Fushigi Yuugi: Kurai Kiseki
By: Rika Hitoshi
Chapter 2 - Jiyuu Hoshi - Freedom Star
The time for the city's founding festival was upon everyone. Decorations of all sorts were everywhere. Balloons swayed in gentle breezes outside of shop entrances. Lanterns of all colors were hanging overhead, strung from building to building glowing softly in the cool night. Small children were running from stand to stand buying sweets, drinks, and small toys as women dressed in kimonos gossiped cheerfully. As the sky became darker the large crowds headed to the city square where a large bon fire was already burning brightly in the warm summer evening. All around were people dressed in costumes, waiting for their moment.
"Kiki-chan! You look so kawaii!!" Niko exclaimed, smiling at her friend. She wore a black Kimono with the designs of purple, blue and pink lotus blossoms on it.
"Arigato Niko-chan, although I have to admit I'm really nervous."
"Don't worry about it, you'll be great! Your outfit is absolutely amazing too. So pretty!"
Kiki's face turned pink. She wore a long purple pleated skirt that had sakura blossoms sewn onto it with green vines going from each blossom to the next. It was tied off on her left side allowing a long open slit run down. Her kimono top was white and the sleeves faded off to purple matching her skirt and a small bell hung at the end. Kiki was to be the lead female dancer in the festival opening. The other girl dancers wore the same thing except their costumes were all the color of navy blue with their hair pulled into simple buns. Niko lightly poked one of the dangling stars that hung off Kiki's hair stick. Her hair had been put up in a bun as well, but had ornate hair sticks placed into it.
Suddenly one of the male dancers ran up with a look of worry on his face. His outfit consisted of an open navy blue jacket with an intricate design outlined in white. He also wore baggy pants that matched the jacket perfectly.
"Kiki-chan!"
"Hai Kishoku-kun?"
"There is something wrong with Ikari-kun!!"
"Nani?! Take me to him, hayaku!"
He led the way to where the rest of the dancers were standing, circled around a young man lying on the ground. His outfit was like the other dancers except his black instead of navy blue.
"Ikari-kun! What happened?"
Ikari sat up a little bit, "Some kid ran into me on accident and I fell on my leg. I can't feel it anymore, I think it's broken."
Kiki turned to one of the girl dancers. "Rikku-chan, can you go call for some help?"
The girl nodded and ran off. Kiki returned to their injured friend.
"Don't worry, help should be here shortly."
Ikari nodded shortly, "Arigato gozaimas, but someone is going to have to take my place now." "I could."
Everyone turned around. Standing there in a pair of jeans and sweatshirt stood a young man who had short purple hair and eyes. He smiled at them all, his expression showing concern and kindness at the same time. Kishoku narrowed his eyes and glared at the newcomer.
"What makes you think you can do it Chou-san? You don't know any of the moves for the lead dance!"
The man smiled, "So you think, but I do. Every single step too!" He grinned seeing Kishoku glare more at him.
Ikari smiled, "Ryuuen-kun, would you do me the favor of takin my place? Onegai?"
Ryuuen nodded once, "Hai, of course. You want me to help you off the ground as well??"
"That would be a ton of help; I'm having trouble feeling my ass." Ryuuen laughed as everyone watched him lift Ikari off the ground with one hand and help him over to a bench.
Niko ran over to where Kiki was standing, "Kiki-chan! Tasuki-san and Kouji-san are here! Let us go greet them, ok? Kiki-chan?"
Kiki blinked and shook her head a little, "Gomen, I was thinking about something. Hai lets go see them."
The two girls walked over to a large sakura tree that had long since lost its pink blossoms.
"Konban wa Tasuki and Kouji! Wow you two look so nice!"
The two men turned around on hearing Kiki's voice. Tasuki was wearing a red and orange yukata with the faint images of flames. Kouji's was a striped gold and blue yukata. Tasuki narrowed his eyes a little and Kouji's face turned a little a red.
"Niko-chan made 'em fer us." Kouji said quickly.
"Ahh, so that's what the fabric was for. She did a good job you guys look great. Aww what's wrong Tasuki, you don't look too pleased."
"Just not used t'wearin stuff like this."
Niko giggled, "He kept moving every time I tried to measure him, it was annoying."
"I would imagine." Kiki said lightly poking Tasuki, "Mr. Big Bandit afraid of looking decent for a change?"
"Nande?" Tasuki rounded on her, "I always look decent!!"
~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~*~
As the full moon rose softly into the sky it cast a pale light on the now empty streets. Everyone was gathered at the square awaiting for the opening dance ceremony. The dancers were in pairs around the circle. Kiki was holding a staff matching the color of her costume. It was a wooden rod painted purple and white with pink sakura blossoms painted up and down it. The top had a golden crescent moon with satin ribbons flowing from it. Kiki found her heart racing and felt small beads of sweat run down her face from being so close to the fire. She glanced up every now and then at her new partner, Ryuuen, who carried a black staff with a golden sun at the top. He caught her eyes once and smiled down at her. Kiki felt that the smile was familiar and could not help return it as if she had known him closely.
As the drums started the rhythm a cello, flute, and harpsichord joined in creating a cheerful upbeat melody. The dancers moved in step, starting together with the same steps. Left, right, back forward, right, back, and left again. Each dance move ending with each beat and beginning with the next. The dancers seemed to be flowing like water, when the leaders began taking different, more intricate steps. Kiki and Ryuuen moved in time, their staffs in motion with them. The final beats were faster, singling the end and the other dancers stopped in a posed as their leaders carried out the last steps. Down, right, left, up left right, turn, turn, turn, and down once more.
The audience roared in applause for the dancers who bowed together. Taking another bow Kiki caught site of Tasuki, Kouji, and Niko who were all clapping and shouting. She smiled and as she headed to talk to them she felt someone tap her shoulder. Turning around she saw Ryuuen.
"Oh, Chou-san."
"Ryuuen, but-"
He was cut off as Niko ran over and tackled her friend in a hug.
"Kiki-chan you were so great! Wai! Wai!!"
Ryuuen chuckled a bit and looked up as Tasuki and Kouji walked over. He grinned.
"Nice yukata Tasuki, you don't look like a bandit anymore!"
Tasuki looked up and glared at Ryuuen.
"Who t'hell do ya think ya are?!"
"There is no nee-"
Kiki cut him off, her eyes wide, "Nuriko! It is you!"
He smiled, "Hai," he blinked at Tasuki, "Nani Tasuki?"
The bandit's mouth was open and he just stared at the newfound seishi.
~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~*~
Niko yawned tiredly as the five walked down the street. The festival had ended later than normal, so the guys agreed to walk the two girls home. Kouji blinked, his face turning a light red as Niko clung to his arm and leaned against him.
"Niko-chan, you ok?" he asked.
"H-H-H-Hai." she said yawning, "Just a little tired. Gomen."
Kiki giggled softly looking at the two. However, watching them made her feel sad, she remembered how much she missed Chichiri. Nuriko saw Kiki's expression change and as Tasuki started messing around with Kouji who took up the opportunity to speak to her.
"Something wrong Kiki?"
"Hmm? Oh, it's nothing."
"Doesn't look like nothing."
Kiki sighed a little; she knew Nuriko would not drop the subject.
"I miss him. a lot."
"Of course you do."
"It hurts so much to not know where he is or if he's ok or not. It's been a year and I've never even bumped into him or anything."
Nuriko smiled softly, "Don't worry; I know you'll see Chichiri again. Odds are you're both looking for each other so damn hard you keep passing one another by."
"Yeah, maybe."
"So cheer-up a little Kik's! He wouldn't want you to be sad anyways."
"Your right, arigato Nuriko."
~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~*~
"I'm getting tired of waiting! Lets just kill them now already!" a mans voice exclaimed loudly as it's body slammed a fist hard on a table.
"Relax, we have to wait until she gathers more of the seishi. We do not know them well enough to be able to pick them out on our own. Especially with their life forces hidden." A soft female voice reasoned. "It shouldn't be much longer either. She has found three so far in less than a week. Everything is going good as of now. Odds are she will be reunited with most of them soon enough. Let her find one more. Then we'll attack, how about that?"
"Fine. one more seishi, then I will cut them down."
The woman laughed softly, "Hai. we will both cut them down."
By: Rika Hitoshi
Chapter 2 - Jiyuu Hoshi - Freedom Star
The time for the city's founding festival was upon everyone. Decorations of all sorts were everywhere. Balloons swayed in gentle breezes outside of shop entrances. Lanterns of all colors were hanging overhead, strung from building to building glowing softly in the cool night. Small children were running from stand to stand buying sweets, drinks, and small toys as women dressed in kimonos gossiped cheerfully. As the sky became darker the large crowds headed to the city square where a large bon fire was already burning brightly in the warm summer evening. All around were people dressed in costumes, waiting for their moment.
"Kiki-chan! You look so kawaii!!" Niko exclaimed, smiling at her friend. She wore a black Kimono with the designs of purple, blue and pink lotus blossoms on it.
"Arigato Niko-chan, although I have to admit I'm really nervous."
"Don't worry about it, you'll be great! Your outfit is absolutely amazing too. So pretty!"
Kiki's face turned pink. She wore a long purple pleated skirt that had sakura blossoms sewn onto it with green vines going from each blossom to the next. It was tied off on her left side allowing a long open slit run down. Her kimono top was white and the sleeves faded off to purple matching her skirt and a small bell hung at the end. Kiki was to be the lead female dancer in the festival opening. The other girl dancers wore the same thing except their costumes were all the color of navy blue with their hair pulled into simple buns. Niko lightly poked one of the dangling stars that hung off Kiki's hair stick. Her hair had been put up in a bun as well, but had ornate hair sticks placed into it.
Suddenly one of the male dancers ran up with a look of worry on his face. His outfit consisted of an open navy blue jacket with an intricate design outlined in white. He also wore baggy pants that matched the jacket perfectly.
"Kiki-chan!"
"Hai Kishoku-kun?"
"There is something wrong with Ikari-kun!!"
"Nani?! Take me to him, hayaku!"
He led the way to where the rest of the dancers were standing, circled around a young man lying on the ground. His outfit was like the other dancers except his black instead of navy blue.
"Ikari-kun! What happened?"
Ikari sat up a little bit, "Some kid ran into me on accident and I fell on my leg. I can't feel it anymore, I think it's broken."
Kiki turned to one of the girl dancers. "Rikku-chan, can you go call for some help?"
The girl nodded and ran off. Kiki returned to their injured friend.
"Don't worry, help should be here shortly."
Ikari nodded shortly, "Arigato gozaimas, but someone is going to have to take my place now." "I could."
Everyone turned around. Standing there in a pair of jeans and sweatshirt stood a young man who had short purple hair and eyes. He smiled at them all, his expression showing concern and kindness at the same time. Kishoku narrowed his eyes and glared at the newcomer.
"What makes you think you can do it Chou-san? You don't know any of the moves for the lead dance!"
The man smiled, "So you think, but I do. Every single step too!" He grinned seeing Kishoku glare more at him.
Ikari smiled, "Ryuuen-kun, would you do me the favor of takin my place? Onegai?"
Ryuuen nodded once, "Hai, of course. You want me to help you off the ground as well??"
"That would be a ton of help; I'm having trouble feeling my ass." Ryuuen laughed as everyone watched him lift Ikari off the ground with one hand and help him over to a bench.
Niko ran over to where Kiki was standing, "Kiki-chan! Tasuki-san and Kouji-san are here! Let us go greet them, ok? Kiki-chan?"
Kiki blinked and shook her head a little, "Gomen, I was thinking about something. Hai lets go see them."
The two girls walked over to a large sakura tree that had long since lost its pink blossoms.
"Konban wa Tasuki and Kouji! Wow you two look so nice!"
The two men turned around on hearing Kiki's voice. Tasuki was wearing a red and orange yukata with the faint images of flames. Kouji's was a striped gold and blue yukata. Tasuki narrowed his eyes a little and Kouji's face turned a little a red.
"Niko-chan made 'em fer us." Kouji said quickly.
"Ahh, so that's what the fabric was for. She did a good job you guys look great. Aww what's wrong Tasuki, you don't look too pleased."
"Just not used t'wearin stuff like this."
Niko giggled, "He kept moving every time I tried to measure him, it was annoying."
"I would imagine." Kiki said lightly poking Tasuki, "Mr. Big Bandit afraid of looking decent for a change?"
"Nande?" Tasuki rounded on her, "I always look decent!!"
~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~*~
As the full moon rose softly into the sky it cast a pale light on the now empty streets. Everyone was gathered at the square awaiting for the opening dance ceremony. The dancers were in pairs around the circle. Kiki was holding a staff matching the color of her costume. It was a wooden rod painted purple and white with pink sakura blossoms painted up and down it. The top had a golden crescent moon with satin ribbons flowing from it. Kiki found her heart racing and felt small beads of sweat run down her face from being so close to the fire. She glanced up every now and then at her new partner, Ryuuen, who carried a black staff with a golden sun at the top. He caught her eyes once and smiled down at her. Kiki felt that the smile was familiar and could not help return it as if she had known him closely.
As the drums started the rhythm a cello, flute, and harpsichord joined in creating a cheerful upbeat melody. The dancers moved in step, starting together with the same steps. Left, right, back forward, right, back, and left again. Each dance move ending with each beat and beginning with the next. The dancers seemed to be flowing like water, when the leaders began taking different, more intricate steps. Kiki and Ryuuen moved in time, their staffs in motion with them. The final beats were faster, singling the end and the other dancers stopped in a posed as their leaders carried out the last steps. Down, right, left, up left right, turn, turn, turn, and down once more.
The audience roared in applause for the dancers who bowed together. Taking another bow Kiki caught site of Tasuki, Kouji, and Niko who were all clapping and shouting. She smiled and as she headed to talk to them she felt someone tap her shoulder. Turning around she saw Ryuuen.
"Oh, Chou-san."
"Ryuuen, but-"
He was cut off as Niko ran over and tackled her friend in a hug.
"Kiki-chan you were so great! Wai! Wai!!"
Ryuuen chuckled a bit and looked up as Tasuki and Kouji walked over. He grinned.
"Nice yukata Tasuki, you don't look like a bandit anymore!"
Tasuki looked up and glared at Ryuuen.
"Who t'hell do ya think ya are?!"
"There is no nee-"
Kiki cut him off, her eyes wide, "Nuriko! It is you!"
He smiled, "Hai," he blinked at Tasuki, "Nani Tasuki?"
The bandit's mouth was open and he just stared at the newfound seishi.
~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~*~
Niko yawned tiredly as the five walked down the street. The festival had ended later than normal, so the guys agreed to walk the two girls home. Kouji blinked, his face turning a light red as Niko clung to his arm and leaned against him.
"Niko-chan, you ok?" he asked.
"H-H-H-Hai." she said yawning, "Just a little tired. Gomen."
Kiki giggled softly looking at the two. However, watching them made her feel sad, she remembered how much she missed Chichiri. Nuriko saw Kiki's expression change and as Tasuki started messing around with Kouji who took up the opportunity to speak to her.
"Something wrong Kiki?"
"Hmm? Oh, it's nothing."
"Doesn't look like nothing."
Kiki sighed a little; she knew Nuriko would not drop the subject.
"I miss him. a lot."
"Of course you do."
"It hurts so much to not know where he is or if he's ok or not. It's been a year and I've never even bumped into him or anything."
Nuriko smiled softly, "Don't worry; I know you'll see Chichiri again. Odds are you're both looking for each other so damn hard you keep passing one another by."
"Yeah, maybe."
"So cheer-up a little Kik's! He wouldn't want you to be sad anyways."
"Your right, arigato Nuriko."
~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~*~
"I'm getting tired of waiting! Lets just kill them now already!" a mans voice exclaimed loudly as it's body slammed a fist hard on a table.
"Relax, we have to wait until she gathers more of the seishi. We do not know them well enough to be able to pick them out on our own. Especially with their life forces hidden." A soft female voice reasoned. "It shouldn't be much longer either. She has found three so far in less than a week. Everything is going good as of now. Odds are she will be reunited with most of them soon enough. Let her find one more. Then we'll attack, how about that?"
"Fine. one more seishi, then I will cut them down."
The woman laughed softly, "Hai. we will both cut them down."