Disclaimer: I don't own Fushigi Yuugi. I own myself, though. Does anyone want to buy a part of me to copyright? ^_^


The icy wind struck the back of my neck, as if trying to slow down my steps as I raced through the forest, frantically trying to remember where we had came from. I could hear Hikitsu calling me from somewhere far, but I ignored it, focusing on my target: saving Takiko from the clutches of death.

"Don't die, you head-hitting onna," I whispered softly as I felt a low branch graze my cheek, bringing out fresh pain to my exposed skin. "You haven't lived enough yet- you still have to summon Genbu and…and…"

Minutes seemed to turn into centuries and I grew more and more panicked as time flowed by. Everywhere I ran seemed to end up in a dead end or a high cliff, but none seemed to lead back to the path around the mountain ledge. My heart pounded in my chest as I wiped the cold sweat that dotted my forehead, my breath coming out in ragged gasps.

There…

A soft voice seemed to appear from nowhere, and I blinked, freezing. Was I going crazy? I was hearing things…wasn't I?

Don't give up. Take the left path in the fork after you retrace your steps. Hurry, they won't last long if you hesitate…

I didn't stop to contemplate whether I was indeed going slightly crazy in the head and quickly ran back the path where I had came from until I came to the fork in the road. It was very hard to see; even the lantern that I had brought had long extinguished, unable to take too much wind. Still, I could barely make out the small, rocky path that seemed as familiar as the other roads that I had taken. Praying silently and fervently to Genbu that this was indeed the correct path and that I wasn't going for a wild goose chase, I raced around the corner.

My eyes widened at the next thing I saw, and I felt as if my heart had dropped to my feet.

Takiko herself was struggling, trying to release herself from the grasp of a very burly, Kutou armoured man who was having either a smirk or a leer on his face- I couldn't tell but I could see that he was smiling. Iname as lying face down on the ground, looking very badly injured and immobile.

"Leave her alone…" I growled softly, feeling something inside me boil up in rage as I glared at him. "Leave her alone!"

He seemed to newly acknowledge my presence, for he blinked, glanced at Takiko who was grimacing from how tightly he was gripping her wrist and twisting her hands behind her back. Then, slowly, his mouth turned downwards to reveal an ugly smirk as he twisted her wrists even harder until Takiko let out another loud squeal of pain. Suddenly, there was a loud crack.

The rage in me erupted.

"I SAID, GET YOUR FREAKING HANDS OFF HER!!" I growled, eight levels louder than before as I leapt, half blinded by rage. My hands seemed to ball up into fists automatically as some unknown power gave me strength to sock him in the stomach, forcing him to release the small sized girl in his grip.

Takiko fell onto the ground, letting out a small cry in surprise, but I didn't seem to care about that. Instead, all my attention was focused on the soldier who lifted his despicable gaze to glare at me and my hands reached for my bow then for an arrow, as if I wasn't the one controlling my own body.

He dodged my arrow quite easily, his mouth twisting into an ugly smirk as he towered above me, having that hated look on his face. I narrowed my eyes, feeling something warm in me glow inwardly, and I closed my eyes for a minute, letting myself sink into the green light that seemed to envelope me.

Apparently, this must have provoked him, for he was charging at me and before I knew it, had given my the worst wound I had ever gotten right in my gut. I doubled over, feeling a choking sensation run through my screaming innards before I sank to the ground, coughing up blood. Genbu, he had a dagger…?

"Teme…" I whispered, my fingers fumbling for my bow that seemed to have suddenly disappeared. I had to hurry-for some obscure reason, my fingers were losing their power to feel. Finally locating it somewhere at my side, I picked it up and fitted an arrow into it and took aim, though very unsteadily.

I forced my mind to focus, telling myself that I could last just a while more. I couldn't be defeated in a Kutou soldier's hands! At last, the message finally arrived at my fingers and they twitched, taking aim. I closed one eye, concentrating and praying to Genbu that I would strike bull's eye before I let the arrow fly.

Hearing a growl of pain, I felt a feeling of triumph run through me. Still, he didn't seem to be dead yet. Shimata…I should have been more careful…

"Chamka!" I heard a scream, and my eyes seemed to force themselves open. I was slapped from side to side, and I grimaced, feeling the last of my energy drain from my body as a heavy punch landed right into my face. I flew a few meters away, landing on the cold, hard soil. The earlier energy and courage in me had disappeared- I couldn't even find a trace of it. Why…?

"This'll show you puny people of Hokkan that Kutou shall rule over the four countries!" I heard a growl as I was kicked hard in the stomach, at the exact spot where I had been stabbed. "We won't let the stupid god of yours stop our emperor's wishes! Now, say goodbye to your dearest miko, boy!"

Miko…Takiko…

Through my haze of pain, I manage to connect these two things together. He was going to hurt Takiko! I head to stop him…but…

"Chamka!"

I heard a sickening crunch again, and Takiko's voice suddenly fell silent. I looked up in shock, seeing the collapsed girl on the ground. The soldier was grinning at her limp body and stepping on it, while kicking me slightly. No…Takiko…Takiko…

A flashback seemed to be playing itself in my head, and I could feel the soft words of my mother telling the legend of the Genbu no miko and her seishi, and how they would protect her to the end. It was as if everything was flying before my eyes: my meeting with Takiko, the rescue by Hikitsu, our first meeting with Iname…

Takiko's words some nights ago seemed to float back to my head, and I closed my eyes, savouring each word.

"Chamka, do you believe in destiny? In fate?"

"Hmm…I don't know. Why?"

"Nothing. Just that I went to a fortune teller once, and she told me that the person that I would end up with would both hate and like me. It's weird, ne? Paradox, if you understand what I mean. I've always dreamed of a person who will take me away from my boring life one day."

She had laughed. "Guess I've been having an overactive imagination, ne? As if something like that will ever happen."

Fate…if I had been destined to meet her, I knew at that moment that I was destined to protect her with all my heart. I was the seishi Tomite that had sworn to protect the miko together with the rest of the other Genbu seishi. I couldn't let her die!

Forcing the last bit of energy into my hands, I pushed myself up, swaying very unsteadily as I glared at him and took the last arrow from my back. Fitting it into my bow, I blinked, trying to clear my eyes as I saw him double and triple before merging back into one. He was laughing away saying something about the 'weakest miko in history', and I could feel the familiar rage in me again.

"Damare!" I yelled, letting the arrow fly and watched as it hit his chest area with a satisfying thud, making him stagger back slightly. Immediately, I pounced, taking Takiko behind me as I gave him an unsteady glare. "No one…hurts her!"

"Why you little…" he cursed, wincing as he tried to stop the blood from flowing from his wound. "I'll kill you for this!"

He lunged for me, and I squeezed my eyes shut, knowing that I would finally meet my end. Wrapping an arm around Takiko I prayed to Genbu that the rest of the Genbu shichiseishi would protect Takiko, even if I wasn't there.

There was silence and-

-------

I carefully opened my eyes and blinked at the sight of slightly transparent barrier around us. Blinking, I turned to look at Iname, who was grinning slightly from where she was lying. Her face still showed that she was still in pain, but the same transparent thing that had rescued both me and Keniji that night had reappeared as she stretched out her palm.

"I can't believe you had fun without me," she spoke, her voice hoarse but still audible. "You should've left some of the entertainment for me- it isn't fair that only you get to play with him."

The soldier's eyes had widened unbelievingly as he took a step back, only to find himself suddenly frozen in place by ice snakes. I watched as Hikitsu stepped out from around the bend, his face set with a very grim smile as he walked over to the both of us. "You okay, Tomite? We'll handle everything from here."

"I think he broke Takiko's wrist," I whispered, feeling my throat dryer than usual and my words came out in a hoarse rasp. The tall seishi took a look at the both of us, and I could have sworn that he had muttered the word 'kill' under his breath before signaling to Iname that she could let down the barrier. The other seishi understood and I watched as the whitish-silver barrier faded into thin air before Iname pushed herself up.

"Can't believe I let him get to me," she muttered, gesturing towards the pile of soldiers that were piled up into a heap near the ledge. " I thought I could handle them- until this guy came along, anyway. Is Takiko-san going to be okay?"

He reached down, feeling her pulse as I let go of the girl and collapsed to the ground, feeling the hard soil under my head. I was exhausted- just those very movements had taken most of my energy. All I wanted to do now was to get a doctor and go to sleep.

Hikitsu nodded. "Nothing much. Her wrist is broken, but it'll heal. He just knocked her out- nothing to worry about. The real problem is our Tomite here…"

He raised an eyebrow at me and I looked up at him. "Don't worry about me," I assured him. "I've gone through worse," I rasped, wishing that there was a spring somewhere. I needed water to quench my thirst, and Hikitsu seemed to understand as he reached over to one of the horses that had been away from the reach of the soldiers and handed me a tumbler filled with fresh water.

I drank deeply, enjoying each drop and finally handed back the tumbler before wincing in pain. The stab wound that that baka soldier had given me was no laughing matter- it hurt like crazy. Everything was fading again, and I shook my head, trying to clear it. I couldn't lose consciousness, not now. I was useless to drag the entire team down like this…

"Rest, Tomite," I heard Iname's soft voice, and I blinked drowsily as she appeared over me. "Don't worry about Takiko-san. We can handle her."

"Me…?" I spoke sleepily, everything becoming just big blobs of my blurred vision. "What makes you think that I'd be worried about her?"

With that, everything turned black, and I was pulled into darkness once again.

-------

I was floating- the soft green light radiating around me seemed to be so relaxing as I let myself loose. The pain was gone…was it?

I could see my mother nodding from a distance, and I blinked sleepily. "Kaasan? Is that you? Have you come back to stay?"

She smiled that sweet, serene smile of hers and I was confused. "Don't worry, Chamka. Rest for now, you'll need your energy to protect the Genbu no miko after this. You can't have this happening to you every time you are forced to fight."

I snorted slightly, not daring to close my eyes lest she should disappear. "Kaasan…am I really the Genbu seishi Tomite? Why haven't you told me when you were still alive with 'tousan?"

That wistful smile was now on her face as she stroked my forehead ever so gently. "If I were to tell you, you still wouldn't believe me, will you, Chamka? You're stubborn, but that's what makes you who you are. Yes, you are the seishi Tomite. We ('tousan and I) have been very proud of you ever since your birth. We knew that some day, you'd become someone important- someone who could completely change the history of our family."

The drowsiness was hypnotizing me- I was pulled closer and closer to it as it tried to force my eyelids shut. "Kaasan…don't leave."

Then, my eyelids grew too heavy to open anymore and they shut, blocking her from my view. Only her words came back to comfort me as she faded into the green light.

"Don't worry, Chamka. You'll be able to find someone to replace both 'tousan and I in your heart soon…you just have to open your heart. Goodbye, my son…"

Kaasan…


Author's notes: Poor Tomite! Still, sap is sap no matter what people say! *sticks tongue out and quickly corrects herself before potential reviewers disappear. Tomite is soooooooo protective of Takiko! Isn't that sweet? *dies from too much sap*

*Juufan's spirit floats up from dead body* Ahem…anyway…how was it? How was it? Did you people like it? Was it too sappy? Hai, hai…I know Tomite is very weak (or so it seems by this chapter), but don't worry, he'll get stronger soon! I promise! You don't expect him to K.O. every time after he battles someone, ne? Don't kill me, you Tomite lovers!! *is pelted by tomatoes (weirdly enough, Tomite is also thrown at her)*

He's protective of Takiko! As you people can most probably tell, I'm trying to make up for the past… (Ten? Nine? I don't know… ^_^;;) sap-less chapters. You're getting it in full blast now! Voice by Tamahome and Yo Ga Akeru Mae Ni (or rather known as the first OVA opening song) have finally been doing their job!

Tomite: Shut up. I think you've been playing too many PS games again, haven't you? You're still obsessed with FF9. You're still basing me on Zidane for Genbu's sake.

Am not. *kicks him away* Go play with Takiko or something, you're interrupting me here. Back to what I was saying…yes, the pairing is Tomite/Takiko! I think I need to spruce up Takiko's personality a bit, though, she seems to be earning Miaka traits by the rate I'm writing this. -_-;;;

2nd HINT: She doesn't hit him again! Oh, you were expecting her to go "CHAMKA NO BAKA HENTAI!!" again? Sorry to disappoint some of you, then. She doesn't, at least not in this chapter. Remember, count the whacks! ^_~

Takiko: My vocal chords need a rest sometimes. Besides, he might not be the right person to waste it on. *looks at Tomite*

Tomite: I'm not? *depression cloud appears*

Juufan: Aww, Takiko, don't be that mean. See, you made him depressed! That's mean!

Takiko: *mumble mumble* Fine.

^_^ Back to what I was saying…this is my eleventh chapter! Look at how many reviews I have now! *grins* when I first started out, I had only seven reviews! But now… *big eyes with anime waterfall tears* Arigato, everyone!!

Please don't forget to review, by the way! I like to hear what people think about my fic (unlike Sagara's first review- he gave me a beta reading review and listed out all of my typos. Gack. .), and long reviews are of course welcome! For those faithful readers (and reviewers), I know who you are! You guys are so great!! *hugs*

Syane!! You're the first reviewers, and so CONGRATULATIONS! *hugs Syane and glomps Kang Xiu* You do know that you're number one fan, ne?? ^_^

Okay then, until next time, ja ne ~!