Messing With Washuu's Inventions Has Advantages
Disclaimer: I don't own Fushigi Yuugi or Tenchi Muyo!, just like I don't own Elijah Wood or Orlando Bloom. I wish I did, but all I own a bunch of pictures and DVDs. And my ticket stub from seeing Return of the King on opening day. ^^
Tsumi: Okay minna, here's my Christmas present to all of you, one extremely-long chapter. And, please, for the love of God, review! I need more reviews, minna!
Chapter Fourteen: Eh? We. Have. To. What?
The ship landed quite hard on the rocks, and, after a few stunned moments, the passengers walked out onto the land. Kiyone blinked. "Where are we?"
Everyone else thought the same thing until Miaka screamed. Turning around, they were greeted with the sight of a corpse stuck to a tree by arrows.
Kiyone shuttered and closed her eyes, while Ryoko's narrowed dangerously. "What the hell?" She asked, as Ryo-ohki, perched on her shoulder, hissed.
Chiriko gave a startled gasp and turned to the group. "Minna, I think I know where we are! But if we are truly here, we are in serious danger."
"What do you mean that we're in danger?" Kiyone said, turning away from the corpse and shuttering again.
Chiriko shook his head. "No no, you, Ryoko and Miaka will be fine. The rest of us need to change into women's clothing."
Everyone blinked four times before Amiboshi said, "Excuse me?"
"Please, don't ask questions! I believe we're in the country of Nyousei."
"You mean, the one where all the people here are women?" Tamahome asked. Chiriko nodded.
"That's why the men in the group are in danger!"
"Wait, why would they be in danger?" Ryoko asked.
At that opportune moment, the character faded off of Chiriko's foot and he tripped. As he sat up he burst into tears. Everyone sweatdropped. "Ano . . . Chiriko . . . daijoubu?" Kiyone asked, kneeling besides the crying boy.
"Look!" Miaka said, pointing at Chiriko's foot. "His character faded away!"
"And without it, I don't know nothing." Chiriko hiccuped, wrapping his arms around Kiyone's neck and burying his face into her shoulder.
"Hey! I wanna hear the end of it! What happens to the men?!" Tasuki demanded.
"Forget it for now. Let's just do what Chiriko said." Miaka said.
A few minutes later . . .
"I honestly don't know why I gave this up!" Nuriko said, now in a dress similar to the one he wore when he first met Miaka.
Kiyone looked up from tying Chiriko's hair into buns and smiled. "You look good, Nuriko-chan."
Chichiri smiled. "I guess it's my turn, na no da!" And, using his magic, he transformed into a girl with blue hair in a Nyan-Nyan fashion and with wide mahogany eyes.
Miaka, Ryoko and Chiriko clapped. "Not bad, Chichiri!" Ryoko said.
"You're a real cutie!" Miaka added.
Nuriko frowned lightly. "I'm cuter!"
Kiyone looked down, a light blush on her features. "Kiyone? Daijoubu, no da?"
Kiyone looked back up through her lashes. "Um . . . yeah, I'm fine. I just . . ." she sighed. "I like the idea of you being a guy better."
"Oh! Here come the others! I tell you, it took forever to get them to look like women." Nuriko said, just as two very peeved Suzaku Seishi and one very peeved Seiryuu Seishi walked out. In dresses. With their hair done up in curls and flowers.
Ryoko and Miaka burst out laughing.
"Oh God, if only Hotohori was here!" Ryoko said, doubling over.
Tamahome turned scarlet and turned around. "Suzaku, this is embarrassing! The one I love having to see me like this!!!"
Tasuki was about to chew the two women out, when his voice got lost somewhere in his throat at the sight of Ryoko. She decided to change out of her baggy blue and yellow striped dress and into something that would leave no mistake in anyone's mind that she was truly female. Tasuki swallowed hard and turned slightly red. "Oh Suzaku . . ." he whispered.
Ryoko caught it and she smirked. "Done admiring, Gen-chan?" She asked, giving her hips a little flick.
Tasuki groaned, closed his eyes and tilted his head back. "Do all women tease like she does?" He asked no one in particular. Ryoko just grinned evilly.
Fortunately for Tasuki, someone decided to take his mind off of the matter.
"How do I look?" Mitsukake asked as he stepped into view. Everyone's eyes widened and they all paled.
Miaka and Ryoko held a censored screen over his face while Tasuki and Tamahome turned around. "That image is going to haunt me for the rest of my life!" Tamahome said.
"No one should have to see that . . . ever!" Tasuki said. "This is gonna bring nightmares!"
It was at that opportune moment that the bushes started to rustle, and out of them stepped out a group of women all dressed in warrior armor. "You! What are you doing here!!!" The leader said.
"Wow! You're all women!" Ryoko and Miaka said at the same time. When the leader raised an eyebrow, Kiyone quickly continued for them.
"Uh, we mean you no harm. We were just passing though to Hokkan when we were caught in a storm . . ."
"They're all women, mistress." The woman on the leader's right said.
The leader's eyes narrowed. "No. There's a man here." All of the men in the group tensed as her eyes traveled over all of them before stopping. "You!"
Mitsukake blinked. "Surely you couldn't mean little me?"
"Of course I mean you!" And with that, Mitsukake was dragged away.
Tasuki was shaking with relief. "O-Oh m'goodness! That was a man?!" He said in a high pitched voice. Ryoko started to laugh when Kiyone elbowed her hard in the ribs, cutting off the sound.
"He fooled little me!" Tamahome added.
The leader frowned as she stared at the group as they gathered and began whispering to each other. "What do we do? They caught Mitsukake!" Miaka whispered harshly.
"You all will have to follow me to see the queen." The leader said, walking back the way she came. Reluctantly, the group followed.
Once they reached the city dwelling and led into the throne room, they were presented before the queen. "Mother, these women came from Konan in the south, and it seems that one of them is the Suzaku no Miko."
The queen looked at them for a long time before saying, "Suzaku no Miko . . . I have heard much of you. Welcome to Nyousei." She smiled. "Since your visit is such a rare occasion, I hope you will extend your stay."
"I, well, actually . . ." Miaka started when Kiyone nudged her in the ribs.
"We still have to rescue Mitsukake! We can't waste time . . ." She whispered.
"But first, we should have a feast in honor of your arrival." The queen said.
Miaka smiled before turning to the group. "It would be rude to refuse their hospitality!"
Ryoko sweatdropped. "Thinking with her stomach and not her head." She muttered as they were led to another room where the fantastic feast was being held.
"Please! Eat to your heart's content!" One of the women said, laying down another plate on the table.
"Th-thank ya!" Tasuki said as his sake bowl was filled again.
One very beautiful woman approached Tamahome. "Would you like to try some rice wine? It's a specialty of our land." She filled up his bowl. "See? Doesn't it warm you up?"
Tamahome had a blush over his features and seemed to be in heaven. "Huh? Oh yeah! Like a furnace . . ."
Miaka growled before kicking his leg, causing him to choke on the wine he was drinking. Ryoko snickered behind her hand. "You deserved it, Obake-chan." He glared at her as she returned to her meal.
"Wow, this place reminds me of Hotohori's inner seraglio." Nuriko said, taking a delicate sip of his wine.
Amiboshi shifted uncomfortably in his dress. Kiyone touched his hand gently and said, "Don't squirm too much; it'll seem suspicious."
He sighed before eating a bit of his rice. "I'm sorry. I just feel . . . like a transitive in this." Kiyone laughed slightly behind her hand before giving him a smile.
"Make sure that Nuriko-chan doesn't hear you say that." He smiled back and returned to his meal.
"Ano . . ." Miaka said, stopping one of the women. "I was wondering about the man you took away."
"Him? Oh he's in the dungeons." The woman answered. She smiled and said, "You know if you're going to Hokkan, you've strayed quite a bit, but you know, this is actually a short-cut."
Miaka nearly choked on her food. "So you can get there from here?!" She exclaimed.
"There's only one way. Below the western castle wall, you can ford the canal and get to Hokkan. It's been sealed off to prevent foreign invaders from getting in."
"And where is that . . .?"
"You'd never make it down! It's a cliff you know!" Another woman tapped her arm and whispered something in her ear. "I believe your rooms are ready." She said, standing up.
The group was lead from the dining room and down a hall. "What do we do?" Miaka asked.
"I think we might have to take that path." Kiyone said.
"Don't worry. You all are exhausted. I'll take care of Mitsukake, no da." Chichiri said. They were all separated into rooms, but since there were only four available, they had to pair up into groups: Miaka and Tamahome, Nuriko, Amiboshi and Chichiri, Tasuki and Chiriko, and finally Ryoko and Kiyone.
As the two time travelers were getting settled to sleep, Kiyone started to speak. "Ne, Ryoko?"
"Nani?" was the gruff reply.
"Ano . . . can you describe what you have with Tasuki?"
Ryoko blinked and smiled slightly. "Tasuki . . . well, it's similar to what I wanted to have with Tenchi." A look of grief passed over her face but quickly passed. "That's not important though. I'm having fun, and I know Tasuki is too. I feel so . . . free, and I know he knows. I mean, he knows what I feel because our personalities are so similar."
Kiyone laughed slightly. "I know. They're so close, it's almost scary."
"Anyway, it's comforting in a way, because I don't have to explain what I felt when I do something, because he knows."
Kiyone smiled, folding her arms behind her head. "It sounds nice."
Ryoko smiled too before an idea struck her. "What's with the personal questions?" Kiyone blushed lightly, but Ryoko saw it. "You have a crush on someone, don't you?" She teased.
"I, er, uh . . ." Kiyone said.
"I know that look!" Ryoko pressed. "C'mon, who is it?"
"I . . . It's not important." Kiyone said quickly, rolling over to her side.
"Tell me!" Ryoko whined. "Is it Nuriko?"
Kiyone blinked before facing the demon again. "Of course not. Nuriko-chan's is my best friend, nothing more!" She said, a blush on her face.
"Then, who? Tamahome?"
"No. He's happy with Miaka."
"Please don't tell me it's Mitsukake."
"Nuh-uh."
"What about Amiboshi?"
Kiyone bit her lip lightly. "I know he has a crush on me, but I can't return anything he has for me. I mean, he's around, what, fifteen? And I'm twenty-two!"
"True, true." Ryoko said. "Still haven't answered, who is it? Chichiri?" Kiyone grew silent and Ryoko smiled. "It is him!"
Kiyone turned bright red. "Ano . . ." Ryoko decided after a few moments she wasn't getting anything more than that embarrassed answer and left Kiyone alone.
After a few minutes, Kiyone spoke up. "So, it's almost done."
"What's almost done?" Ryoko asked.
"Once Miaka gets the Shinzaho, she'll be able to summon Suzaku, and we get to go home." Ryoko shifted uncomfortably. "Ryoko?"
"Well, I don't know if I want to go back." She admitted quietly. "I mean, what is there for me back there, other than a bounty on my head and a prissy princess?" She sighed. "Here, at least, I know people care for me, and want me around."
"Ryoko, are you saying that you might purposely do . . . er . . . something to ruin your chances of going back to our world?"
"You know . . . I just might."
It was at that moment that there was a loud knocking at the door. "Ryo-chan, Kiyone, get your butts out of bed! Chiriko turned sane again and says we've got trouble!" Tasuki's voice floated through the door. Kiyone and Ryoko quickly changed and let everyone else into their room.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"A matriarchy?" Kiyone asked as Chiriko finished his explination.
Chiriko nodded. "The men are chained, their eyes are gouged out, and then they are enslaved!"
"And anyone who resists is executed on the spot?" Amiboshi asked. Chiriko nodded again.
"You've gotta be kidding! You expect me to hear a story like that and stay sober?!" Tasuki said, pouring Ryoko, Tamahome and himself a bowl of wine.
Just as they took a sip, Chiriko spoke up, "Did I mention one of their ingredients in their liquor is eyeballs?" Three pairs of eyes widened and hastily spit out the liquid.
"We have to escape, now!" Miaka exclaimed.
"I agree. Let's find Chichiri and Mitsukake and get out of this hell hole." Kiyone said.
Ryoko stood up and poked her head out of the doorway, hearing the pounding of feet down the hallway. "Chichiri?! Mitsukake?!" She exclaimed. Everyone else poked their heads through the doorway and saw not only the two Shichiseishi, but also a band of women chasing after them.
"Come back here you . . . you men!" One of them yelled.
Everyone paled and Miaka yelled, "Run!"
"They're all men! I want them caught!" The leader said.
Miaka glared at them. "Take that back! I'm all woman!"
"That's right!" Ryoko and Kiyone yelled.
"How dare you?!" Nuriko yelled.
Tamahome wacked him behind the head. "You're a guy, remember?!"
"You wonder why I hate women!" Tasuki yelled.
"And I swore to never hit a girl!" Tamahome said.
"We have to split up!" Kiyone yelled. "We'll regroup at the castle's west wall; there's a path to Hokkan there!"
"Miaka! You, Ryoko and Kiyone head straight there! We'll act as decoys!" Tamahome said.
"Demo!" Miaka said.
"Go, no da!" Chichiri cut in. "Even if they catch you three, they won't do anything because you're women, na no da!" Miaka still hesitated.
"We'll be fine!" Tamahome said, "Hurry up and go!"
"Okay!" With that, the three women left.
As they ran, they came to a split in the hallway. "Which way do we go?!"
"Kiyone, you go with Miaka down the right one, I'll go left."
"Are you sure, Ryoko?"
She gave a know-it-all grin. "Don't worry, I can defend myself if worse comes to worse."
". . . . .Okay, be careful." And Ryoko left the group.
After a few minutes, Kiyone and Miaka arrived at the outside of the palace. "Well, at least we got out of there, but . . . where's the west castle wall?" Miaka asked.
"They couldn't have gone far!" One of the women's voices yelled.
"Oh no!" Miaka exclaimed. "What do we do, Kiyone?"
Any response Kiyone was going to give was cut off when a hand grabbed her shoulder and pulled her backwards into the bushes, along with Miaka.
The women after them passed by and both Kiyone and Miaka let out a sigh of relief. They both turned to face their rescuer. "I think they've gone." she smiled.
"Ano . . . who are you?" Miaka asked.
"I'm Kaen, a traveler from the west." she said.
Kiyone frowned lightly. /I'm getting deja vu here . . ./ Outward she said, "Why did you help us?"
"About a month ago, I was . . . on my way to Hokkan, when my ship drifted onto the shore of this island. Because I'm a woman, they welcomed me, but the won't allow me to leave. Then I heard about your group and hoped that you would take me with you." Kaen said.
"Then you're more than welcome to come with us! I'm Yuuki Miaka and this is Makibi Kiyone. We're going to the west castle wall to meet everyone else there!"
"Wonderful!" Kaen said. "Thank you, Miaka."
The three of them ran, following Kaen, to the west castle wall, trying their best to not be caught by any of the female guards. And, lucky enough for them, they made it to their destination. Miaka put her hands on her knees, breathing deeply. "We made it! Is everyone okay?"
Kiyone nodded. "We're fine, Miaka."
"Finally! It took you guys long enough! I was beginning to think that you all had been captured!"
Turning to where the new voice originated from, Miaka and Kiyone smiled. "Ryoko! You made it out alright!"
Ryoko gave a cocky grin. "Never doubt the great Ryoko-sama!" She then looked at Kaen. "And who the hell is this?"
Miaka laughed. "This is Kaen. She was shipwrecked here and I offered to take her with us."
Ryoko walked up to Kaen and stared her directly in the eye. "You know . . . you seem awfully familiar." She stared at Kaen for a moment longer before shrugging it off.
"Tamahome and the others should have been here by now . . ." Miaka said, looking worriedly at the stairway. "Um, minna, can you wait here? I need to go check on the others."
"I'll come with you." Ryoko volunteered.
"By all means, go." Kaen said and when Miaka and Ryoko's back turned to her, her smile became wicked. "That is if you can go." she raised one hand to the sky. "Suzaku no miko!" And a bolt of lightning came down from the sky, striking the place where Miaka and Ryoko were.
Miaka shuttered as Ryoko put her down on the ground, a foot away from where they previously were. "That was close." Miaka muttered.
Kaen laughed. "Suzaku no miko . . . you and your friend avoided that well."
Kiyone joined them and finally made the connection. "That lightning . . . you . . . you must be."
"Seiyuu Shichiseishi Soi!" Kaen, or Soi, said. "Suzaku no miko, you and your friends will go no further towards Hokkan."
"The hell we won't!" Ryoko yelled back.
Soi just smirked. "I wanted to kill all of you together, but you three will do for now." She raised her hand toward the sky again. "Haku Jinrai OH!"
"Miaka! Move!" Kiyone shoved Miaka out of the way of a lightning bolt directed for her, but forgot to worry about herself. Her eyes went wide and a scream tore from her throat as she herself being electrocuted from the inside outward.
"Kiyone!" Miaka screamed as she fell to the ground, unconscious.
"Holy Sh*t, Kiyone!" Ryoko yelled. Miaka fell beside Kiyone, trying to shake her awake. She growled and turned to face Soi. "You bitch!"
Soi just laughed. "Your friend was a fool!" She raised a hand to the sky again. "And you two will be next!"
Miaka stood up, Hotohori's Deity Sword in hand. "Miaka, are you f&^%ing crazy?!" Ryoko yelled. "That sword's gonna attract the lightning!"
True to her word, a lightning bolt struck the Deity Sword Miaka was holding. Soi laughed as Ryoko and Tamahome, who had arrived, yelled out Miaka's name. It was then, as everyone was watching, that the lightning gathered on the blade and Miaka flung it back towards her aggressor. Soi screamed and with one last glare, took off.
Miaka dropped the sword and kneeled beside Kiyone. "Kiyone! Wake up!"
"Damnit, Kiyone! Open your f&^%ing eyes!" Ryoko yelled at her. Yet, Kiyone still didn't respond.
Tamahome ran to where the two women were kneeling and checked Kiyone's pulse. "She's still alive . . . but barely."
Amiboshi also arrived and his eyes widened. "Kiyone-san!" He yelled, sprinting over, Chichiri not far behind.
"Kiyone, hold on, no da! Mitsukake should be here soon na no da!" Chichiri said, worry evident on his ever-cheerful face.
Kiyone's breath, which had been labored, slowed before stopping. "Damnit, Kiyone! Don't die on us now!" Ryoko yelled.
Amiboshi felt tears in his eyes. "Kiyone-san . . ." He whispered.
The scream of her name from his voice echoed throughout the entire castle.
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AN: Oh please! Did you honestly think I'd be that cruel to leave it at that kind of cliff hanger?
As Amiboshi sobbed, Mitsukake arrived, and almost clumsily in his haste, he held out his hand and a familiar green glow surrounded Kiyone's body. When it died down, everyone could see that the color had come back to Kiyone's face and, that, she was breathing again. Her eyes flickered open and she stared up at the group.
"Kiyone-san!" Amiboshi said, relief apparent in his voice.
She blinked a few times before sitting up slowly because of the sudden headache, and smiled at Mitsukake. "Thank you. This makes two I owe you, ne?" She leaned against Nuriko as she stood up.
"Kiyone, don't do something that f&^%ing stupid ever again!" Ryoko yelled. Kiyone laughed slightly, just as she caught sight of something.
"Okay, am I going crazy or is there land over there?" She said, looking beyond the wall.
"There is! It must be Hokkan!" Miaka exclaimed.
"Yet there is no way for you to get there." The group turned and was met with the women of Nyousei. "None of you will make it off of this island alive."
"Oh damn!" Ryoko said.
"You'll see that the wall leads to steep cliffs. You have no where to run." The leader said.
"Damnit, we're almost there!" Tasuki said.
"Once we've gouged out your eyes, you'll all make fine slaves." She continued. "And the liquor brewed from your eyeballs should be delicious!"
"You talk big, but I gotta warn you!" Tamahome said. "Any drink made from my eyeballs is gonna make you dirt poor! Are you sure you can risk it?!"
Everyone sweatdropped. "Tamahome . . . threats aren't your forte, are they?" Nuriko said.
Chiriko tapped Chichiri's shoulder. "Chichiri, could you distract them? A moment would do." At the questioning glance, Chiriko added, "I have an idea!"
"All right!" Chichiri said, throwing his kesa over them.
"Everyone! We have to dive in and swim for shore! Don't worry, the water's deep enough, you won't be hurt."
The group of eleven did as they were told, Tasuki paling at the thought of water, and dove in. All of them swam for the shore of Hokkan, Ryoko and Nuriko helping Tasuki and Kiyone. Once they all reached shore, Chiriko yelled. "There's a place we have to get to! Hurry!" As they all ran from the shore, Chiriko suddenly stopped. "If my calculations are correct, it should happen soon."
The women of Nyousei had reached shore and started to run after the group of eleven when the water from the sea suddenly washed upon them and drug them back. "That should delay them a bit. Let's get going, a small flood won't hurt them." Chiriko said.
"H-how did you know?" Miaka asked.
"I merely observed the tides. A flood tide was inevitable today." Chiriko explained. "When the moon and sun align, the combined tides cause the canal to flow backwards . . ."
"Top notch thinkin', Chiriko!" Tasuki said, slapping him behind the head. At that moment, the character faded off of Chiriko's foot.
"Was I saying something?" Tasuki fell over.
Kiyone smiled. "Finally! We're in Hokkan!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Phew! Damn, writing that much is hard.
Burnedshadow: Ne, don't worry! It was up maybe a day before you reviewed. *sweatdrop* Hope that this chapter was up to your expectations!
SessyRyo: Again, I think you had a little too much sugar when you wrote your review, Sessy-chan . . . And won't you be surprised what happened to Ayeka. *evil laugh*
Shiroi Hikari: Oh! Thank you for adding me to your favorites list! ^-^
Disclaimer: I don't own Fushigi Yuugi or Tenchi Muyo!, just like I don't own Elijah Wood or Orlando Bloom. I wish I did, but all I own a bunch of pictures and DVDs. And my ticket stub from seeing Return of the King on opening day. ^^
Tsumi: Okay minna, here's my Christmas present to all of you, one extremely-long chapter. And, please, for the love of God, review! I need more reviews, minna!
Chapter Fourteen: Eh? We. Have. To. What?
The ship landed quite hard on the rocks, and, after a few stunned moments, the passengers walked out onto the land. Kiyone blinked. "Where are we?"
Everyone else thought the same thing until Miaka screamed. Turning around, they were greeted with the sight of a corpse stuck to a tree by arrows.
Kiyone shuttered and closed her eyes, while Ryoko's narrowed dangerously. "What the hell?" She asked, as Ryo-ohki, perched on her shoulder, hissed.
Chiriko gave a startled gasp and turned to the group. "Minna, I think I know where we are! But if we are truly here, we are in serious danger."
"What do you mean that we're in danger?" Kiyone said, turning away from the corpse and shuttering again.
Chiriko shook his head. "No no, you, Ryoko and Miaka will be fine. The rest of us need to change into women's clothing."
Everyone blinked four times before Amiboshi said, "Excuse me?"
"Please, don't ask questions! I believe we're in the country of Nyousei."
"You mean, the one where all the people here are women?" Tamahome asked. Chiriko nodded.
"That's why the men in the group are in danger!"
"Wait, why would they be in danger?" Ryoko asked.
At that opportune moment, the character faded off of Chiriko's foot and he tripped. As he sat up he burst into tears. Everyone sweatdropped. "Ano . . . Chiriko . . . daijoubu?" Kiyone asked, kneeling besides the crying boy.
"Look!" Miaka said, pointing at Chiriko's foot. "His character faded away!"
"And without it, I don't know nothing." Chiriko hiccuped, wrapping his arms around Kiyone's neck and burying his face into her shoulder.
"Hey! I wanna hear the end of it! What happens to the men?!" Tasuki demanded.
"Forget it for now. Let's just do what Chiriko said." Miaka said.
A few minutes later . . .
"I honestly don't know why I gave this up!" Nuriko said, now in a dress similar to the one he wore when he first met Miaka.
Kiyone looked up from tying Chiriko's hair into buns and smiled. "You look good, Nuriko-chan."
Chichiri smiled. "I guess it's my turn, na no da!" And, using his magic, he transformed into a girl with blue hair in a Nyan-Nyan fashion and with wide mahogany eyes.
Miaka, Ryoko and Chiriko clapped. "Not bad, Chichiri!" Ryoko said.
"You're a real cutie!" Miaka added.
Nuriko frowned lightly. "I'm cuter!"
Kiyone looked down, a light blush on her features. "Kiyone? Daijoubu, no da?"
Kiyone looked back up through her lashes. "Um . . . yeah, I'm fine. I just . . ." she sighed. "I like the idea of you being a guy better."
"Oh! Here come the others! I tell you, it took forever to get them to look like women." Nuriko said, just as two very peeved Suzaku Seishi and one very peeved Seiryuu Seishi walked out. In dresses. With their hair done up in curls and flowers.
Ryoko and Miaka burst out laughing.
"Oh God, if only Hotohori was here!" Ryoko said, doubling over.
Tamahome turned scarlet and turned around. "Suzaku, this is embarrassing! The one I love having to see me like this!!!"
Tasuki was about to chew the two women out, when his voice got lost somewhere in his throat at the sight of Ryoko. She decided to change out of her baggy blue and yellow striped dress and into something that would leave no mistake in anyone's mind that she was truly female. Tasuki swallowed hard and turned slightly red. "Oh Suzaku . . ." he whispered.
Ryoko caught it and she smirked. "Done admiring, Gen-chan?" She asked, giving her hips a little flick.
Tasuki groaned, closed his eyes and tilted his head back. "Do all women tease like she does?" He asked no one in particular. Ryoko just grinned evilly.
Fortunately for Tasuki, someone decided to take his mind off of the matter.
"How do I look?" Mitsukake asked as he stepped into view. Everyone's eyes widened and they all paled.
Miaka and Ryoko held a censored screen over his face while Tasuki and Tamahome turned around. "That image is going to haunt me for the rest of my life!" Tamahome said.
"No one should have to see that . . . ever!" Tasuki said. "This is gonna bring nightmares!"
It was at that opportune moment that the bushes started to rustle, and out of them stepped out a group of women all dressed in warrior armor. "You! What are you doing here!!!" The leader said.
"Wow! You're all women!" Ryoko and Miaka said at the same time. When the leader raised an eyebrow, Kiyone quickly continued for them.
"Uh, we mean you no harm. We were just passing though to Hokkan when we were caught in a storm . . ."
"They're all women, mistress." The woman on the leader's right said.
The leader's eyes narrowed. "No. There's a man here." All of the men in the group tensed as her eyes traveled over all of them before stopping. "You!"
Mitsukake blinked. "Surely you couldn't mean little me?"
"Of course I mean you!" And with that, Mitsukake was dragged away.
Tasuki was shaking with relief. "O-Oh m'goodness! That was a man?!" He said in a high pitched voice. Ryoko started to laugh when Kiyone elbowed her hard in the ribs, cutting off the sound.
"He fooled little me!" Tamahome added.
The leader frowned as she stared at the group as they gathered and began whispering to each other. "What do we do? They caught Mitsukake!" Miaka whispered harshly.
"You all will have to follow me to see the queen." The leader said, walking back the way she came. Reluctantly, the group followed.
Once they reached the city dwelling and led into the throne room, they were presented before the queen. "Mother, these women came from Konan in the south, and it seems that one of them is the Suzaku no Miko."
The queen looked at them for a long time before saying, "Suzaku no Miko . . . I have heard much of you. Welcome to Nyousei." She smiled. "Since your visit is such a rare occasion, I hope you will extend your stay."
"I, well, actually . . ." Miaka started when Kiyone nudged her in the ribs.
"We still have to rescue Mitsukake! We can't waste time . . ." She whispered.
"But first, we should have a feast in honor of your arrival." The queen said.
Miaka smiled before turning to the group. "It would be rude to refuse their hospitality!"
Ryoko sweatdropped. "Thinking with her stomach and not her head." She muttered as they were led to another room where the fantastic feast was being held.
"Please! Eat to your heart's content!" One of the women said, laying down another plate on the table.
"Th-thank ya!" Tasuki said as his sake bowl was filled again.
One very beautiful woman approached Tamahome. "Would you like to try some rice wine? It's a specialty of our land." She filled up his bowl. "See? Doesn't it warm you up?"
Tamahome had a blush over his features and seemed to be in heaven. "Huh? Oh yeah! Like a furnace . . ."
Miaka growled before kicking his leg, causing him to choke on the wine he was drinking. Ryoko snickered behind her hand. "You deserved it, Obake-chan." He glared at her as she returned to her meal.
"Wow, this place reminds me of Hotohori's inner seraglio." Nuriko said, taking a delicate sip of his wine.
Amiboshi shifted uncomfortably in his dress. Kiyone touched his hand gently and said, "Don't squirm too much; it'll seem suspicious."
He sighed before eating a bit of his rice. "I'm sorry. I just feel . . . like a transitive in this." Kiyone laughed slightly behind her hand before giving him a smile.
"Make sure that Nuriko-chan doesn't hear you say that." He smiled back and returned to his meal.
"Ano . . ." Miaka said, stopping one of the women. "I was wondering about the man you took away."
"Him? Oh he's in the dungeons." The woman answered. She smiled and said, "You know if you're going to Hokkan, you've strayed quite a bit, but you know, this is actually a short-cut."
Miaka nearly choked on her food. "So you can get there from here?!" She exclaimed.
"There's only one way. Below the western castle wall, you can ford the canal and get to Hokkan. It's been sealed off to prevent foreign invaders from getting in."
"And where is that . . .?"
"You'd never make it down! It's a cliff you know!" Another woman tapped her arm and whispered something in her ear. "I believe your rooms are ready." She said, standing up.
The group was lead from the dining room and down a hall. "What do we do?" Miaka asked.
"I think we might have to take that path." Kiyone said.
"Don't worry. You all are exhausted. I'll take care of Mitsukake, no da." Chichiri said. They were all separated into rooms, but since there were only four available, they had to pair up into groups: Miaka and Tamahome, Nuriko, Amiboshi and Chichiri, Tasuki and Chiriko, and finally Ryoko and Kiyone.
As the two time travelers were getting settled to sleep, Kiyone started to speak. "Ne, Ryoko?"
"Nani?" was the gruff reply.
"Ano . . . can you describe what you have with Tasuki?"
Ryoko blinked and smiled slightly. "Tasuki . . . well, it's similar to what I wanted to have with Tenchi." A look of grief passed over her face but quickly passed. "That's not important though. I'm having fun, and I know Tasuki is too. I feel so . . . free, and I know he knows. I mean, he knows what I feel because our personalities are so similar."
Kiyone laughed slightly. "I know. They're so close, it's almost scary."
"Anyway, it's comforting in a way, because I don't have to explain what I felt when I do something, because he knows."
Kiyone smiled, folding her arms behind her head. "It sounds nice."
Ryoko smiled too before an idea struck her. "What's with the personal questions?" Kiyone blushed lightly, but Ryoko saw it. "You have a crush on someone, don't you?" She teased.
"I, er, uh . . ." Kiyone said.
"I know that look!" Ryoko pressed. "C'mon, who is it?"
"I . . . It's not important." Kiyone said quickly, rolling over to her side.
"Tell me!" Ryoko whined. "Is it Nuriko?"
Kiyone blinked before facing the demon again. "Of course not. Nuriko-chan's is my best friend, nothing more!" She said, a blush on her face.
"Then, who? Tamahome?"
"No. He's happy with Miaka."
"Please don't tell me it's Mitsukake."
"Nuh-uh."
"What about Amiboshi?"
Kiyone bit her lip lightly. "I know he has a crush on me, but I can't return anything he has for me. I mean, he's around, what, fifteen? And I'm twenty-two!"
"True, true." Ryoko said. "Still haven't answered, who is it? Chichiri?" Kiyone grew silent and Ryoko smiled. "It is him!"
Kiyone turned bright red. "Ano . . ." Ryoko decided after a few moments she wasn't getting anything more than that embarrassed answer and left Kiyone alone.
After a few minutes, Kiyone spoke up. "So, it's almost done."
"What's almost done?" Ryoko asked.
"Once Miaka gets the Shinzaho, she'll be able to summon Suzaku, and we get to go home." Ryoko shifted uncomfortably. "Ryoko?"
"Well, I don't know if I want to go back." She admitted quietly. "I mean, what is there for me back there, other than a bounty on my head and a prissy princess?" She sighed. "Here, at least, I know people care for me, and want me around."
"Ryoko, are you saying that you might purposely do . . . er . . . something to ruin your chances of going back to our world?"
"You know . . . I just might."
It was at that moment that there was a loud knocking at the door. "Ryo-chan, Kiyone, get your butts out of bed! Chiriko turned sane again and says we've got trouble!" Tasuki's voice floated through the door. Kiyone and Ryoko quickly changed and let everyone else into their room.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"A matriarchy?" Kiyone asked as Chiriko finished his explination.
Chiriko nodded. "The men are chained, their eyes are gouged out, and then they are enslaved!"
"And anyone who resists is executed on the spot?" Amiboshi asked. Chiriko nodded again.
"You've gotta be kidding! You expect me to hear a story like that and stay sober?!" Tasuki said, pouring Ryoko, Tamahome and himself a bowl of wine.
Just as they took a sip, Chiriko spoke up, "Did I mention one of their ingredients in their liquor is eyeballs?" Three pairs of eyes widened and hastily spit out the liquid.
"We have to escape, now!" Miaka exclaimed.
"I agree. Let's find Chichiri and Mitsukake and get out of this hell hole." Kiyone said.
Ryoko stood up and poked her head out of the doorway, hearing the pounding of feet down the hallway. "Chichiri?! Mitsukake?!" She exclaimed. Everyone else poked their heads through the doorway and saw not only the two Shichiseishi, but also a band of women chasing after them.
"Come back here you . . . you men!" One of them yelled.
Everyone paled and Miaka yelled, "Run!"
"They're all men! I want them caught!" The leader said.
Miaka glared at them. "Take that back! I'm all woman!"
"That's right!" Ryoko and Kiyone yelled.
"How dare you?!" Nuriko yelled.
Tamahome wacked him behind the head. "You're a guy, remember?!"
"You wonder why I hate women!" Tasuki yelled.
"And I swore to never hit a girl!" Tamahome said.
"We have to split up!" Kiyone yelled. "We'll regroup at the castle's west wall; there's a path to Hokkan there!"
"Miaka! You, Ryoko and Kiyone head straight there! We'll act as decoys!" Tamahome said.
"Demo!" Miaka said.
"Go, no da!" Chichiri cut in. "Even if they catch you three, they won't do anything because you're women, na no da!" Miaka still hesitated.
"We'll be fine!" Tamahome said, "Hurry up and go!"
"Okay!" With that, the three women left.
As they ran, they came to a split in the hallway. "Which way do we go?!"
"Kiyone, you go with Miaka down the right one, I'll go left."
"Are you sure, Ryoko?"
She gave a know-it-all grin. "Don't worry, I can defend myself if worse comes to worse."
". . . . .Okay, be careful." And Ryoko left the group.
After a few minutes, Kiyone and Miaka arrived at the outside of the palace. "Well, at least we got out of there, but . . . where's the west castle wall?" Miaka asked.
"They couldn't have gone far!" One of the women's voices yelled.
"Oh no!" Miaka exclaimed. "What do we do, Kiyone?"
Any response Kiyone was going to give was cut off when a hand grabbed her shoulder and pulled her backwards into the bushes, along with Miaka.
The women after them passed by and both Kiyone and Miaka let out a sigh of relief. They both turned to face their rescuer. "I think they've gone." she smiled.
"Ano . . . who are you?" Miaka asked.
"I'm Kaen, a traveler from the west." she said.
Kiyone frowned lightly. /I'm getting deja vu here . . ./ Outward she said, "Why did you help us?"
"About a month ago, I was . . . on my way to Hokkan, when my ship drifted onto the shore of this island. Because I'm a woman, they welcomed me, but the won't allow me to leave. Then I heard about your group and hoped that you would take me with you." Kaen said.
"Then you're more than welcome to come with us! I'm Yuuki Miaka and this is Makibi Kiyone. We're going to the west castle wall to meet everyone else there!"
"Wonderful!" Kaen said. "Thank you, Miaka."
The three of them ran, following Kaen, to the west castle wall, trying their best to not be caught by any of the female guards. And, lucky enough for them, they made it to their destination. Miaka put her hands on her knees, breathing deeply. "We made it! Is everyone okay?"
Kiyone nodded. "We're fine, Miaka."
"Finally! It took you guys long enough! I was beginning to think that you all had been captured!"
Turning to where the new voice originated from, Miaka and Kiyone smiled. "Ryoko! You made it out alright!"
Ryoko gave a cocky grin. "Never doubt the great Ryoko-sama!" She then looked at Kaen. "And who the hell is this?"
Miaka laughed. "This is Kaen. She was shipwrecked here and I offered to take her with us."
Ryoko walked up to Kaen and stared her directly in the eye. "You know . . . you seem awfully familiar." She stared at Kaen for a moment longer before shrugging it off.
"Tamahome and the others should have been here by now . . ." Miaka said, looking worriedly at the stairway. "Um, minna, can you wait here? I need to go check on the others."
"I'll come with you." Ryoko volunteered.
"By all means, go." Kaen said and when Miaka and Ryoko's back turned to her, her smile became wicked. "That is if you can go." she raised one hand to the sky. "Suzaku no miko!" And a bolt of lightning came down from the sky, striking the place where Miaka and Ryoko were.
Miaka shuttered as Ryoko put her down on the ground, a foot away from where they previously were. "That was close." Miaka muttered.
Kaen laughed. "Suzaku no miko . . . you and your friend avoided that well."
Kiyone joined them and finally made the connection. "That lightning . . . you . . . you must be."
"Seiyuu Shichiseishi Soi!" Kaen, or Soi, said. "Suzaku no miko, you and your friends will go no further towards Hokkan."
"The hell we won't!" Ryoko yelled back.
Soi just smirked. "I wanted to kill all of you together, but you three will do for now." She raised her hand toward the sky again. "Haku Jinrai OH!"
"Miaka! Move!" Kiyone shoved Miaka out of the way of a lightning bolt directed for her, but forgot to worry about herself. Her eyes went wide and a scream tore from her throat as she herself being electrocuted from the inside outward.
"Kiyone!" Miaka screamed as she fell to the ground, unconscious.
"Holy Sh*t, Kiyone!" Ryoko yelled. Miaka fell beside Kiyone, trying to shake her awake. She growled and turned to face Soi. "You bitch!"
Soi just laughed. "Your friend was a fool!" She raised a hand to the sky again. "And you two will be next!"
Miaka stood up, Hotohori's Deity Sword in hand. "Miaka, are you f&^%ing crazy?!" Ryoko yelled. "That sword's gonna attract the lightning!"
True to her word, a lightning bolt struck the Deity Sword Miaka was holding. Soi laughed as Ryoko and Tamahome, who had arrived, yelled out Miaka's name. It was then, as everyone was watching, that the lightning gathered on the blade and Miaka flung it back towards her aggressor. Soi screamed and with one last glare, took off.
Miaka dropped the sword and kneeled beside Kiyone. "Kiyone! Wake up!"
"Damnit, Kiyone! Open your f&^%ing eyes!" Ryoko yelled at her. Yet, Kiyone still didn't respond.
Tamahome ran to where the two women were kneeling and checked Kiyone's pulse. "She's still alive . . . but barely."
Amiboshi also arrived and his eyes widened. "Kiyone-san!" He yelled, sprinting over, Chichiri not far behind.
"Kiyone, hold on, no da! Mitsukake should be here soon na no da!" Chichiri said, worry evident on his ever-cheerful face.
Kiyone's breath, which had been labored, slowed before stopping. "Damnit, Kiyone! Don't die on us now!" Ryoko yelled.
Amiboshi felt tears in his eyes. "Kiyone-san . . ." He whispered.
The scream of her name from his voice echoed throughout the entire castle.
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AN: Oh please! Did you honestly think I'd be that cruel to leave it at that kind of cliff hanger?
As Amiboshi sobbed, Mitsukake arrived, and almost clumsily in his haste, he held out his hand and a familiar green glow surrounded Kiyone's body. When it died down, everyone could see that the color had come back to Kiyone's face and, that, she was breathing again. Her eyes flickered open and she stared up at the group.
"Kiyone-san!" Amiboshi said, relief apparent in his voice.
She blinked a few times before sitting up slowly because of the sudden headache, and smiled at Mitsukake. "Thank you. This makes two I owe you, ne?" She leaned against Nuriko as she stood up.
"Kiyone, don't do something that f&^%ing stupid ever again!" Ryoko yelled. Kiyone laughed slightly, just as she caught sight of something.
"Okay, am I going crazy or is there land over there?" She said, looking beyond the wall.
"There is! It must be Hokkan!" Miaka exclaimed.
"Yet there is no way for you to get there." The group turned and was met with the women of Nyousei. "None of you will make it off of this island alive."
"Oh damn!" Ryoko said.
"You'll see that the wall leads to steep cliffs. You have no where to run." The leader said.
"Damnit, we're almost there!" Tasuki said.
"Once we've gouged out your eyes, you'll all make fine slaves." She continued. "And the liquor brewed from your eyeballs should be delicious!"
"You talk big, but I gotta warn you!" Tamahome said. "Any drink made from my eyeballs is gonna make you dirt poor! Are you sure you can risk it?!"
Everyone sweatdropped. "Tamahome . . . threats aren't your forte, are they?" Nuriko said.
Chiriko tapped Chichiri's shoulder. "Chichiri, could you distract them? A moment would do." At the questioning glance, Chiriko added, "I have an idea!"
"All right!" Chichiri said, throwing his kesa over them.
"Everyone! We have to dive in and swim for shore! Don't worry, the water's deep enough, you won't be hurt."
The group of eleven did as they were told, Tasuki paling at the thought of water, and dove in. All of them swam for the shore of Hokkan, Ryoko and Nuriko helping Tasuki and Kiyone. Once they all reached shore, Chiriko yelled. "There's a place we have to get to! Hurry!" As they all ran from the shore, Chiriko suddenly stopped. "If my calculations are correct, it should happen soon."
The women of Nyousei had reached shore and started to run after the group of eleven when the water from the sea suddenly washed upon them and drug them back. "That should delay them a bit. Let's get going, a small flood won't hurt them." Chiriko said.
"H-how did you know?" Miaka asked.
"I merely observed the tides. A flood tide was inevitable today." Chiriko explained. "When the moon and sun align, the combined tides cause the canal to flow backwards . . ."
"Top notch thinkin', Chiriko!" Tasuki said, slapping him behind the head. At that moment, the character faded off of Chiriko's foot.
"Was I saying something?" Tasuki fell over.
Kiyone smiled. "Finally! We're in Hokkan!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Phew! Damn, writing that much is hard.
Burnedshadow: Ne, don't worry! It was up maybe a day before you reviewed. *sweatdrop* Hope that this chapter was up to your expectations!
SessyRyo: Again, I think you had a little too much sugar when you wrote your review, Sessy-chan . . . And won't you be surprised what happened to Ayeka. *evil laugh*
Shiroi Hikari: Oh! Thank you for adding me to your favorites list! ^-^
