New chapter...fresh meat, maybe I will drag in some new fans! *highly doubts it* Thanks to my reviewers! I love reviews. "Reviews are like oxygen! Reviews are a many splendid thing! All you need is reviews!" Word 'love' replaced by 'reviews' because we all know what's more important! (got that from a good CCS fic ^^)
:: bla :: = thoughts
"Bla" = actual dialog
*** = change in perspective (and usually a bit of time has passed)
*bla* = action that is happening (or something like that such as *KT kicks her shift key cause it doesn't like to work*)
Slowly but surely Tsuomo got through the story of The Universe of the Four Gods. He explained to them what it would be like there in the book world and that they would have to be weary of their surroundings. He explained that there were 5 other warriors that they needed to find in the book world. At long last he told them that there were priestesses that were still alive from the last time the book was opened, but that they were already 75 years old and wouldn't be much help besides relaying to them their experiences while in the book world. He also told them that if the priestess didn't have a strong enough Will the beast god would devour her. Then he told Shelby that she was the Priestess. (Or Lady Priestess as they say in the anime!) (like they would call a man a priestess...they really don't need to say lady along with it)
"In the book you will encounter many hardships. That is just how it is. There will be those that don't want Seiryuu to be summoned and those are your enemies. There will be those that are sympathetic with your cause, and those are the people you must ask help from. And there will also be those that don't want you in their land at all simply because of what the last Seiryuu priestess and seishi did. I'm afraid your time in Kutou may not be a nice one, but I am hoping that you enjoy your stay," Tsuomo went into the kitchen at long last and grabbed a drink. He came back out with a letter in his hand. "The last Seiryuu priestess wrote this letter to you, Shelby. She has some things within the letter that she wishes you to deliver for her, but it is not impertinent that you do so, if you do not wish to. It is up to you whether you read the letter and it is also up to you to decide whether or not you tell anyone what was written in the letter. You do not have to share the information within the letter," Tsuomo handed Shelby the letter, who took it, reluctantly, and then he picked up the book, "Tomorrow I will have to send all of you in here. Have the things that you want to bring with you packed. You might be walking for a while, so please pack appropriately for this kind of travel.
"You know...this sounds exactly like an anime I once saw called Fushigi Yugi," Shelby said to the group.
"That would be because this is Fushigi Yugi. The story is real. Yuu Watase happens to own it, because she married Yuki Keisuke and he let her publish the story under her name. The characters are real, but they don't look the same as they do in the anime and manga because Watase turned it into a fictional story, not a non-fiction. Fushigi Yugi is supposed to be a fictional story. If the story was ever told, then it should be in the form of a fictional story. Yuu Watase changed the names of the characters so that people would not know them, but the people that this happened to still remember the story very vividly. So you see, Yuki Miaka is not her real name; it's the real name of the character in the story Fushigi Yugi, but nothing more. Hongo Yui is not Yui's real name either. It's her character's name. And Yuki Keisuke goes by a different name too. Yes, yes...I know I sound daft, but the story of The Universe of the Four Gods isn't to be used for fame or fortune, and we all know that the media would be all over the people involved in the story if they knew who they really were. I just hope that people won't ask questions when a new story comes out..." Tsuomo looked thoughtful for a moment before waiting for more questions.
"So...what powers do my seishi have?"
"The each have a special power given to them specifically by their god. I really don't know what it is. Why don't you ask the seishi you have with you?" Tsuomo turned to Kyoei, waiting to hear her story, even thought he already knew it.
"So...what's your power, Kyoei-chan?" Shelby asked, intrigued by the idea.
Kyoei blinked. She had never told anyone other than the Kigeki family about this power that she had, "I am a shape shifter. I can shift into anything possible. I originally lived in the United States as well, which is why I had a bit of a NY accent when I was talking to you on the phone," Kyoei shifted into her regular form that no one ever really saw anymore. She still had red hair and blue eyes, but she was heavier than before. More of a pear shaped body than a thin, yet slightly muscular, one. "My real name is Katie. I moved here when I was 13 and my birth parents still live in New York, I'm guessing, with my other 4 brothers and sisters. I didn't feel I belonged there so they sent me here. At first my power was very weak and untrained, but when the Kigeki family realized who I was, they all had this weird 'family reunion-meeting thing' and they told me that a lot of the members of their family had a small amount of power and that they wanted to give it to me so that I would become stronger. They said that if I was stronger then I could protect you better, when the time came. But I don't know how much more powerful I became, because I've practiced a lot to raise and control my power. One can never be sure when training," Katie shifted back into Kyoei. "Anyway...I hope you're not disappointed that your pen pal isn't pure Japanese..."
Shelby looked upon her sympathetically, "Of course not. But of course," she said with a thoughtful look on her face, "I'm very surprised!" Shelby laughed and patted Kyoei on her shoulder. "Jaren...what's your power?"
Jaren raised his eyebrows and stared at her incredulously before he became impassive again, "I don't know...why?" He eyed her with mock paranoia.
"I was just curious!" She shot back, angry that he was being so cocky.
"Maybe it's extreme madness!" Kyoei suggested, "Wait...no. Not mad like insane, but you know. You always wrote to me about your brother's horrible bouts of anger where he would go around and destroy everything in your house! Then you told me that you have to go and clean it up because he didn't remember doing it and said it was your fault," Kyoei explained.
"YEAH!" Shelby agreed. "That has to be it! It's the only other interesting thing he does!" Shelby answered, insulting her brother in the process.
"I beg your pardon? Only other interesting thing?" Jaren raised his eyebrows at her. :: She has no right to be accusing me of not doing anything interesting! She doesn't even check up on what I'm doing half the time! Besides it's not like she's anymore worthy of the title intriguing. ::
"Yes. The only other interesting thing you do. The rest of your day you sit on your ass and draw, read, watch TV, or play video games. You're an anti-social freak!" Shelby turned her back to him.
"Well you're a try-too-hard slut who turned rebel so she could catch a guy!" Jaren turned his back to her too. :: I don't care if I'm making a fool of myself right now. That was unforgivable. What I do is perfectly social! I have conversations with my characters daily! Which might or might not be considered mental, but that's beside the point! ::
Kyoei and Tsuomo had stood on the sidelines of this argument. It wasn't their place to butt in, so they just sort of looked at each other and shrugged. Sibling rivalries weren't something Tsuomo was used to, but Kyoei knew all too well what they were like. Some of hers had been disastrous. Those memories she strayed away from, though, now a days. "I think maybe you should...uhm...go and get some rest for tomorrow. We'll probably have a long day ahead of us, right?" Kyoei smiled with uncertainty as she tried to get the two to cooperate.
Shelby stood up then, suddenly, "You know what..." she said, swaying a little from not standing for so long, "I think you're right. It is time for us to leave. We've stayed past our welcome now. We'll be back here tomorrow around noon?" Shelby asked, unsure of what time they should set out.
"That would be more than OK with us. We shall see you both tomorrow, and it was very nice meeting you!" Tsuomo got up as Jaren and Shelby made their way towards the door, and Kyoei followed her uncle.
"I can't wait till tomorrow," Kyoei whispered to Shelby.
"Neither can I!" Shelby stuck out her hand to shake Kyoei's goodbye. Kyoei stared at her hand a moment, forgetting that this was a way of saying goodbye, took her hand firmly in her own, and shook it. As Jaren and Shelby stood outside in the doorway, though, Kyoei and Tsuomo bowed goodbye to them, and the two did the same. :: That was an awkward goodbye... ::
:: Great...the outdoors again... :: Jaren herded his sister along to the sidewalk and back to their hotel. :: I can't wait to get inside. ::
"You're in a hurry, Jaren," Shelby said. She was still a bit miffed about his comment to her earlier in the Kigeki house.
"Yes, I am. You know how much I LOVE the outdoors, sister!" Jaren was pissed at her too. :: She didn't have to go yelling some of my faults around to complete strangers! She can by so oblivious to these things sometimes. :: Jaren glared at the back of Shelby's head as they made it into the hotel. Shelby opened the door to their room, choose a side room that was closed off to the rest of the main room, shut the door, and locked it. :: Fine. She can rot in her room for all I care! ::
************************************************************************
Shelby and Jaren had left the house a couple of minutes ago, and as soon as they had disappeared from view Kyoei went to her room.
:: I need to pack... :: It was true that she needed to pack, but her thoughts were preoccupied with old ghosts and memories she'd rather forget. :: Those two remind me so much of my older brother and myself. Well...sort of. :: Kyoei shuddered at the memory of her older brother. :: It's not like I hate him...you don't really ever hate family, but I don't like him, and that's the problem. I didn't like any of them...our family was a love but not like relationship! :: There was a knock at Kyoei's door as her 'mother' came in.
*change english to Japanese*
"How was your day today, Kyoei?" Her 'mother' went over to her bed and sat on the edge. Kyoei's 'mother' was always a very beautiful woman. She had long black hair that was always put up in some kind of carved hair ornament, and she wore lots of dark hues in her clothes. She loved talking to her because her voice was pretty, soft, and had a tinkling sound to it when she spoke.
"It was good, but it was tiring. My memories of my other family were remembered today when I was watching Shelby and Jaren fight, and the memories of my other family are wearing me out. I might pack for my adventure tomorrow. Would you mind helping?" Kyoei looked up at her mother from her spot on the floor.
Her mother smiled at her, "Of course I wouldn't mind. You know that, dear," Her mother got up from the bed, and knelt beside her. She stroked Kyoei's hair for a little while then kissed her on the cheek and stood up. "I hope you can sleep tonight! You'll need your rest for tomorrow." She patted Kyoei on the head and left the room.
:: She knows how old ghosts are. She knows how they can consume your every thought and make it impossible to do anything else but think about them... :: Kyoei remembered back to when she lived in New York. She had heard a song once that she felt went with her perfectly well, but she only remembered the first four lines now.
There's a valley of sorrow in my soul
Where every night I hear the thunder roll
Like the sound of a distant gun
Over all the damage I have done
Kyoei changed into her pajamas, did other things necessary before going to bed, turned off the lights and hopped in, burying herself in the blankets and pillows so no one would hear her cry.
KT: So...what do you think?! I did pretty well for writing this in one day! (same with the last chapter as well... .) I got this song from the fanfiction Prayer in Open D. That's the song name too and Emmylou Harris sings it. I like this song, but I like the lyrics better, and the fanfiction I read has inspired me some, but that's inspiration for later chapters. Kyoei won't be this angsty throughout the whole thing, don't worry! Or at least I don't think she will...anyone have any favorite character yet? ^^ Till next time! Questions and comments (as well as flames, god forbid) go to me! BAI - KT -
:: bla :: = thoughts
"Bla" = actual dialog
*** = change in perspective (and usually a bit of time has passed)
*bla* = action that is happening (or something like that such as *KT kicks her shift key cause it doesn't like to work*)
Slowly but surely Tsuomo got through the story of The Universe of the Four Gods. He explained to them what it would be like there in the book world and that they would have to be weary of their surroundings. He explained that there were 5 other warriors that they needed to find in the book world. At long last he told them that there were priestesses that were still alive from the last time the book was opened, but that they were already 75 years old and wouldn't be much help besides relaying to them their experiences while in the book world. He also told them that if the priestess didn't have a strong enough Will the beast god would devour her. Then he told Shelby that she was the Priestess. (Or Lady Priestess as they say in the anime!) (like they would call a man a priestess...they really don't need to say lady along with it)
"In the book you will encounter many hardships. That is just how it is. There will be those that don't want Seiryuu to be summoned and those are your enemies. There will be those that are sympathetic with your cause, and those are the people you must ask help from. And there will also be those that don't want you in their land at all simply because of what the last Seiryuu priestess and seishi did. I'm afraid your time in Kutou may not be a nice one, but I am hoping that you enjoy your stay," Tsuomo went into the kitchen at long last and grabbed a drink. He came back out with a letter in his hand. "The last Seiryuu priestess wrote this letter to you, Shelby. She has some things within the letter that she wishes you to deliver for her, but it is not impertinent that you do so, if you do not wish to. It is up to you whether you read the letter and it is also up to you to decide whether or not you tell anyone what was written in the letter. You do not have to share the information within the letter," Tsuomo handed Shelby the letter, who took it, reluctantly, and then he picked up the book, "Tomorrow I will have to send all of you in here. Have the things that you want to bring with you packed. You might be walking for a while, so please pack appropriately for this kind of travel.
"You know...this sounds exactly like an anime I once saw called Fushigi Yugi," Shelby said to the group.
"That would be because this is Fushigi Yugi. The story is real. Yuu Watase happens to own it, because she married Yuki Keisuke and he let her publish the story under her name. The characters are real, but they don't look the same as they do in the anime and manga because Watase turned it into a fictional story, not a non-fiction. Fushigi Yugi is supposed to be a fictional story. If the story was ever told, then it should be in the form of a fictional story. Yuu Watase changed the names of the characters so that people would not know them, but the people that this happened to still remember the story very vividly. So you see, Yuki Miaka is not her real name; it's the real name of the character in the story Fushigi Yugi, but nothing more. Hongo Yui is not Yui's real name either. It's her character's name. And Yuki Keisuke goes by a different name too. Yes, yes...I know I sound daft, but the story of The Universe of the Four Gods isn't to be used for fame or fortune, and we all know that the media would be all over the people involved in the story if they knew who they really were. I just hope that people won't ask questions when a new story comes out..." Tsuomo looked thoughtful for a moment before waiting for more questions.
"So...what powers do my seishi have?"
"The each have a special power given to them specifically by their god. I really don't know what it is. Why don't you ask the seishi you have with you?" Tsuomo turned to Kyoei, waiting to hear her story, even thought he already knew it.
"So...what's your power, Kyoei-chan?" Shelby asked, intrigued by the idea.
Kyoei blinked. She had never told anyone other than the Kigeki family about this power that she had, "I am a shape shifter. I can shift into anything possible. I originally lived in the United States as well, which is why I had a bit of a NY accent when I was talking to you on the phone," Kyoei shifted into her regular form that no one ever really saw anymore. She still had red hair and blue eyes, but she was heavier than before. More of a pear shaped body than a thin, yet slightly muscular, one. "My real name is Katie. I moved here when I was 13 and my birth parents still live in New York, I'm guessing, with my other 4 brothers and sisters. I didn't feel I belonged there so they sent me here. At first my power was very weak and untrained, but when the Kigeki family realized who I was, they all had this weird 'family reunion-meeting thing' and they told me that a lot of the members of their family had a small amount of power and that they wanted to give it to me so that I would become stronger. They said that if I was stronger then I could protect you better, when the time came. But I don't know how much more powerful I became, because I've practiced a lot to raise and control my power. One can never be sure when training," Katie shifted back into Kyoei. "Anyway...I hope you're not disappointed that your pen pal isn't pure Japanese..."
Shelby looked upon her sympathetically, "Of course not. But of course," she said with a thoughtful look on her face, "I'm very surprised!" Shelby laughed and patted Kyoei on her shoulder. "Jaren...what's your power?"
Jaren raised his eyebrows and stared at her incredulously before he became impassive again, "I don't know...why?" He eyed her with mock paranoia.
"I was just curious!" She shot back, angry that he was being so cocky.
"Maybe it's extreme madness!" Kyoei suggested, "Wait...no. Not mad like insane, but you know. You always wrote to me about your brother's horrible bouts of anger where he would go around and destroy everything in your house! Then you told me that you have to go and clean it up because he didn't remember doing it and said it was your fault," Kyoei explained.
"YEAH!" Shelby agreed. "That has to be it! It's the only other interesting thing he does!" Shelby answered, insulting her brother in the process.
"I beg your pardon? Only other interesting thing?" Jaren raised his eyebrows at her. :: She has no right to be accusing me of not doing anything interesting! She doesn't even check up on what I'm doing half the time! Besides it's not like she's anymore worthy of the title intriguing. ::
"Yes. The only other interesting thing you do. The rest of your day you sit on your ass and draw, read, watch TV, or play video games. You're an anti-social freak!" Shelby turned her back to him.
"Well you're a try-too-hard slut who turned rebel so she could catch a guy!" Jaren turned his back to her too. :: I don't care if I'm making a fool of myself right now. That was unforgivable. What I do is perfectly social! I have conversations with my characters daily! Which might or might not be considered mental, but that's beside the point! ::
Kyoei and Tsuomo had stood on the sidelines of this argument. It wasn't their place to butt in, so they just sort of looked at each other and shrugged. Sibling rivalries weren't something Tsuomo was used to, but Kyoei knew all too well what they were like. Some of hers had been disastrous. Those memories she strayed away from, though, now a days. "I think maybe you should...uhm...go and get some rest for tomorrow. We'll probably have a long day ahead of us, right?" Kyoei smiled with uncertainty as she tried to get the two to cooperate.
Shelby stood up then, suddenly, "You know what..." she said, swaying a little from not standing for so long, "I think you're right. It is time for us to leave. We've stayed past our welcome now. We'll be back here tomorrow around noon?" Shelby asked, unsure of what time they should set out.
"That would be more than OK with us. We shall see you both tomorrow, and it was very nice meeting you!" Tsuomo got up as Jaren and Shelby made their way towards the door, and Kyoei followed her uncle.
"I can't wait till tomorrow," Kyoei whispered to Shelby.
"Neither can I!" Shelby stuck out her hand to shake Kyoei's goodbye. Kyoei stared at her hand a moment, forgetting that this was a way of saying goodbye, took her hand firmly in her own, and shook it. As Jaren and Shelby stood outside in the doorway, though, Kyoei and Tsuomo bowed goodbye to them, and the two did the same. :: That was an awkward goodbye... ::
:: Great...the outdoors again... :: Jaren herded his sister along to the sidewalk and back to their hotel. :: I can't wait to get inside. ::
"You're in a hurry, Jaren," Shelby said. She was still a bit miffed about his comment to her earlier in the Kigeki house.
"Yes, I am. You know how much I LOVE the outdoors, sister!" Jaren was pissed at her too. :: She didn't have to go yelling some of my faults around to complete strangers! She can by so oblivious to these things sometimes. :: Jaren glared at the back of Shelby's head as they made it into the hotel. Shelby opened the door to their room, choose a side room that was closed off to the rest of the main room, shut the door, and locked it. :: Fine. She can rot in her room for all I care! ::
************************************************************************
Shelby and Jaren had left the house a couple of minutes ago, and as soon as they had disappeared from view Kyoei went to her room.
:: I need to pack... :: It was true that she needed to pack, but her thoughts were preoccupied with old ghosts and memories she'd rather forget. :: Those two remind me so much of my older brother and myself. Well...sort of. :: Kyoei shuddered at the memory of her older brother. :: It's not like I hate him...you don't really ever hate family, but I don't like him, and that's the problem. I didn't like any of them...our family was a love but not like relationship! :: There was a knock at Kyoei's door as her 'mother' came in.
*change english to Japanese*
"How was your day today, Kyoei?" Her 'mother' went over to her bed and sat on the edge. Kyoei's 'mother' was always a very beautiful woman. She had long black hair that was always put up in some kind of carved hair ornament, and she wore lots of dark hues in her clothes. She loved talking to her because her voice was pretty, soft, and had a tinkling sound to it when she spoke.
"It was good, but it was tiring. My memories of my other family were remembered today when I was watching Shelby and Jaren fight, and the memories of my other family are wearing me out. I might pack for my adventure tomorrow. Would you mind helping?" Kyoei looked up at her mother from her spot on the floor.
Her mother smiled at her, "Of course I wouldn't mind. You know that, dear," Her mother got up from the bed, and knelt beside her. She stroked Kyoei's hair for a little while then kissed her on the cheek and stood up. "I hope you can sleep tonight! You'll need your rest for tomorrow." She patted Kyoei on the head and left the room.
:: She knows how old ghosts are. She knows how they can consume your every thought and make it impossible to do anything else but think about them... :: Kyoei remembered back to when she lived in New York. She had heard a song once that she felt went with her perfectly well, but she only remembered the first four lines now.
There's a valley of sorrow in my soul
Where every night I hear the thunder roll
Like the sound of a distant gun
Over all the damage I have done
Kyoei changed into her pajamas, did other things necessary before going to bed, turned off the lights and hopped in, burying herself in the blankets and pillows so no one would hear her cry.
KT: So...what do you think?! I did pretty well for writing this in one day! (same with the last chapter as well... .) I got this song from the fanfiction Prayer in Open D. That's the song name too and Emmylou Harris sings it. I like this song, but I like the lyrics better, and the fanfiction I read has inspired me some, but that's inspiration for later chapters. Kyoei won't be this angsty throughout the whole thing, don't worry! Or at least I don't think she will...anyone have any favorite character yet? ^^ Till next time! Questions and comments (as well as flames, god forbid) go to me! BAI - KT -
