Disclaimer: Aaahh!! FY isn't mine!! AAAHHH!!
The three days that we spent in the village was absolute hell for me, I tell you. Frequently, I became both Takiko and Hikitsu's messenger, forcing me to ride half way across the village when needed. Still, I couldn't complain, for Takiko was slowly but surely getting better, and we'd be able to set off for the capital soon.
"Chamka, you're not paying attention!" a pillow hit me on the head and I glared at Takiko who was sitting up on the bed now, her cheeks much rosier then their pale, almost lifeless colour three days ago. "Kiyome-san said that I should be able to go off tomorrow- have you all packed everything including my stuff?"
I sighed, wondering if she was going to ask this same question for a hundred times if needed. "Yes, head-hitting miko, everything is ready for tomorrow's departure. Now can you shut up for a while? I need to think about something."
The truth was, I didn't know whether we had sufficient money to pay Kiyome-san, especially with the fact that she had let Takiko stay in her house while the miko was down with pneumonia. It wouldn't be right to ask her to wait until we got to the capital- she also needed to make a living out of her job. Still, with our financial conditions, that might not be possible…
Suddenly, a dark, gigantic face loomed in front of me, and I started, jumping back to hit my head. Takiko was sitting where the huge face was supposed to be, blinking before she narrowed her eyes at me. "You're certainly jumpy today, Chamka."
"I'm JUMPY?! WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT FOR?!"
Glaring at her, I gingerly rubbed the sore bump that was slowly growing at the back of my head, wincing. It was bad enough that I had to handle everyone's problems (Hikitsu and Iname were both trying to find out which was the closest road to take to the capital), I even had to tolerate our baka miko's weird sense of humour. Genbu, why me?
"Well, you ARE jumpy," Takiko shrugged, leaning back against the bed as she stretched her legs. "Ugh…I hate to lie down- it always makes me sore all over when I get down. Ah…itai…Chamka, give me a hand, will you?"
I sighed. "Who was it that made the remark that she was sick, not paralyzed three days ago?" I asked, almost nonchalantly.
"Want a pillow in your face?"
"Not in your life," I snorted, wondering how long it would be before I could finally be rid of her.
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My answer came the next day when Hikitsu and Iname rode over to Kiyome-san's house with all our supplies. Strangely enough, my anticipation of the tall doctor charging us a bomb for her hospitality wasn't right; she refused to take any extra money from the four of us, stating that she would only accept it for the sake of the medicine. Of course, it could have been my irresistible charm…
"Stare at her one more time and you'll see little birdies flying around your head, Chamka," Takiko leaned over and pinched me on the arm with a frown on her face, resulting in a red spot popping up near my elbow. "You're lucky she's nice enough to tolerate you in the first place; I honestly don't know how any onna could even come within one mile's radius of you."
"Well, maybe it's because I have such a irresistible personality," I stuck my tongue out at her. "Has it ever occurred to you that you're an onna and that you're lucky that I'm generous enough to let you ride with me? If you can recall, I can actually let the horse throw you off while I ride with ease."
Her eyes narrowed and I could practically see her fist in front of my nose as she waved it in front of me threateningly. "Do that and you're dead," she threatened me almost menacingly, while Hikitsu simply sweatdropped, looking on at the both of us bickering once again.
"Honestly, you two, I would have expected some courtesy between the both of you after the time you spent together, but it looks as if we're back to square one again. Tomite, Takiko-san, why can't you cooperate with each other for once?" he sighed, turning to look as Iname rode up on her own horse. "Come on, since the both of you are on one horse, why not stop arguing for one day?"
"Well, I would," I argued, letting go of the reins for a second as I folded my arms. "It's just that this head-hitting onna keeps threatening to hit my head because of things I've never done. Besides, how am I supposed to ride with someone threatening to break my skull half the time?"
"I could change places with Takiko-san," Iname spoke up and I sweatdropped. That was definitely NOT what I meant by an alternative. Besides, Iname had been acting strangely lately ever since Takiko fell sick; she always seemed to try not to mention the miko's name in our conversations, or perhaps that was merely what I thought. Still, no one could deny that she was indeed acting weird. Whatever it was, I hoped that Hikitsu had been faithful to his wife when I was gone for those three days.
"Uh…no thanks. I'm comfortable with the head-hitting miko here- as long as she doesn't kill me, that is."
"Me kill you?! I'm a believer of world peace, but of course, I can always kill those who are hentai, like Chamka here," she poked me on the sore spot near my elbow and I winced, glaring fiercely at her. "Why do you think I'm the Genbu no miko in the first place, Chamka?"
That was easy to answer. "Because Genbu has bad taste," I shrugged, only to get hit right on the head with her iron fist making contact with the top of my head. "ITAIIIII!! Well, it's true, isn't it?! Who would ever want you as their miko when you have such a rotten personality?"
"The same god that had to choose you to become my seishi," Takiko stuck her tongue at me. "As my seishi, your duty is not only to protect me, but also to obey everything I order you to do. Understand?"
"Ah, who died and made you god?" I mumbled, nursing the growing red spot on my elbow. "Damn head-hitting onna, I have a good mind to desert you half way when the Kutou army is after us and ditch you there and then. That'll teach you!"
Hikitsu sighed, slapping his forehead. "That's enough from the both of you- stop acting so childishly. Tomite, if you value your life, I'd suggest you never make that once-in-a-lifetime brilliant idea of yours never come true, as you would not only face my fury, but Genbu's wrath as well. Need I remind you that we're a little off schedule already? We're supposed to be out of the village by now. Kiyome-san, do excuse us- we'll be going in just a minute."
The tall doctor was indeed looking very mystified at our argument, her eyes wide as she watched the snappy replies fly back and forth from Takiko and me who were, indeed, as Hikitsu had said, sitting on my poor mare who was getting more and more impatient by the minute. She let out an irritated neigh, throwing her head up and almost knocking me off, and I glared at it.
"Hey, simmer down, will you? You're supposed to kick the head-hitting onna off, not me!"
"Well, that also shows that even female horses hate you, baka hentai!" Takiko sniffed, patting the mare on its mane, forgetting her fright of horses for once. The horse gave a disgruntled neigh, almost throwing her off, this time, and she clung onto me for her dear life. "Chamka, make it stop!"
I pulled on the abandoned reins now, wincing slightly as Takiko's hands clutched hard against my torso, knocking all the breath out of me. "Whoa there, girl! Damn baka head-hitting onna, how am I supposed to breathe when you're hanging onto me as if the world's going to end tomorrow?"
"Make it stop!" she wailed, shaking her head violently until the horse finally calmed down. "That was…scary. It's all your fault Chamka! If it weren't for you, the horse couldn't have thrown me off!"
"You could say that," Kiyome-san nodded, her brown eyes glittering for some reason that I could not explain. "I wish the four of you well, and Chamka-san, Takiko-san? I hope you'll invite me to your marriage."
"YOU WHAT?!"
Both Takiko and I turned red in the face and simultaneously averted our eyes in different directions. Hikitsu and Iname were blinking at the comment, Hikitsu chuckling slightly under that smirk and I swore that once we got off our horses, he was going to get it. Some brother he was!
"I'm not listening to anymore of this," I dug my heels into the side of my horse, forcing it to gallop off to the direction where we were supposed to head to the capital, ignoring Hikitsu's yells and Takiko's squeals of fear. "If anyone's going to arrive at the capital first, it's me!"
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The two seishi finally caught up with us when Takiko's frequent threats on my skull and screams for me to slow down or risk permanent brain damage finally hammered in. The weather didn't seem so cold any more; maybe it was because I was sweating, or maybe it was just because then weather here was warmer than back at my village.
"Honestly, Tomite, are you out of your mind?" Hikitsu scolded when I finally managed to persuade Takiko to release my stomach or face eternal doom through multiple arrow wounds. "You're carrying the Genbu no miko with you! How would you be responsible if she was injured?"
"Well, she isn't," I shrugged, wincing as I pressed my stomach gingerly. "Itai…you grip damn hard, you baka head-hitting onna. Why can't you be nice and gentle like other girls and serve tea after cleaning the house?"
WHACK!
"OWWW!!"
"That's for insulting me!" Takiko growled, holding up her fist again menacingly. "Say another word and you're instant dead meat, Chamka!"
Hikitsu sighed. "Takiko-san, not you too…"
"Um…the three of you?" Iname joined the havoc in our group, looking slightly worried. "I think we've got company…"
We had company, indeed. Company that included the entire Kutou army that blocked our way in front. Genbu, you are one demented god if this was your idea of fun.
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"RUN!" I bellowed just as hundreds of archers took aim at us. As a hunter, I knew the risk of hundreds of thousands of arrows aiming at us all at unison- some people might not have good aim, but a hundred of those arrows were surely going to hit point-blank on our hides.
"Fire!"
At once, many arrows rained down on us, their sharp pointed ends glistening in the air as they were brought down by the force of gravity. My horse seemed to obstinately decide to go slower or something of that sort, for it seemed almost impossible for me to outrun the arrows until-
A transparent barrier immediately formed around the four of us as Iname swiftly extended a hand, concentrating as hard as she could. "Hikitsu-san, Tomite-san! We can't go back now; we'll only put the villagers in danger! We have to go forward!"
"ARE YOU CRAZY?!" I yelled, watching in horror as numerous swordsmen charged forward, each person's sword looking as dangerous as the other. "Wouldn't we be coaxing certain death if we did that?"
"Would you rather suffer death in the hands of the Kutou army than try to protect the capital?" Iname shot back from her horse, focusing as hard as she could. "Don't forget that our duty as seishi is to protect the miko, Tomite-san! Takiko-san, keep under cover!"
Takiko didn't need telling as she cowered behind me, looking more frightened than I had ever seen before. Gritting my teeth, I drew an arrow from my back, fitting it into my bow and took aim randomly. There might be too many for me to handle all at once, but if we worked together, I'm sure we could do it!
Hikitsu seemed to have the same idea as me and the both of us nodded, turning to Iname. "Iname!" I yelled amid the racket as I dismounted from my mare in one movement, Hikitsu following me in action. "Set the shield around Takiko and yourself! Hikitsu and I will go and handle them!"
"Uso!" Takiko gasped, her eyes widening. "The both of you'll get killed out there!"
I winked at her, grinning confidently although I felt quite the opposite inside. "Don't worry about us, head-hitting onna, just focus on staying alive. I wouldn't like to get hit by a ghost, if you get what I mean!"
With that, I raced into the army of soldiers that were charging at us, aiming and shooting while dodging numerous stabs and arrows that rained down on me. Hikitsu himself was busy freezing quite a number of them at one go, but judging by the endless number of soldiers that came to attack us, it seemed almost impossible that we could get through this alive.
Suddenly, a sword aimed for my chest came dangerously close towards me, only to stop inches away from my heart, and I blinked. He didn't seemed to be frozen, so how…?
"Genbu, you guys are helpless. What would you do without me?"
A flash of blond hair caught my eye, and I looked up, somewhat shocked. There, a tall, blue eyed person (I couldn't really tell if it was an onna or otoko…my experience with Iname had been a truly…educational one) grinning as he released the unconscious soldier from his grip. "No time for introductions now- but all the same, my name's Tomugachi Seiki."
I was speechless for a moment as I stared up at him. Hikitsu seemed to notice my pause from afar and called out anxiously. "Tomite! How are you handling over there? Are you hurt?"
His yell snapped me out of my line of thought and I got up, fitting another arrow in my bow as I gave the newcomer a curt nod. "Nice to meet you, Seiki, but I don't think it's really the right time to talk now. Duck!"
My next arrow hit a soldier that had crept up behind the both of us and had leapt in mid air just as Seiki bent down low enough for the arrow to miss him almost narrowly. The swordsman crumpled into a heap behind us and I breathed a sign in relief, turning to see Seiki standing up.
"You handle over here. I'll handle the archers up front- you sure your friend and you can handle these people over here?" came a yell, and I nodded, dodging a blow onto my side and spun round to shoot an arrow in between the eyes of a soldier. By the time I had turned around once more, Seiki was gone. Genbu, whoever that guy was, he sure moved fast.
Somehow, the arrows seemed to lessen in number significantly, making my job much easier as shooting arrows while thousands of arrows rained down on you wasn't as easy as it seemed. I managed to fight my way to where Hikitsu was standing, suffering only a few cuts and bruises here and there.
Hikitsu was panting from where he was standing, looking very sweaty as he continued to freeze his opponents around him while fighting his way through. I suspected he was using too much of his powers- he looked sort of drained in a way that I couldn't explain. Seeing someone grab his arms from behind, I narrowed my eyes and shot the soldier right in the eye, leaving him howling in pain before planting another arrow into his skull.
Hikitsu winced as he was dropped roughly to the ground. "Ouch. Tomite, are you okay? You didn't answer me when I called you just now- I thought you were dead!"
"Things like that don't happen to me," I grinned as I elbowed a soldier on my right and aimed a punch towards another on my left. "Let's just say that I met a new friend today. Nothing much- I suggest we handle these guys here before proceeding to the front. You okay?"
He grinned, massaging his right shoulder slightly as he nodded. "If it wasn't because I was so worried about you, I'd be in a better condition than this, Tomite," he laughed, backhanding his fist into a helmet whose owner immediately passed out after that. "How's Takiko-san and Iname-san holding up? Can the barrier last?"
"I certainly hope so!" I yelled back as knocked a sword out of someone's grip. "We can't take too long though, keeping the barrier up will take too much of Iname's powers! We have to hurry!"
CRASH!
The both of us jumped to see a dark-haired boy of about seventeen years stood in front of us, smiling so serenely that it was almost creepy. "You two okay here? Seiki's doing well in front, but he sent me to help you two if needed. Need any help?"Hikitsu was staring open-mouthed at the both of us. "Tomite, who's Seiki? And who are you, may I ask?"
A sword aimed near for his head, and I sweatdropped. "This isn't a good time for explanations, Hikitsu!" I yelled, shooting an arrow at someone's forehead. Seiki's friend seemed to have disappeared to nowhere, but that wasn't my main concern now. My supply of arrows was depleting fast, and I hoped that we could get through this, or I would have to rely on hand-to-hand battle for self defense. "I'll explain later!"
"You'd better!" he yelled as he froze yet another row of sword-wielding soldiers that were headed towards him. "This isn't working…Tomite, how many arrows do you have left?"
"Not many!" I called back, wincing as someone's elbow struck me hard in the ribs. "Why? What do you have in mind?"
"I have an idea, but I'll need your help! Can you shoot your arrows towards there?" he called, pointing with his free hand at particularly crowded site on the battle field. I didn't know what he was planing to do but simply drew an arrow from the few arrows that I had left and carefully aimed it towards one of the soldiers lest Hikitsu's plan should fail.
Just as I let it fly, Hikitsu's ice snakes wrapped themselves around the arrow. Amazingly enough, the weight didn't make it drop to the ground, but instead, fused with my arrow and hit the soldier on the armour, and suddenly there was entire row of frozen soldiers. Genbu, so that was his plan!
"You get the main idea now, don't you?" he called, still using hand-to-hand combat for his attackers to save his powers. "Just aim your arrows where there are many soldiers- my powers fused with your arrow can freeze the whole lot!"
Nodding, I concentrated, aiming and let the arrow fly from the bow. It hit squarely into a particularly big group of soldiers who froze in their glistening ice in the sunlight. There weren't many soldiers left now- just a few more were coming at us. I suspected Seiki and his friend must have handled them.
It wasn't long before the area was clear of people except the both of us and numerous corpses and frozen soldiers. Hikitsu collapsed to the ground in a sitting position, breathing heavily as I waved, signaling to Iname that all was now clear. The both of us were exhausted, but there was still one -or two- more things to clear up.
I looked up, hearing footsteps to see Seiki and his friend standing in front of us. Seiki had a few bruises on his face but otherwise was happily grinning away as he leaned on his friend. "Well, well, we meet again, boy."
"I'm not someone you should be calling boy," I shot back, panting. "What's your business here anyway?"
His friend stepped forward, bowing as he looked up. "I guess we do owe you an explanation for our abrupt interruption. You see, we're here to help.
"WHAT?!"
Seiki smiled as he wiped his dripping perspiration off his forehead.
"I'm Seiki, he's Geishun. Of course, if you'd rather, you can call us Urumiya and Hatsui."
Author's notes:
Whee…two seishi at one time! Finally, the story catches on once again and the boredom is no longer there! The spell has been broken!
Tomite: You should thank me. I was the one who helped you after all.
You're my muse; that doesn't count. :p Anyway, Urumiya and Hatsui are here! If you look carefully, you will notice that Urumiya's name is Seiki, just like Toroki's name in Kaze-chan's fic. Well, I couldn't think of a better name so… *sweatdrops* Gomen!! ^^
Yes, I know that Urumiya resembles Nakago…somewhat. It wasn't my fault that he also has blond hair and blue eyes! After all, I had to follow what the first OVA portrayed him as, so here we are.
Oh yes, even Kiyome can tell that Tomite and Takiko will be a couple later! Is it that obvious? *thinks* Maybe it's like Sano and Megumi from RK! Opposites attract, you know! But they're not really opposites, are they? They're just misunderstood individuals who are extra sensitive! HEHEHEHE. ^^
Tomite: I'm ignoring you.
Whatever. By the way, I finished this chapter in record time: 1 day!! Of course, it's now 2.37 in the morning…but it doesn't really matter…does it? ^_^;;
Please review, by the way! Keep those reviews coming in as they're my life and soul! My writing appetite cannot be sustained without reviews, so review, no daaaaa!!!! Please? I'll acknowledge you if you're my first reviewer for the chapter! Well, for you oldies at hand, you should know this already, ne?? ^_^
Aaaaand about reviews, MercuryMoon came in first this time! Let's see...you asked about Iname's powers? Well, they sort of have something to do with the wind and water element, but no, she's not strong enough to handle some really big sorcery at the moment.Ahahaha...Kang Xiu, I'm sorry about the few spelling errors, no da! Yup, it's our life and soul (not to mention part laziness to get Sagara to spellcheck my chapters anymore) to have spelling mistakes! All the same, I'll try to reread my chapters again, okay?
And as for Nyan-nyan Neko, well...it's got something to do with what fanfiction.net's titling (is that even a word???) system- it simply doesn't allow you to use any other puntuation except caps. Sorry about the mix-up. ^^;;;
Okay then, until next time, ja ne~!
