Okay…here's the second part. Sorry that this took a bit longer, but my friend came to visit, and brought with her Eikouden, the new Fushigi Yuugi OAV. I just had to see it! Also, anyone in the Metro Detroit Area, please come to the Eastern Michigan University's Japanese Student Association Dinner Show Party in the McKinney Ballroom on the 22nd ! I used to hold an office in that organization and also, I will be performing Kendo (A form of Japanese sword fighting) there as well!

Disclaimer: I do not own Fushigi Yuugi. Though while I do unfortunately own my text books, if I was to turn them in, I doubt they would even give me $15. So, knowing this, I doubt it would be worth Yuu Watase's time to even hire a lawyer.

The Pains of Travel part 2

As the morning sun rises, I yet again awake with a start. Miaka-san looks over at me, obviously worried. I attempted a smile and told her that everything was fine; I just need to wash my face. Looking into the lake, I see why the Miko was worried. I believe that I have invented a new shade of red. But, after last night, who can blame me? I have never been more embarrassed in my entire life! And, knowing my family, that's saying something. I still have memories of my Obaa on my mother's side believing that I was a girl when she first met me. Despite my Onii and I trying to tell her differently, she still dressed me up as a little girl once my Okaa left to spend her anniversary with my Otou and forced me to go shopping with her that day. Rightfully so, I was the object of much teasing by people in the city.

Still, a night of first learning about procreation, all the possible…positions, and then, Byakko ji-chan picking up his seishi Tokaki-san and forcing me to go with them while they played at being peeping toms was not my idea of an educational experience. There was only one good thing…okay maybe a few…about that night. Thanks to Tokaki-san I now know the answers to my Obaa's questions. Embarrassed, and trying to look away from the girls, which is hard when your uncle has you in a headlock, Tokaki-san noticed me blushing. Slapping me hard on my back, Tokaki-san laughs and nearly gives away our position.

"C'mon Doukun! Your blushing, which means that something in you is curios about looking a women! And, by looking at you, I would say that this "something" is that you're no longer a kid! Welcome to Adulthood! Just within a couple of years, you'll have all the girl swooning over your good looks and you will meet a form of crazy girls known as the mysterious people called 'Fangirls.' Hope you're a good runner!"

Stuttering, I finally escape my uncles hold and try to make a counter argument. However, by this time, My Otou has been informed of what my uncles lessons pertain to, and seeing Tokaki-san laughing at me for wanting to at least be a gentleman, was a bad thing. Needless to say, a few random fireballs, a crispy seishi, a crispy God and screaming women, realizing that there had been men looking in on their morning baths was the end of my experience. Still, I want to know where that lady got that frying pan from, if she was naked. Also, I know now that Nuriko-san's punches have no contest against an angry women armed with a cooking utensil. My head still stings.

Traveling on, I become concerned as I feel Tamahome-san's Ki moving away from us. I decide not to bother Miaka-san, seeing as she already has enough on her hands. By late afternoon, we arrived at the village. I have never visited her before, I'm sad to say, but it does not take long before we come upon her farm. Upon seeing us, she walks out of her home…with a sword in her hand.

"Who are you? What do you want here?"

"Ano~ Chiriko…are you sure that she can help us?"

"Hai, please let me talk to her. I'll get things straighten out."

I walk up to her, with my hands in front of me. I'm trying to show her that I have no weapons, but I can still see that she is nervous. I feel hurt by this, but I resign myself to the fact that Tokaki-san had made me aware of. I'm no longer a kid; I do not quite have the looks of sweet little Ou Doukun anymore.

"Opii, please put the sword down. I came here to talk, not to fight."

"O…Opii? How do you know…"

By this time, I believe that she has noticed my hair. Her eyes scrunch up in confusion as she whispers "Otouto?"

I smile and nod my head. I start to walk towards her some more, the feeling of relief taking over my soul when she decided to attack.

"Why you little wampaku (brat)!"

"Opii, settle down!"

She comes at me for a while more. Not wanting to hurt her, I'm at a disadvantage. Thus being so, it does not take long before I'm on my butt, looking up at her.

"Shi ne (Die)!"

"No!"

Miaka-san jumps in between us and wraps her arms around me.

"Onegai…don't kill him!"

For her credit, Onee gives a little laugh and returns her sword to it's sheath.

"I wasn't planning on actually killing him, I'm just trying to get the wampaku back for the wedding prank both he and our brother pulled on my late husband and I. As cute as the two of you thought it might have been, it wasn't nice."

"What did they do?"

"Have you ever heard of a finger trap?"

"Yes…"

"Well, Onii and Otouto tricked us into being joined by one made out of gold, while we still had our hands tied together from the ceremony. I admit I was surprised that Doukun would do such a thing! I still bet that our older brother, Roukun, put him up to it. About three weeks later, the little Wampaku here sends us the instructions on how to release the trigger. Still, it is good to see you! To what do I owe the honor of your visit?"

"About that, Opii. We need your help."

"Everyone needs help these days, what is it that you need?"

"Horses and enough supplies to get us to the capitol of Sairo-koku."

Here follows a long period of silence. Opii eventually comes back to her senses.

Beckoning us inside, my Onee offers us seats before leaving to make tea. While we wait, Miaka-san and I take a look around the house. There is barely anything in here. Where's Onee's furniture? I sniff around, and smell rice and porridge; the food of choice for the starving. I listen, but I can't detect a single heartbeat from the workers on her farm She comes back in the room and I notice that she is wearing regular brown and white working clothes, her beautiful chestnut hair placed into a single bun at the base of her neck. The state of her clothing looks like she just came back in from dealing with the livestock all day. While that would be understandable, my sensitive nose has also detected that there is no cattle, no horses. Nothing.

"Opii, what happened?"

My Onee sits down and after sighing decides to tell us her recent troubles.

"About a week ago, my farm was raided by Kutou-koku soldiers. They killed all of the workers and probably would've killed me, if it wasn't for my cook, Suiren. She threw me into the root cellar and hid the door under her work rug, hiding me from the soldiers' sight. Though I tried to get out, she must have been standing on it, when they came and killed her. Two days later, people from the village came to bury the dead and found me down there, weak from dehydration. I looked around, but from the accounts of the villagers, the army took everything of value upon my land and from their homes as well. Most of the village has be burned to the ground. I sent a letter to Okaa, letting her know what happened and asking if I could move back in with you. I've been waiting here for the response."

"I'm afraid, Opii, that you would have never have received your reply, because Okaa came to live at the palace after one of the other Shichiseishi's family was attacked."

"Ne, Chiriko, how about we invite your sister to come with us! That way, she'll get home eventually! What do you say, Kouran-san?"

I look at my Onee, letting her know that I believe this to be a good idea as well. Opii is family, even if it is not by blood, and I don't like to see anyone in my family suffer.

"I would like that…um…"

"Aa, gomen Opii. Let me introduce you to Yuuki Miaka, Suzaku no Miko."

All Opii does is raise one of her delicate eyebrows. She was definitely one of our city's prize beauties, worthy of Hotohori-san's court. If she hadn't moved up here, she may have become one of his courtesans. As it is, all of our neighbors were shocked to find that such a beautiful and educated women was content and knew how to do farm work. She swears that she must have done this before she lost her memory, because all of the knowledge came naturally to her. Still, even though she would hate to leave this home, I'm sure she realizes that there is nothing for her here and that traveling with us would be a lot safer than waiting here for someone to bring her home. But, I digress. Back to her and Miaka-san.

Giving a small bow, all Opii says in response is:

"Pleasure."

After we drank the tea and at the food which Opii had cooked, we packed up what little food there was and headed to the far side of town. Opii said her good-byes while everyone thanked her. Being one of the only people with food, thanks to the hidden root cellar, Opii shared all the food she had with the town folk.

It was dark before we finally reached another nice size farm. This farm still looked to be in one piece and Opii explained that this farm was far enough away from the village that the soldiers never found it. They too have been helping the villagers. Taking the deed to her land, Opii barters the farm to the owner's son for three horses, supplies and a night's stay in the barn.

Yawning, I cuddle up to my Onee, with Miaka-san's back against my own. I pause to search out for any opposing Ki and then, shield our Ki from any who might wander in the night. Taking a cue from the two women on either side of me, I fall asleep.

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Okay, here's the second part! I hoped you enjoyed it. This part may seem a bit awkward, but it sets the tone and story line for the next chapter!