...join us if you like."
"Mighty kind of you, sir." Shu Said mockingly and Shin elbowed him.
Seiji looked at Touma and Said softly, "Mind telling me what just happened?"
Touma shrugged and grinned in bemusement.
"Hmmm..." Hotohori frowned, but Said nothing more. "If you're coming,
you'll need horses."
"No problem! Kouji! Round up some horses for these guys! It's the least we can do,
what with them helpin' and all." Genrou replied.
"Sure thing Genrou!" Kouji snapped off a salute.
"But we can't leave yet! We still have to find Tasuki!" Miaka pouted.
Ryo pushed his hands into his jean pockets and asked, "Um, so, what's so urgent about
finding these seishi? And, how are we going to get home?"
"And who is this Seiryuu and Suzaku? Some weird medical demons or something?"
Shu asked as he leaned back, hands behind his head and adopted a bored look.
Hotohori gripped his blade in anger. Placing her hand on his, Nuriko shook his head.
"Oh. Well...Suzaku and Seiryuu are gods. When I summon Suzaku he'll grant me my
wishes. As to why..." She looked down, sadness filling her eyes. "We need to
finish getting the rest of the seishi so...so...so Tamahome can come home..."
Frowning in thought, the five boys looked at each other. /What do you think, guys?/ Ryo
asked them.
/Well, it'll help us to get to the warlords and then out of here if we help them out./
Seiji Said thoughtfully.
Touma and Shin nodded as Shu Said /Yea, and they will need our help if the warlords team
up with this Seiryuu group./
/All for it then?/ Ryo's thoughts were answered with four firm nods. Turning back to the
other people, Ryo stepped forward and Said, "We know that our enemies may be working
together, so why don't we team up so we can all go home?"
"That sounds cool!" Miaka gushed, clasping her hands in front of her.
The others rolled their eyes but didn't suggest otherwise. "Well then...let's go
already!" Nuriko pouted. He wanted some 'quality time' alone with Hotohori.
"Heh. Well...I'll be off! Got lots of banditing to do!" Genrou grinned, edging
away.
"Why don't you stick around with us, Genrou? You seem to know your way around this
forest better than these guys." Seiji Said nonchalantly as he looked at his nails.
Touma chuckled softly and Seiji grinned at his friend. /You figured it out too?/ he sent
and Touma gave a slight nod. Going from the slight smirks on the other warriors' lips,
they had figured it out as well.
"Er...I got things to do! I can't wait around here and watch you assholes make fools
of yourselves!" Genrou snorted in disgust.
"Please Genrou!!! You do know your way around and you can help us find
Tasuki!!!" Miaka gushed, glomping him.
He sweatdropped, trying to pry her off.
The Ronins snickered softly, then Shu Said innocently, "Yea...you can help us find
Tasuki....shouldn't be too hard, right? He must be...VERY close by, right?"
Genrou growled, glaring at Shu. He's turn the baka into charcoal if he didn't shut up.
"Fine, whatever. Maybe we can look in that town across the hill. They say there's
this strange woman who can bring back the dead."
"Oh jeez...just what we need. And here I thought we were gonna get a break from the
netherworld." Touma Said and Ryo snickered.
Shu grinned and winked, then Said, "Well, let's get going then!"
"Bakas." Genrou muttered to himself, disengaging Miaka. Sighing, he climbed up
onto his horse and started down the road. "I hope you asses know how to ride cuz I
ain't waitin' for you."
Rolling his eyes, Ryo considered flipping the bird at the rude man, then climbed up onto
the horse he was to ride. The other warriors followed suit and they started off, following
Genrou and the others.
