Part 3
Escape from Chin-Tou-Kan and a brief escapade in Qu-Dong
"Don't move."
Yui turned to glance over her shoulder to come face to face with the red- haired son, Nataku. Or, to be more exact, face to face with a huge brass gauntlet on Nataku's arm.
"Um." Yui stammered. "Shit."
"Who are you?" Nataku questioned evenly.
Yui screwed up what courage she had left, managed not to piss herself and responded slowly so as not to provoke the floating red-haired man.
"My name is Yui Hongo. This is my friend Miaka Yuuki."
Nataku's expression was unreadable, but his eyes flashed.
"Why are you here?"
"We got here by accident. We're just leaving." Yui could feel herself breaking out in a cold sweat, and Miaka was clutching the ivy much tighter than humanly possible.
"You smell strong."
Okay, Yui thought, get me the hell out of here. This guy just told me I smell strong. How, precisely does one SMELL strong?!
Yui gave him a nervous laugh.
"Yeah, well, I'm very strong. So, please leave us alone. I don't want to hurt you. We'll just be going now, nice to meet you mister Nataku. Bye bye!" Okay Yui, good lie. Let's go. Climb Miaka, climb!
Miaka didn't need to be a mind reader to catch the drift. She was climbing like there was no tomorrow which, in many cases, there wouldn't be if they didn't get out of there like a bat out of hell.
"Wait." Said Nataku. His tone, like his face was unreadable. "Where are you going?"
"Qu-Dong." Yui lied. She was getting good at this.
"What?" exclaimed Miaka. "I thought we were going to -OUCH! Yui!"
Yui had discreetly punched Miaka's shin, hoping Nataku was as dense as he was good looking.
"So we'll just be going now."
Miaka had reached the top of the wall, Yui just behind her.
"I'll. I'll go with you." Said Nataku slowly, as if he just had to make a very difficult decision in a short time.
Yui and Miaka looked at each other. What now? Qu-Dong was not their primary destination.
"Let me come, please. I want outside." Nataku said suddenly.
Yui gave a hopeless shrug to Miaka, who nodded in consent.
"Alright," said Yui, "but you have to promise not to make any trouble." Why couldn't they have just stayed in the real world?
Nataku gave her a patronizing look, but said nothing.
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When they had breached the wall, with help from Nataku who could fly, they soon found themselves in the middle of a market.
"What is this place called, Mister Nataku?" Miaka asked. Yui was looking around, recognition dawning on her pretty face.
"This is-"
"Chin-Tou-Kan, a border checkpoint. West of here is Qu-Dong, Yuuki (1)."
"Just Miaka and Yui is fine," said Miaka reassuringly.
Yui was glancing around the market curiously. Three years ago she had passed through here on horseback with Nakago. It seemed like yesterday. The people in the crowd, although they were giving the trio some odd looks, none seemed to recognize either Miaka or Yui, which she was immensely grateful for. As they walked, Yui managed to catch small snatches of conversation as they passed the strangers, heading towards the west gate.
"So Risei has finally found his freak son a bride?"
"Two it seems. funny clothes they got on."
"Wasn't it three years ago that foreigner with the blond hair told us to keep a look out for a strangely dressed girl?"
"That whole priestess business is over. They're probably just insane. Must be if they're with that soulless boy."
Nataku gave Yui another strange look. Yui squirmed under the scrutiny.
"You are dressed strangely." Nataku mused.
"We'll explain later." Yui hissed from the corner of her mouth. Now was not a good time to dig up the past that she had been trying to bury for the last few years.
Nataku's expression was still odd, but they reached the West gate. The guards did not ask for papers, but instead stood back and avoided eye contact with the red head. The trio continued on, down the dirt road in silence until the gates of Chin-Tou-Kan were out of sight.
"I knew when I saw you two," Nataku began abruptly.
Yui glanced up, as did Miaka.
"The priestess of Suzaku, the priestess of Sei-Ryu," Nataku prompted to make his point clear.
Miaka looked awkward again, "That- that's right, we are the priestesses of Suzaku and Sei-Ryu."
Nataku remained silent.
"Mister Nataku?" Yui began slowly.
The red-haired man looked at her, and although his effeminate face had a harsh stare, there was a subtle gentleness underneath.
"Why do you want to go to Qu-Dong with us?" She asked.
Nataku looked thoughtful (not a usual expression for him) for a minute.
"I wanted to leave."
"To Qu-Dong?"
"RaiShinShi is there."
Miaka and Yui looked at each other.
"Who?"
"Someone," Nataku said vaguely.
Tai-Itsu Shinjin sipped the tea, watching TaiYiJun like a hawk. The old baabaa was up to something again, and he didn't like it. The Lai-Lai servant was one of his early Paopei-ningen creations, and recently he couldn't keep track of what they were up to. Probably doing some of TaiYiJun's senile mischief.
TaiYiJun was one of the oldest Sennine in the Sennine-kai. Almost as old as GenshiTenSon-Sama. She lived atop Dai-Ichi-san with the Lai-Lai servant, and that was all Tai-Itsu knew.
When Tai-Itsu Shinjin was at a loss for knowledge, he worried.
"Where is the rest of Lai-Lai? I can't feel all her power here." Tai-Itsu inquired, peering over the rim of his mug.
TaiYiJun, the slippery fish, did not falter at the inquiry. Instead she seemed quite unperturbed.
"I have her running some errands for me." She gave a dry chuckle and sat across from Tai-Itsu.
"What is she doing?"
TaiYiJun gave a nonchalant shrug, "I do not wish you to trouble yourself with my problems."
"But I wish you would. You see, TaiYiJun, all paopei must be accounted for, and if you're hiding one-"
"I assure you Tai-Itsu, Lai-Lai, wherever she is, is in plain view."
Tai-Itsu stood slowly, glaring daggers at TaiYiJun, who smiled back benignly.
"You're planning on screwing around with the Senninekai again aren't you?"
"Of course. That ornery geezer," Tai-Itsu rolled his eyes. Just who was TaiYiJun to talk about ornery old geezers? "-needs to have someone splashing in the pool of fate. Fortunately, he has me around to do just that."
Tai-Itsu looked disbelieving. TaiYiJun was the only one who could get away with causing disturbances in the prearranged fate of humans. Even SinKouHyou couldn't get away with half the things TaiYiJun had managed. But if she was planning what he thought she was planning- even TaiYiJun would face a penalty of some horrific death for even attempting it. But... if it worked..
"Just-" Tai-Itsu paused. Then gave a wicked grin. "Just make sure they finished what he started."
"Oh, I will, don't worry. They're good girls really. I'm sure they'll perform their tasks admirably. After all, only human's can reclaim human destiny."
Tai-Itsu nodded. After all, only human's could..
"Are we lost? I think we're lost." Miaka stated, taking in the surroundings. Yui wasn't listening. Something else had caught her eye.
There was movement in the bushes of indistinct shapes, men most likely, skittering to and fro stealthily. Nataku was also on his guard, hovering behind them slowly.
"Someone's out there," Yui whispered to Nataku. He didn't make a sound, his green-brown eyes fixated warily on the surrounding foliage. Yui was on edge, expecting an ambush any second.
"REKKA---"
Yui spun around just in time to shove Miaka aside.
"---SHIEN!"
A jet of flame rushed by, singeing much of Yui's hair.
"Tasuki.?!" exclaimed Miaka.
End of Part 3
(1) Nataku, I noticed, when calling people by name, he'll sometimes use their last name. This isn't always the case, but I think it's cute when he does. Nataku is so kawaii!
Thank you everyone for the response! I'm glad everyone's enjoying the fic (I was a little skeptical at first that it wouldn't work). Now a brief note and stuff about spelling. My spoken Japanese isn't exactly the best in the world, and I'm even worse at reading, so when I read the manga I translated the English spellings to what I have here. Also another note when the real Ki Hatsu (as opposed to simply the reincarnation of him) shows up, he will be using his favorite "Purin-chan" (Pudding-chan) nick- name for cute girls. Next part? War of the redheads! * chuckles maniacly *
"Don't move."
Yui turned to glance over her shoulder to come face to face with the red- haired son, Nataku. Or, to be more exact, face to face with a huge brass gauntlet on Nataku's arm.
"Um." Yui stammered. "Shit."
"Who are you?" Nataku questioned evenly.
Yui screwed up what courage she had left, managed not to piss herself and responded slowly so as not to provoke the floating red-haired man.
"My name is Yui Hongo. This is my friend Miaka Yuuki."
Nataku's expression was unreadable, but his eyes flashed.
"Why are you here?"
"We got here by accident. We're just leaving." Yui could feel herself breaking out in a cold sweat, and Miaka was clutching the ivy much tighter than humanly possible.
"You smell strong."
Okay, Yui thought, get me the hell out of here. This guy just told me I smell strong. How, precisely does one SMELL strong?!
Yui gave him a nervous laugh.
"Yeah, well, I'm very strong. So, please leave us alone. I don't want to hurt you. We'll just be going now, nice to meet you mister Nataku. Bye bye!" Okay Yui, good lie. Let's go. Climb Miaka, climb!
Miaka didn't need to be a mind reader to catch the drift. She was climbing like there was no tomorrow which, in many cases, there wouldn't be if they didn't get out of there like a bat out of hell.
"Wait." Said Nataku. His tone, like his face was unreadable. "Where are you going?"
"Qu-Dong." Yui lied. She was getting good at this.
"What?" exclaimed Miaka. "I thought we were going to -OUCH! Yui!"
Yui had discreetly punched Miaka's shin, hoping Nataku was as dense as he was good looking.
"So we'll just be going now."
Miaka had reached the top of the wall, Yui just behind her.
"I'll. I'll go with you." Said Nataku slowly, as if he just had to make a very difficult decision in a short time.
Yui and Miaka looked at each other. What now? Qu-Dong was not their primary destination.
"Let me come, please. I want outside." Nataku said suddenly.
Yui gave a hopeless shrug to Miaka, who nodded in consent.
"Alright," said Yui, "but you have to promise not to make any trouble." Why couldn't they have just stayed in the real world?
Nataku gave her a patronizing look, but said nothing.
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When they had breached the wall, with help from Nataku who could fly, they soon found themselves in the middle of a market.
"What is this place called, Mister Nataku?" Miaka asked. Yui was looking around, recognition dawning on her pretty face.
"This is-"
"Chin-Tou-Kan, a border checkpoint. West of here is Qu-Dong, Yuuki (1)."
"Just Miaka and Yui is fine," said Miaka reassuringly.
Yui was glancing around the market curiously. Three years ago she had passed through here on horseback with Nakago. It seemed like yesterday. The people in the crowd, although they were giving the trio some odd looks, none seemed to recognize either Miaka or Yui, which she was immensely grateful for. As they walked, Yui managed to catch small snatches of conversation as they passed the strangers, heading towards the west gate.
"So Risei has finally found his freak son a bride?"
"Two it seems. funny clothes they got on."
"Wasn't it three years ago that foreigner with the blond hair told us to keep a look out for a strangely dressed girl?"
"That whole priestess business is over. They're probably just insane. Must be if they're with that soulless boy."
Nataku gave Yui another strange look. Yui squirmed under the scrutiny.
"You are dressed strangely." Nataku mused.
"We'll explain later." Yui hissed from the corner of her mouth. Now was not a good time to dig up the past that she had been trying to bury for the last few years.
Nataku's expression was still odd, but they reached the West gate. The guards did not ask for papers, but instead stood back and avoided eye contact with the red head. The trio continued on, down the dirt road in silence until the gates of Chin-Tou-Kan were out of sight.
"I knew when I saw you two," Nataku began abruptly.
Yui glanced up, as did Miaka.
"The priestess of Suzaku, the priestess of Sei-Ryu," Nataku prompted to make his point clear.
Miaka looked awkward again, "That- that's right, we are the priestesses of Suzaku and Sei-Ryu."
Nataku remained silent.
"Mister Nataku?" Yui began slowly.
The red-haired man looked at her, and although his effeminate face had a harsh stare, there was a subtle gentleness underneath.
"Why do you want to go to Qu-Dong with us?" She asked.
Nataku looked thoughtful (not a usual expression for him) for a minute.
"I wanted to leave."
"To Qu-Dong?"
"RaiShinShi is there."
Miaka and Yui looked at each other.
"Who?"
"Someone," Nataku said vaguely.
Tai-Itsu Shinjin sipped the tea, watching TaiYiJun like a hawk. The old baabaa was up to something again, and he didn't like it. The Lai-Lai servant was one of his early Paopei-ningen creations, and recently he couldn't keep track of what they were up to. Probably doing some of TaiYiJun's senile mischief.
TaiYiJun was one of the oldest Sennine in the Sennine-kai. Almost as old as GenshiTenSon-Sama. She lived atop Dai-Ichi-san with the Lai-Lai servant, and that was all Tai-Itsu knew.
When Tai-Itsu Shinjin was at a loss for knowledge, he worried.
"Where is the rest of Lai-Lai? I can't feel all her power here." Tai-Itsu inquired, peering over the rim of his mug.
TaiYiJun, the slippery fish, did not falter at the inquiry. Instead she seemed quite unperturbed.
"I have her running some errands for me." She gave a dry chuckle and sat across from Tai-Itsu.
"What is she doing?"
TaiYiJun gave a nonchalant shrug, "I do not wish you to trouble yourself with my problems."
"But I wish you would. You see, TaiYiJun, all paopei must be accounted for, and if you're hiding one-"
"I assure you Tai-Itsu, Lai-Lai, wherever she is, is in plain view."
Tai-Itsu stood slowly, glaring daggers at TaiYiJun, who smiled back benignly.
"You're planning on screwing around with the Senninekai again aren't you?"
"Of course. That ornery geezer," Tai-Itsu rolled his eyes. Just who was TaiYiJun to talk about ornery old geezers? "-needs to have someone splashing in the pool of fate. Fortunately, he has me around to do just that."
Tai-Itsu looked disbelieving. TaiYiJun was the only one who could get away with causing disturbances in the prearranged fate of humans. Even SinKouHyou couldn't get away with half the things TaiYiJun had managed. But if she was planning what he thought she was planning- even TaiYiJun would face a penalty of some horrific death for even attempting it. But... if it worked..
"Just-" Tai-Itsu paused. Then gave a wicked grin. "Just make sure they finished what he started."
"Oh, I will, don't worry. They're good girls really. I'm sure they'll perform their tasks admirably. After all, only human's can reclaim human destiny."
Tai-Itsu nodded. After all, only human's could..
"Are we lost? I think we're lost." Miaka stated, taking in the surroundings. Yui wasn't listening. Something else had caught her eye.
There was movement in the bushes of indistinct shapes, men most likely, skittering to and fro stealthily. Nataku was also on his guard, hovering behind them slowly.
"Someone's out there," Yui whispered to Nataku. He didn't make a sound, his green-brown eyes fixated warily on the surrounding foliage. Yui was on edge, expecting an ambush any second.
"REKKA---"
Yui spun around just in time to shove Miaka aside.
"---SHIEN!"
A jet of flame rushed by, singeing much of Yui's hair.
"Tasuki.?!" exclaimed Miaka.
End of Part 3
(1) Nataku, I noticed, when calling people by name, he'll sometimes use their last name. This isn't always the case, but I think it's cute when he does. Nataku is so kawaii!
Thank you everyone for the response! I'm glad everyone's enjoying the fic (I was a little skeptical at first that it wouldn't work). Now a brief note and stuff about spelling. My spoken Japanese isn't exactly the best in the world, and I'm even worse at reading, so when I read the manga I translated the English spellings to what I have here. Also another note when the real Ki Hatsu (as opposed to simply the reincarnation of him) shows up, he will be using his favorite "Purin-chan" (Pudding-chan) nick- name for cute girls. Next part? War of the redheads! * chuckles maniacly *