Disclaimer: Nope, I don't own FY. Do you really have to read this? Don't. Continue to the next line.
"What have the two of you been doing?" Takiko asked, her eyes narrow as she looked at us sideways very suspiciously. I didn't blame her; two people looking very ragged and laughing as if the world was about to end was NOT a usual sight to encounter on the mountain. Still, why was she awake?
"What have you been doing?" I shot back, raising an eyebrow as I studied her ruffled clothing. "Why aren't you asleep, anyway?"
"I'm a light sleeper," she snapped, glaring at me as she noticed my dusty and slightly torn clothes. "Did you meet any Kutou soldiers or anything of that sort? …Or were you guys fighting again?"
"Good night, miko-sama," both Hikitsu and I squeaked, not wanting to face another round of her famous wrath. We were simply too exhausted for that- perhaps another day, we'd go and see if we could match her in that.
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The sun rose to a beautiful day the next day, much to our delight. The sky, weirdly enough, seemed much brighter than the skies that we were used to back behind Mount Taihun. It had to be true, for even Hikitsu who had been to many places, had to admit that I was right.
We started off after an hour of trying to see if we could spot the Kutou army, of course, failing miserably in the process. Perhaps they had heard the noise that Hikitsu and I were making yesterday and thought that it was wild animals or something. Who knows?
"Now this is what I call riding!" I called out, feeling the breeze graze past my face as I galloped down the mountain path, ignoring Hikitsu's yells to 'slow down and stop acting like a kid'. "Come on, you guys, I can see the way down from here! It isn't much further…I think."
Hikitsu sighed, digging his heels into his stallion and riding up beside me, leaving the two girls to handle themselves. I think he must have been terrified by how frightened Takiko looked when she clung on to the horse- it was simply hysterical. "Tomite, SLOW DOWN! You're going to throw yourself off the horse by the rate you're going!"
"Not happening!" I grinned at his face, looked forward, only to find myself flying in the air and-
WHOMP.
"Ow…" I groaned, trying to clear my head of the flying Takikos that suddenly materialized with little red horns and a pointed tail, not to mention a pitchfork too, weirdly enough. "Who put the tree there?"
"Actually, the tree's been here for many years already," Hikitsu pointed out with a slight chuckle, and I glared at him. "Your accident has nothing to do with the tree, as far as I know. That bump, does look nasty, though."
"What happened here?"
Takiko finally dismounted with much difficulty and shakily made her way towards us, looking slightly wobbly after her ride. "Did Hikitsu hit you harder than I did, Chamka?" she asked, her eyes wide, and I had to restrain the urge to hit her head. "Hikitsu, I never thought you had it in you!"
"I don't." Hikitsu sweatdropped as I snickered, brushing my tunic to try to get some of the dust off. "Tomite here just got thrown off his horse, and landed on the tree."
The miko frowned, her eyes darting to the sound of the horse hooves as Iname rounded the corner. "See, Iname? I told you horses were dangerous!"
The seishi sighed, dismounting too from her horse. Striding over to me, she bent down, brushing my hair to the side and touched the bump gingerly. Somehow, I flushed red, never having this much attention before as she leaned closer to…have a better look, I guess. Then-
She kissed the bump.
It took a minute for everything to sink in, and when it finally did, Takiko and Hikitsu's eyes were as wide as mine, the three of our jaws reaching the floor. Iname drew back, becoming very red in the face as she stammered. "Well…I just wanted to make sure that he was okay…"
GENBU, WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU DOING UP IN TENGOKU?!! I'll kill you and mash you and mutilate your shell when I go up there, I swear! What kind of a stupid joke are you trying to play on me?!
"Uh…that was…interesting," Hikitsu managed to sputter out when he finally regained control of his facial muscles again as his eyebrows shot to his hairline. "He does seem okay now…Takiko-san, are you all right? You look as if you're hyperventilating or something…"
Indeed, she did look as if she was going to suffocate right there, right at that very moment. Iname was also staring at her with gigantic eyes, wondering if the girl would burst if she continued breathing in such short gasps as if she was choking on food. "Takiko-san…?"
It took a good ten minutes before the girl's eyes finally grew back to normal size and she silently mounted her horse without wanting any help from Iname. She didn't even seemed to want to make eye contact with me, making me wonder if I had just committed the most heinous crime that Hokkan had ever been faced with.
"Let's go." Her voice seemed to have lost its emotion, and I stared at her, wondering what had suddenly happened to her. Her green eyes, usually full of life seem to grow dark as she dug her heels into the horse, forcing it to gallop down the mountain even faster, leaving the three of us behind.
Turning to exchange looks with Hikitsu, I frowned. "What's her problem now?"
Hikitsu shrugged. "Why ask me? I'm just another seishi- I thought you were the one who understood her the most."
I glared at him. "And just what does that mean?"
"Oh…nothing of your concern. Let's go."
Question marks popped around my head as I raised a confused eyebrow at him when he mounted his horse and rode after both Iname and Takiko. Exactly WHAT did he mean by that comment?
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It took us long, but we were finally at the foot of the mountain. I can't tell you how sweet the smell of the air was, especially when it was nearing sunset. The sky looked so orange, the clouds so pink and-
"Tomite, can you snap out of it?" came Hikitsu's voice and I blinked, turning slightly red when I realized that I was standing facing the sun with my arms spread open, as if greeting someone. "There's still the problem of accommodation, if you must know. Could you kindly tear yourself away from the sun and come help us to hurry a little so we may have our dinner?"
"Hai…" I sighed, holding my horse's rein tighter, noticing then that Takiko's weird temper was still there since this morning. Something must be wrong with her- perhaps it was the lack of food. Strangely enough, she had refused lunch today, claiming that she wasn't hungry. Takiko, not hungry? Genbu, was the world coming to an end?
"Chamka."
I turned, seeing Takiko riding beside me, her eyes looking slightly downcast, not meeting mine. "Can I talk to you…away from the group? There's something I need to ask you about."
I stared at her, wondering what it was and slowly shook my head. Could it be that…? Nah, that'd never happen in a thousand years. Never in any of my entire 5 million lifetimes. Still, I am irresistible to women…
"Could it wait for later? I don't think Hikitsu would be pleased if we slowed down. Perhaps…after dinner?"
"…It's urgent."
I blinked, flushing slightly as I nodded, slowing down. "So…uh, what seems to be the problem?"
Suddenly, she grabbed me, almost pulling me off my horse as shook me by my shoulders. "Where's the toilet, Chamka? I've got this really terrible cramp in my stomach and I have no diea what will happen if I don't...well...…"
…What in Genbu's name?! I sweatdropped, almost falling off my horse as she stared at me almost desperately, not letting go of her grip on my collar. "Uh…I don't think there's any nearby. We should be arriving at an inn soon…it shouldn't be long."
"Demo…"
"Tomite! Takiko-san! Are you arguing again?" came the dangerous tone in Hikitsu's voice, and the both of us sweatdropped, she letting go of me, her face growing pale once more. "If you are, you won't like what's in store for you…"
Turning to look at her, I searched for words to say, but words failed me at that moment. Then, suddenly, I began to laugh. As my laughter grew louder and loud enough to make both Hikitsu and Iname's heads turn, Takiko gave me the best glare she could at that moment.
"What's so funny?" she hissed, silently swearing to mutilate every single part of me if I laughed at her anymore. "Haven't you experienced about of indigestiopn (I hope it's just that, though) before? Or do you want me to make you have one? Damare, you hentai baka!!"
That definitely didn't stop me because I continued to laugh loudly, almost rolling off my horse before Hikitsu finally rode up to us to find out the source of my temporary insanity. "Now…what seems to be the problem here? Tomite, stop laughing like a hyena. Stop. NOW."
He half raised his hand threateningly, and I immediately fell silent, acknowledging the fact that he had told me to take off that clause yesterday night after almost freezing my entire body into an ice statue. I, of course, had retaliated by almost putting a dozen arrows into him. It hadn't been a one-sided fight, of course…
The tall seishi sighed, his eyes darting from me to Takiko who still looked as if she was going to be sick. "Now, can someone explain why we're being held up here? Takiko-san -laugh ONE more time, Tomite, and you're frozen- what's with the noise now? Is something wrong?"
Still not saying a word, Takiko turned an unflattering shade of pink, and her hand sneaked u to my arm and pinched me hard. Immediately, I toppled off my horse, hitting the ground with a loud thud. It took a few minutes before my mind could clear, and I glared at Takiko who was smirking quite triumphantly on her horse.
"WHAT IN ALL THE FOUR GODS WAS THAT FOR?!"
I rubbed the sore spot near my elbow, frowning at how red it was. "Well, Hikitsu, if you were wondering, our baka head-hitting miko here had a fetish with the toilet because-"
I never could finish my sentence because our dear miko had dismounted and had started to kick me in the shins, acting unlike a person who definitely had to go to the bathroom. I'd say it wasn't urgent, if I were her. How in Genbu's name was it possible for someone who was desperately searching for a toilet able to punch and kick you like any other person?
"Don't say I didn't warn you," she sniffed, holding her stomach slightly. "Oww…damn baka, that kick made it hurt even more…"
"Well, it serves you right!" I shot back, nursing my poor damaged knees whilst glaring at her. "I have a good idea to prolong our journey if you're going to act like this, you know!"
"Well, we're not going to prolong the journey, are we, Hikitsu? Besides, you deserve that kick, being the baka you are!"
"Oh, so it's down to insulting me now, is it? As if you're any better! You're just a miko who knows how to eat and accuse people of being hentai! Get a life!"
"You'll pay for that comment!"
Her fist immediately landed on top of my head, and I crashed onto the ground, having swirly eyes while Hikitsu sighed and slapped his forehead. "Honestly, can't you two ever get along? Of course, people do say that opposites attract…"
That statement immediately led to a prompt silence as the both of us slowly and eerily turned towards him with gigantic eyes. "Nani…? Hikitsu…" we spoke in unison in such a creepy one that he looked somewhat frightened for a moment. "What do you mean by that?"
Waving his hands frantically in front of himself, he sweatdropped, shaking his head wildly. "Um…it just popped into my head that well, the both of you seem to argue so much, and there have been cases where…" his voice trailed off.
"Well, Hikitsu-san, sometimes it doesn't work that way," Iname finally spoke up, her voice quiet and eerily calm. "Sometimes…just sometimes, opposites remain as opposites. They never agree. Attracting opposites only happen in a very few cases that I know."
"Well, I did just say sometimes…"
I snorted, folding my arms as I turned away, flushing slightly. "Me like this baka head-hitting onna? I'd have to be crazy to do that- she's simply too fierce for any guy to handle. Maybe she prefers older men like you, Hikitsu…" I raised an eyebrow at the seishi who gave me a wide-eyed look.
"Who ever said I'd ever like you in the first place?" Takiko shot back, looking the other direction. "Kami-sama, if I even liked you one bit, I'd ever have to be permanently insane! No onna in their right mind would ever like a hentai baka like you anyway!"
"We'll see about that! I'd like to see what YOU have to say when I get married!"
"That's easy! I'll tell that unfortunate bride of yours how terrible you were and what a hentai baka you'll always be! She's sure to be terrified by that!"
"So you're going to ruin my marriage? What makes you think you're even going to be invited?"
"I don't have to be invited; you are my seishi after all! I can order you to invite me if I feel like it!"
"Oh, and what gives you the bright idea that I'M going to listen to YOU?" I shot back, glaring at her. "You're the one who wants to hug the toilet, not me!"
"WHAT DID YOU SAY?!"
Hikitsu sighed. "I've never complained about the lack of entertainment, but the both of you are taking it overboard. Tomite, from now on, you're riding at the back of the group. We need someone with good sight and hearing to detect any archer that may have been left behind by the Kutou army. Iname-san, ride in the front; Takiko-san, please follow behind her. We can't afford the both Tomite and Takiko-san quarrelling again."
"It's wasn't my fault in the first place!" I complained to him as I got onto my horse once again, wincing slightly. "Itai…you have to admit that damn baka onna is strong no matter what. My head is going to hurt for days."
"Well, it served you right," he spoke decisively, shaking his head as he made his stallion trot beside my mare. "Sometimes, I wonder why the both of you keep fighting; you don't fight with Iname or me and neither does Takiko-san. So why the frequent arguments?"
Frowning, my eyebrows furrowed as I thought about it. "Hmm…I don't know. Maybe it has something to do with fate or merely opposing personalities? And not another word about how opposites attract unless you want an arrow through your heart," I warned him, my hand reaching for my bow threateningly.
He held up his hands in defeat with a slight grin on his face. "Fine, fine, I won't bring that subject up again. Only…can I ask you something, Tomite?"
"What is it?"
"What did you mean by Takiko-san hugging the toilet?" he asked, having a truly astonished look on his face which suddenly gave me the urge to laugh once again. "What did she tell you?"
"Nothing you'd be interested in," I grinned, slouching slightly on the saddle as I looked up at the sky. Yes, the sun was shining, the birds were singing, and-
"I CAN'T STAND IT ANYMORE!!!"
Ah yes, and Takiko was having a problem with her digested food. What a comforting thought.
Author's notes:
Um…two words: writer's block. Terrible case of it too. Yes, I know, I know. I've been having bouts of writer's block so many times that you can't count the number of times that I've said it. Well, maybe you can, but that's not the point. In short, I am out of ideas. So all of my deer will have no eyes. Get it? No ideas…? Um…never mind.
ANYWAY…Takiko has a stomach ache. This is another minor transition chapter with not much happening…I decided to speed it up a little and fast forward to them getting down from the mountain- it was getting a little boring. Don't worry, the story will soon pick up its pace…hopefully.
Iname is starting to act weirdly, and yes, she creeps me out now. And, no, Tomite, even if you are my muse, I won't let you comment on that.
Tomite: Being your muse doesn't mean I have to listen to you all of the time. Ahem. My comment on this is-
No comment.
Tomite: I am your muse and I command you to keep your mouth shut. Anyway, as I was saying, she's trying to butcher Iname for the sake of the Tomite/Takiko pairing. What kind of a sick demented mind would twist her own characters and make them pure evil for the sake of making a pairing work??
As I said earlier, NO COMMENT. And since when have muses become so bossy? Suzaku…don't tell me you got mixed up in that Muses-for-ruler-of-writers'-minds thing?
Tomite: Maybe I have, maybe I haven't- it's for me to know and for you to find out. And it shouldn't be Suzaku- you're writing a Genbu fic. You should use 'Genbu' instead. *nods*
I take that as a yes. You are in severe need of entertainment, baka, if you get entangled up in that sort of thing and using cliches at the same time. So… *throws him to a pit of Takikos* Have fun!!
*Scream is heard from pit*
Ah…never mind about him. Anyway, review (I am in desperate need of some- yes, give me a constructive review, or just plainly say how boring this is…in a nice way of course. Tact is the way to live ^_^) this chapter and please don't flame. I don't like flames and well, I don't like deleting reviews either. I haven't deleted any so far, but I don't want to be forced to do that, okay? Of course, I hope that doesn't discourage you from reviewing! Let the reviews flow in, people!
Mage, well, you're a new face here. ^_^ Still, I love you for giving the cool review! Until I read that part about *cough* disjointed sentences *cough*. I'll try to um..join my sentences better? ^^;;Kang Xiu, really. I'm not as good as you make me out to be, and seriously: I think you're a much better author than me. REALLY.
Nuri-chan, SUGOOOOIIIII!!!! So many reviews!!! *grows starry eyed* Arigato!!!
Okay then, until next time, ja ne~!
