Disclaimer: Okay, so I admit that I don't want people after my hide for not putting disclaimers!! . I don't own FY, or any of the characters involved. Satisfied??
The tall figure of the beast loomed over us, and I could feel the girl clutching desperately at my tunic, as she stared in terror at the animal. Her face reflected the fear she felt at that moment, and for some odd reason, I felt like laughing and telling her that this was the consequences of getting too close to animals. Still, I silenced my inner voice which seemed to be singing insults at her and instead concentrated on how to escape from the bear.
Run, you baka! My internal voice urged me, and I punched it down, mentally telling it that I knew what to do and didn't need any sloppy advice from it. You'll be better off getting her killed than you! You don't even know her!
I gave a small snort, wondering when that voice would cease talking and shut up when the bear made a lunge for the girl. Shrieking in fright, she jumped up and ran behind me, trying to use me as some sort of shield. I couldn't blame her though; it was seconds before I was face with the big, furry body of the gigantic mammal that towered over me. I retreated slightly, feeling my courage fade into dust as I looked up, hearing the animal roar. This thing meant business.
Its paw swept down towards us again and…
I had no recollection of what happened after that, except that I suddenly held my bow and arrows in my hand. My body seemed to be emitting some strange green glow, as if I was burning in an emerald fire and its flames were visible from the outside. Retrieving one single arrow from the pack, my hands seem to work by themselves as I aimed, concentrating to hit between the animal's eyes. That was all that was needed; it would never be of any harm ever to us again.
Just as the bear lunged forward again, evidently raged at us for infiltrating and entering its territory, not to mention for crossing its path when it was out hunting for food, I let the arrow fly, hearing as it cut through the air with its smooth swish. There was a sudden silence in the woods, not even a bird twittering, as if Genbu himself had been shocked by what happened.
Slowly, the gigantic, once menacing beast crumpled and landed on a heap in front of my feet, and I let out my breath in a whoosh, feeling my heart pound in my chest as I finally lowered the bow, breathing hard. What…what had just happened? Did I just do what I thought I did?
"S…Sugoi."
I turned, suddenly remembering the girl's presence, and was surprised to see her inching away from me with gigantic eyes that were as big as saucers. Her mouth was hanging wide open, as if I had suddenly grown a third eye and a pair of horns. I couldn't blame her; even I had no idea what I just did.
"Who…are you?" she asked, her voice breathless as I looked down, trying to catch my breath. Somehow, that mere shot had taken quite an amount of my energy from me, and I had to lean myself against a tree trunk for support until the feeling rushed back into my limbs.
"I have no idea either," I replied, finally looking up at her. I was confused, yet ecstatic at discovering that I had an unknown capability within me. Still, what was that green glow that was around me just now? Nothing of that sort had ever happened to me all the fifteen years that I had been born; why was it happening to me now? "I've never done anything like this before. So how…?"
Suddenly, a few words flashed in my head, as if trying to send me a message. They were the names of the Genbu shichiseishi that my mother had often mentioned when I was young, about the names of the seven warriors that had been determined by Genbu himself to protect the miko who was to descend from another world. Tomite, Hikitsu, Iname, Uruki, Urumiya, Hatsui and Namame…they were the names of those who were destined to possess powers beyond a normal human's capabilities.
That can't be true, the small voice suddenly appeared again, protesting. You? A Genbu seishi? The chances of that happening are the same as your chances as becoming emperor of Hokkan. Give it up, Chamka, that's never going to happen. You just have an overly active imagination- especially when I'm around.
As much as I hated that irritating little insulting voice, I had to agree with it. There was no way I could be one of the Genbu shichiseishi; I was far too hopeless in doing anything. In fact, I would screw up anything that I was doing.
I sighed, bending down to pick up the remnants of the rope that I had used to tie up the deer's legs and heaped them over my shoulder, gazing at the bear, lest it should move again. It seemed to be such a waste of good fur, especially when these kind of animals were supposed to produce the warmest fur, thus making any merchant who made it into coats one of the richest in town. Besides, this year's winter was supposed to be extra cold too…
I glanced briefly at her, wondering how she would react if I skinned the bear right here. My first guess was that she would probably freak out (Genbu, no, I didn't want to carry her back again), and so, I looked up at her. Her eyes met mine, still half frightened, and I felt a wave of sympathy wash over me. After all, she didn't know anything about the life out here where we had to work hard just to put food on the table.
"I think it's better if you went back to the house," I spoke, feeling in my pockets for the small knife that I always carried if I would ever chance against something that needed something more than my bow and arrows. Of course, nothing like that had happened…yet, that is. "Trust me, you won't want to watch this. Do you know your way back?"
I didn't want her to lose her way again, Genbu. If she did, I would have a damn hard time trying to think of excuses to the emperor if she was indeed the Genbu no miko other than facing the wrath from the famed Hokkan god. Watching as she nodded slowly, I shrugged. Well, she herself said that she could find her way back; I had nothing to do with her until I got back now.
After hearing that familiar set of footsteps slowly fade in a distance, I exhaled and rolled up my sleeves, my knife in hand as I bent over the animal. This was going to take a lot of work…
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It was evening when I finally got back with the bear skin and meat and the fresh pieces of deer meat. It was heavy to lug them all the way back to the house, and besides, the weather had gradually gotten colder without me noticing it because I was so wrapped up in my work. The first thing that I noticed when I entered through the door was the comforting roaring fire that greeted me. It looked as if this miko actually knew how to keep a fire going, and I was glad of that. Gods above, if she didn't, I wouldn't know what to do with her either.
She was fast asleep on one of the chairs as I quietly strode across the room, trying not to wake her from her slumber. Putting the meat in the kitchen, I stood in front of the fire, trying my best to warm my numb hands and bring some feeling back in them. Genbu, the weather was so freaking cold at this time of the year…
She stirred slightly as I cursed under my breath, her eyelids opening blearily as she looked forward drowsily. Apparently, she hadn't had enough sleep, but still got up and rubbed her eyes to clear them from the sleep that accumulated there throughout her nap. "What time is it?"
"Early evening," I replied, not turning to look at her as I exhaled in relief, feeling the blood rush into my hands. You had no idea how cold it was just staying outside for a few minutes during the night- it was unbelievably freezing cold, a cold feeling that you could feel all the way down to your bones.
She sat beside me, watching as I rubbed my palms together before gazing straight at her. "Ne, I haven't thanked you for saving my life earlier," she spoke, her voice rather soft compared to the tone and volume that she had used when giving me the lecture of my life earlier today. "I'm Okuda Takiko."
I raised an eyebrow at her name as I sat down cross-legged in front of the fire and added another piece of firewood to it. It sounded weird and definitely foreign, unlike the name of the locals that lived around here.
"Tan Chamka. Do tell me, though, how in Genbu's name did you get to the forest? I've been hunting in that forest for four years already, and I've never seen you before," I asked, studying her carefully and noting that her skirt did seem shorter than earlier. Of course, it was extremely rumpled from her nap earlier, so that could've caused it but…
She blinked, her gaze following my eyes and landing on…somewhere way above her knees, and a red blush sprang to a cheeks before she thwacked me yet again on the head. I winced; I had more than enough of her whacks today; what was she trying to do, kill me?
"Don't be such a hentai!" she scolded. "Well, to answer your question…I don't know."
I raised an eyebrow at her reply. That was definitely not what I was looking for. A girl like her lost in the woods at such an unholy hour in the morning? Still, I kept my thoughts to myself and let her finish.
"I have no idea why I'm here, in the first place. All I know is that I was reading something out of the Shi Jin Ten Shio (the Universe of The Four Gods) when this weird green light came and sucked me in. The next thing I knew, I was in the forest. Then, you came along," she added. "You know the rest. Now can you tell me how I can get back to my world? I don't want otousan to be worried…"
Her forehead wrinkled and her eyebrow furrowed in confusion as I folded my arms and sighed. "The Shi Jin Ten Shio? Then you must know the legend of the Genbu no miko?" I asked, watching her reaction carefully as she shook her head.
"No…the book was empty except for some strange inscription on the front cover. All I did was read it out aloud and boom, I was here. No sign about any legend or so. Then again, I never got past the front cover," she added, as I stood up, stretching.
Her words had set me thinking; if she really was the Genbu no miko, then she would be able to protect Hokkan from the merciless Kuto forces. At least then, the country could be saved from being ruled by the heartless emperor of Kuto who only knew how to frolic about with the ladies from his 'imperial' harem.
Besides, she had the Shi Jin Ten Shio, a book that was possessed only by the emperors of the four countries. The book, which was supposed to be owned by each country, held the old legend of the miko's descent from another world to help each respective country when it was facing its greatest threat. Apparently, none of the mikos had descended yet though, for I hadn't heard of any news about the summoning of Genbu, Byakko, Suzaku or Seiryu.
"About this Genbu no miko…does she have anything to do with green Chinese words?" Takiko asked me, and I turned. Green Chinese words? "I saw one on you earlier, on your back, sort of on the left part, around the part where your chest should be if it was backwards. It said 'emptiness' or something like that, I think. Then again, I was never well versed in Chinese..."
"Masaka," I spoke simply as I shrugged it off nonchalantly. "That's the symbol for Tomite, one of the Genbu shichiseishi. Only the Genbu shichiseishi have symbols to identify themselves and set themselves apart from the rest of us normal people. It'll take me more than a couple of lifetimes to be one of them."
"Demo, it's true!"
I sighed impatiently. Sometimes, I was amazed by the imagination this girl had. First, she didn't know where her house was, now she was saying that I was one of the Genbu shichiseishi. Maybe being out in the cold too long made her crack. Anything was possible out here.
Gazing straight at her, I nodded and started towards to kitchen to make dinner. I would have to pack tonight, I thought as I poked a head out to look at her.
"Whatever you say. Get ready, I'm bringing you to the capital tomorrow. I have a feeling that our emperor will want to see you."
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"Me? I can't ride a horse!"
Those was her first words when I led her out to the stables, where I kept a few wild horses that I had tamed. Well, they weren't exactly tame, but they were calm enough to be ridden by someone.
I looked slightly skeptically at her, sighing as I shook my head. I should've expected this; any good girl (which I still didn't believe she was, taking by how amazingly short her skirt was) wouldn't even look at a horse, much less ride on one. Lifting her up by her waist with two hands, I heard her give a frightened yelp of surprise as I placed her on the horse.
"Damn it, stop that squealing! Fine then, you'll just have to ride with me," I said decisively as I hung my few saddle bags on the chestnut brown mare that seemed to be eyeing Takiko suspiciously, especially when the girl was half trying to get off the horse. "Gods, don't be so frightened! She's not going to kick you off or anything!"
The horse snorted, as if trying to prove my point. Giving a small squeak, she clung on to the mare's mane for her dear life, and I watched quite amusedly as the animal pranced around, with the girl screaming something about how she would die if she dropped to the ground.
"That's enough from you," I scolded the horse, just as it stopped in front of me, and I patted its nose. "She'll never want to become the Genbu no miko if you continue doing this, and if I'm condemned by Genbu forever, I'm going to put the blame on you."
It snorted, and I hoisted myself up behind Takiko to hold the reins in my right hand. The horse stamped on the ground, just as I glanced briefly at Takiko to see how she was taking all this Her face was pale and white from her fright, and I couldn't help laughing. Hearing me chuckle, she turned around, glaring daggers at me.
"What so funny?" she demanded.
I grinned. "Well, if you truly are the Genbu no miko, you'd better get used to this. Apparently, the miko has to journey to look for her seishi, and the only way you can travel around Hokkan is through horseback," I replied, still trying to stifle my chuckles which now strangely sounded as if I was choking. The horrified look on her face was so comical that I couldn't help it but burst out in another round of laughter again.
"Well, I'm not going to get up on a horse," she frowned, folding her arms. "I'll find some other way to travel around. Maybe there's a seishi who can fly! I could use him as my transport!"
Apparently, she didn't know anything about the old legend, and judging by her words earlier, she still had that over active imagination that was working in overdrive again. Genbu, I pity her shichiseishi, whoever they were…
"Well, now's a good time to start. A little training couldn't hurt, ne?" I spoke just as I gave the reins a little tug. The mare trotted obediently at my command, but Takiko latched onto me again with a hysterical look on her face.
"I don't want to die!" she squealed, and I sighed, wondering if I had enough air to last me until we reached the capital. By the way she was clutching my neck and making it hard to breathe, it would truly be a blessing if I arrived there still breathing and in one piece. Genbu, why do I have to be the one who finds your miko, damn it? Why couldn't one of her shichiseishi find her instead?
Still, the notorious god that ruled over Hokkan didn't reply, and I sighed. It looked as if I had to bear it until I could find someone to take over, and that was only probably only going happen after we arrived at the capital…and that was practically a few day's journey away. I just hoped this girl could endure the cold as well as I could-I didn't want her to freeze during the journey itself.
It was then that I found myself staring down at her skirt again and I wondered how a girl like that could have such perfect legs. They were all white and long and who knew what was beneath that skirt of hers…
"CHAMKA NO BAKA HENTAI!"
I winced as I felt her hand let on top of my head again, and I turned around to look at her, feeling quite exasperated at her whack. She was glaring at me in full force, and I felt something wet drip on to the palm of my hand. I blinked, bringing it up to nose, which I wiped slightly after finding it damp from some type of liquid.
Blood?
I sweatdropped, understanding the reason of her sudden outburst of rage, and hurriedly wiped away the red liquid which seemed to be streaming steadily from my nose. Of all the bad times to have a nosebleed, especially when I was just getting to the good part!
Takiko's glare didn't subside despite my apology, and I shrank slightly on the saddle. Gods, this was going to be a long torturous ride…someone help me!
Authors Notes: Well, that's it, the second chapter!! \^o^/ I finally finished it (even after much postponing)! *grins and does a victory sign for everyone to see* ^_^ v
Well, how was it? Boring? Funny? Nice? *gives big, big puppy dog eyes to everyone to beg them to review* Okay, so maybe this one wasn't as funny as the previous chapter, but I promise I'll put out more interesting chapters later in the story! *holds out hands* Reviews, onegai?
The third chapter will be out soon, but right now, I'm concentrating on finding out what you guys think about the story? Don't worry, Tomite will soon grow to accept his powers! Ne, do you think he's a hentai? I'm really sorry if I wrote him OOC, but then again this is my fic, ne? ^_^;;
The other seishi will appear soon, don't you worry! This couldn't be a Genbu fic without the seishi, especially when it has something to do with the summoning ceremony, ne??? *covers mouth with hands* Oh no! I just revealed the future plot! NOOOO!! (By the way, for some odd reason that is beyond my control, Takiko Okuda is getting stranger and stranger...someone help me restrain her!!! *watches as she slaps Tomite yet again* That must hurt... >.Oh, yes! Almost forgot: Gigantic thanks to the first (and second) reviewer of this story! Eeee!!! Nuri-chan, arigato!! Not that I'm forgetting all you other reviewers that reviewed ^_~, but if you get to be the first reviewer (that's the fourth time I've said 'review') for any of the chapters, similar acknowledgements will be given, okay? By the way, if you have any questions, fire away! ^_^
Oh, and to Amiboshi and Company, arigato! *rereads review(s) and blinks* Hikitsu-niichan? *blinks* Em...I gave you acknowledgement, see? Oh, and thanks to Sagara Sanosuke too (despite the fact that he pointed out thirteen typos in the chapters. Wonder if I can find them??)! Maybe he's going to be my beta reader, so keep an eye on your inbox, Sagara!! ^o^ Oh, and I haven't forgotten you too, Arisu! Arigato!!! ^__^ v
Okay then, until next time, ja ne ~!
