Chapter Four: The Hot Springs
A/N: ^^ I so couldn't figure out what to do with this part of Fushigi Yugi... But I finally decided, how I wanted things to work... XD So read and Review! ^_^ And BTW, thank you soo much for your reviews. ::Tackle glomps everyone who reviewed:: ^_^
My eyes flew open quite suddenly, to find myself looking into the perplexed face of Hotohori. "Ryuuen? Ryuuen, you're finally awake!" He said, the worry on his face quickly dissolving into contentment.
"Ehh? What happened?" I asked, shifting myself so I wasn't so close to the chestnut haired seishi... Being this close to him caused my heart to beat up a few speeds.... And it was a sensation I didn't need right now.
"You were out with Miaka and Tamahome, and they said you had just fainted.. They seem to not be aware of why this could have happened..." His expression drifted back to worry... He looked so concerned... 'Well of course he's concerned. You're so supposed to save his freakin' country...' A bitter voice reminded me, sending a rather dejected feeling through me. It shouldn't have though. I didn't like Hotohori. Not like that. Right?
"Oh, I'm fine... You don't have to worry..." I said, pulling myself into a sitting position. "Heyyyy Yourrr Majjjjessstyy! I think I've got an idea!!" The small girl halfway jumped into the room, a huge grin set firmly on her lips.
"Yes Miaka? What is it?"
"Wellllll..... What if we sent Ryuuen back to her own world? Ya know, she might be able to get better there!" The huge grin on her face clearly stated she was extremely pleased with this thought.
Hotohori chuckled at the girl's antics, before smiling, "That's an excellent suggestion, Miaka. Yet how... Taitskun! We shall travel to the land in which Taitskun dwells. She would know how to restore Ryuuen to her own world...." His voice faltered slightly, "Do you think you'll have enough strength to travel...?" His voice so soft, caring... I wouldn't blush. Nope. "I shall be by your side... As well at Miaka and Tamahome..."
I wouldn't blush. I could control my emotions... Or maybe I couldn't because I completely lost that internal battle, so I averted my eyes, trying to pretend like my face wasn't turning the color of freshly ripened tomatoes. "I'll be fine!" I managed to say, my voice coming out in an embarrassed squeak.
"However... you must promise me that you will return to this world, once you have recovered..." He said his voice sincere and somehow demanding that I meet those beautiful amber eyes of his.
"Of course I will." I informed them flashing a bright smile. Hotohori's smile broadened as he excused himself, to prepare for the journey, which he'd decided we'd have to start on immediately.
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Tamahome mounted the horse, before he helped Miaka onto it. It was obvious there was no room for me on their horse... I glanced around apprehensively way to nervous about this than I should have been... Not to mention my fever hadn't gone down at all. That's when Hotohori rode up, his horse looking almost as regal as the Emperor did... If that was even possible. He smiled down kindly, before offering me a hand. I pulled myself up, onto the horse in front of Hotohori... I felt more protected with him on the horse, than I'd ever felt while being driven around back in my own world... But I could hear my heart all the way in my ears. Being this close to Hotohori seemed to have this effect on me... It was an effect I needed to shake. I couldn't like him. I just couldn't.
We rode on passing various towns, until I felt like it would be forever until we dismounted. Not that the scenery wasn't gorgeous-Because it was. Konan was a beautiful country... And Hotohori chatted about various aspects of it as we passed.. However, I couldn't help but feel a bit sore after such a long ride.
When we finally did stop for the night, I nearly collapsed on the ground beside the fire, Tamahome had quickly built, closing my eyes with a sigh... It had only been a few brief minutes before Miaka plopped down besides me. "Still not feeling better, Ryuuen?" she asked, putting her hand on my forehead.
I nodded a sigh slipping from my lips, "Just don't tell them kay? I don't want Hotohori to make a fuss... I'll be alright..." The last thing I wanted was for the three of them to worry about me...
Miaka nodded, "Hey!" She burst out suddenly, "I know! You can take a bath in the hot spring! It's supposed to have healing powers!" She beamed, obviously thrilled to have discovered a solution to my problem. I laughed, nodding, "Where is this Hot Spring?" I asked, rising to my feet.. But even as I did, so a thought struck me. What if someone saw me...? I couldn't even bear to think of what would happen then...
"Well if you just follow that path you'll be fine! Do you want me to come with?" She offered, still motioning to the sub path near our campfire. I shook my head swiftly, "No, I'll be fine!" There was no way anyone was coming with me. I thanked Miaka, before walking off in the correct direction.
The spring was secluded by fir trees, which made me feel a bit more secure... not too much however. But neither Hotohori nor Tamahome knew where I was... So everything would be fine, right? Right.
I took a cautious look around, trying to ignore the throbbing in my head, as I undressed and slipped into the steaming water, enjoying the warm sensation that surrounded me. I undid the long braid I wore my hair in, allowing the long violet locks cascade down my back, before I closed my eyes and completely dunked under the warmth of the water.
I swam around a bit, slowly starting to feel my headache vanish as well as my strength return. Miaka had been right, about the healing powers... Time passed by quickly, and I could hear footsteps approaching the spring... And then Miaka's bright face popped through the trees. "Hey, Ryuuen! Hotohori wanted me to check on ya, since it's been at least an hour 'n a half since ya left!"
"Oh..." I said, my hands instinctively covering my chest, as I hid myself in the water. Miaka wouldn't see. There was no way I was going to let her. Although I barely knew her, I'd taken an instant liking to the bright eyes girl... She was so different from the people in my world. I wish I had her optimism...
"Come on Ryuu! Ya feeling' any better?!" She asked holding out my clothes. Oh crap. I'd have to be extremely careful... "I'm feeling a lot better. Thanks for telling me about this! My headache's pretty much gone! Uhm.. Can you toss me my clothes?" I asked, trying to keep the fretfulness I was feeling from my voice.
"Silly, you won't be able to catch them!" She informed me with a roll of her eyes. I sighed, swimming over towards her, keeping everything below my neck under the water, as I reached for my clothes.
"You're so modest, Ryuuen," She said handing them to me, "Now hurry up, or they'll think I'm the one who got lost!" With that Miaka turned around, chattering about how Tamahome was being particularly nice to her, and hadn't mentioned anything about money, for quite a while... I wasn't really paying attention though. I had quite a few worries of my own to think about at the moment. Like what if Miaka turned around? This was just to close... Why did I have to take so long? I was halfway through buttoning up my shirt, when the overly eager girl turned around. Oh no. Oh no... Miaka... She saw... I spun around away from her, eyes brimming with crystalline tears....
A/N: ^^ I know, I'm so awful. ^_^ I promise I'll update it as soon as I get three reviews. ^_~ Tee-Hee. And yes I am obsessed with reviews. XD ^_^ Fear me.
A/N: ^^ I so couldn't figure out what to do with this part of Fushigi Yugi... But I finally decided, how I wanted things to work... XD So read and Review! ^_^ And BTW, thank you soo much for your reviews. ::Tackle glomps everyone who reviewed:: ^_^
My eyes flew open quite suddenly, to find myself looking into the perplexed face of Hotohori. "Ryuuen? Ryuuen, you're finally awake!" He said, the worry on his face quickly dissolving into contentment.
"Ehh? What happened?" I asked, shifting myself so I wasn't so close to the chestnut haired seishi... Being this close to him caused my heart to beat up a few speeds.... And it was a sensation I didn't need right now.
"You were out with Miaka and Tamahome, and they said you had just fainted.. They seem to not be aware of why this could have happened..." His expression drifted back to worry... He looked so concerned... 'Well of course he's concerned. You're so supposed to save his freakin' country...' A bitter voice reminded me, sending a rather dejected feeling through me. It shouldn't have though. I didn't like Hotohori. Not like that. Right?
"Oh, I'm fine... You don't have to worry..." I said, pulling myself into a sitting position. "Heyyyy Yourrr Majjjjessstyy! I think I've got an idea!!" The small girl halfway jumped into the room, a huge grin set firmly on her lips.
"Yes Miaka? What is it?"
"Wellllll..... What if we sent Ryuuen back to her own world? Ya know, she might be able to get better there!" The huge grin on her face clearly stated she was extremely pleased with this thought.
Hotohori chuckled at the girl's antics, before smiling, "That's an excellent suggestion, Miaka. Yet how... Taitskun! We shall travel to the land in which Taitskun dwells. She would know how to restore Ryuuen to her own world...." His voice faltered slightly, "Do you think you'll have enough strength to travel...?" His voice so soft, caring... I wouldn't blush. Nope. "I shall be by your side... As well at Miaka and Tamahome..."
I wouldn't blush. I could control my emotions... Or maybe I couldn't because I completely lost that internal battle, so I averted my eyes, trying to pretend like my face wasn't turning the color of freshly ripened tomatoes. "I'll be fine!" I managed to say, my voice coming out in an embarrassed squeak.
"However... you must promise me that you will return to this world, once you have recovered..." He said his voice sincere and somehow demanding that I meet those beautiful amber eyes of his.
"Of course I will." I informed them flashing a bright smile. Hotohori's smile broadened as he excused himself, to prepare for the journey, which he'd decided we'd have to start on immediately.
------------------------------~*~------------------------~*~---------------------------
Tamahome mounted the horse, before he helped Miaka onto it. It was obvious there was no room for me on their horse... I glanced around apprehensively way to nervous about this than I should have been... Not to mention my fever hadn't gone down at all. That's when Hotohori rode up, his horse looking almost as regal as the Emperor did... If that was even possible. He smiled down kindly, before offering me a hand. I pulled myself up, onto the horse in front of Hotohori... I felt more protected with him on the horse, than I'd ever felt while being driven around back in my own world... But I could hear my heart all the way in my ears. Being this close to Hotohori seemed to have this effect on me... It was an effect I needed to shake. I couldn't like him. I just couldn't.
We rode on passing various towns, until I felt like it would be forever until we dismounted. Not that the scenery wasn't gorgeous-Because it was. Konan was a beautiful country... And Hotohori chatted about various aspects of it as we passed.. However, I couldn't help but feel a bit sore after such a long ride.
When we finally did stop for the night, I nearly collapsed on the ground beside the fire, Tamahome had quickly built, closing my eyes with a sigh... It had only been a few brief minutes before Miaka plopped down besides me. "Still not feeling better, Ryuuen?" she asked, putting her hand on my forehead.
I nodded a sigh slipping from my lips, "Just don't tell them kay? I don't want Hotohori to make a fuss... I'll be alright..." The last thing I wanted was for the three of them to worry about me...
Miaka nodded, "Hey!" She burst out suddenly, "I know! You can take a bath in the hot spring! It's supposed to have healing powers!" She beamed, obviously thrilled to have discovered a solution to my problem. I laughed, nodding, "Where is this Hot Spring?" I asked, rising to my feet.. But even as I did, so a thought struck me. What if someone saw me...? I couldn't even bear to think of what would happen then...
"Well if you just follow that path you'll be fine! Do you want me to come with?" She offered, still motioning to the sub path near our campfire. I shook my head swiftly, "No, I'll be fine!" There was no way anyone was coming with me. I thanked Miaka, before walking off in the correct direction.
The spring was secluded by fir trees, which made me feel a bit more secure... not too much however. But neither Hotohori nor Tamahome knew where I was... So everything would be fine, right? Right.
I took a cautious look around, trying to ignore the throbbing in my head, as I undressed and slipped into the steaming water, enjoying the warm sensation that surrounded me. I undid the long braid I wore my hair in, allowing the long violet locks cascade down my back, before I closed my eyes and completely dunked under the warmth of the water.
I swam around a bit, slowly starting to feel my headache vanish as well as my strength return. Miaka had been right, about the healing powers... Time passed by quickly, and I could hear footsteps approaching the spring... And then Miaka's bright face popped through the trees. "Hey, Ryuuen! Hotohori wanted me to check on ya, since it's been at least an hour 'n a half since ya left!"
"Oh..." I said, my hands instinctively covering my chest, as I hid myself in the water. Miaka wouldn't see. There was no way I was going to let her. Although I barely knew her, I'd taken an instant liking to the bright eyes girl... She was so different from the people in my world. I wish I had her optimism...
"Come on Ryuu! Ya feeling' any better?!" She asked holding out my clothes. Oh crap. I'd have to be extremely careful... "I'm feeling a lot better. Thanks for telling me about this! My headache's pretty much gone! Uhm.. Can you toss me my clothes?" I asked, trying to keep the fretfulness I was feeling from my voice.
"Silly, you won't be able to catch them!" She informed me with a roll of her eyes. I sighed, swimming over towards her, keeping everything below my neck under the water, as I reached for my clothes.
"You're so modest, Ryuuen," She said handing them to me, "Now hurry up, or they'll think I'm the one who got lost!" With that Miaka turned around, chattering about how Tamahome was being particularly nice to her, and hadn't mentioned anything about money, for quite a while... I wasn't really paying attention though. I had quite a few worries of my own to think about at the moment. Like what if Miaka turned around? This was just to close... Why did I have to take so long? I was halfway through buttoning up my shirt, when the overly eager girl turned around. Oh no. Oh no... Miaka... She saw... I spun around away from her, eyes brimming with crystalline tears....
A/N: ^^ I know, I'm so awful. ^_^ I promise I'll update it as soon as I get three reviews. ^_~ Tee-Hee. And yes I am obsessed with reviews. XD ^_^ Fear me.