Messing With Washuu's Inventions Has Advantages

Disclaimer: If I had a penny for every anime series I owned . . . I'd be pennyless.

Tsumi: And here at last is the long awaited chapter 16! And again, I'm soooooooooooo very sorry that this took so long. My computer is literally being eaten alive by viruses, and that makes it hard to update. *sigh* Sucks, I know. So, to make up for it, I'm trying (keyword here: trying) to make the chapters longer. And, just to suck up a bit, I started up a few new fics. Check out my Author Profile page to check them out!

Onto the fic!

Chapter Sixteen: Premonitions of a Threat

"Take care of yourselves!" Miaka said, adjusting her hat and smiling at the family and village that had let them stay the night.

"Thanks for everything!" Kiyone added as she adjusted the reigns on the horse she and Nuriko would share. She caught sight of Chichiri lifting Chiriko onto his horse and once she caught his eye, she smiled at him. He smiled back, albeit a little embarrassed, and returned to his task.

"Hurry it up, Amiboshi! We're leaving soon!" Ryoko said as she bit back a yawn. "Damnit, it's too damn early to be up!" She complained.

Nuriko grinned mischievously. "Do anything we should know about, Ryoko?"

Ryoko blushed lightly but managed a growl and said, "Shut up."

Amiboshi finally came into view of the others, looking down at the ground and walking slowly. "Ami-chan, daijoubu?"

Amiboshi tried not to look up at Kiyone's concerned voice. "I-I'm fine." He winced at how his voice cracked on the first syllable but pushed it aside and said a little more coldly, "Why are you so worried anyway?"

Kiyone blinked in shocked surprise as he hurried to attend to the horse he and Mitsukake would be sharing. She frowned lightly at his behavior before turning her attention to Nuriko, who was offering her a hand up on the horse.

The little boy that Tamahome saved waved enthusiastically as the group left. "Bye Mister and Miss Scary-Face!"

The rest of the group hid snickers or smirks as both Ryoko and Tasuki managed weak smiles and waved goodbye. "That brat is gonna get smacked." Ryoko muttered as they road off.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Nakago, closely followed by Soi, opened a tent and walked in. "Yui-sama is on her way to Touran with Suboshi." He said. "This time, it's your battle." He addressed the bulky creature in the tent. "You were born of this forsaken wilderness." The creature tugged at the chains on it's body. "Now, using the powers of this land inflicted on you, find the minions of Suzaku and slaughter them!"

The creature growled lowly in acceptance.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Touran. Here we are!" Nuriko said.

"After six f%^&ing hours on horseback, I'm glad to be anywhere. " Tasuki grumbled.

"The ride wasn't THAT bad, Gen-chan." Ryoko quipped from above him.

"You f%^&ing flew half the f%^&ing way here!" He yelled. Ryoko just smirked and flew so that she was now sitting behind Tasuki and looped her arms around his waist.

"It's cold . . ." Chiriko whimpered.

"Hey look!" Miaka exclaimed as small white specks began falling from the sky. "It's snowing!"

"Wow! It hardly ever snows in Konan." Nuriko said.

"This is so cool! It's winter in my world right now too! . . . oh." Miaka suddenly looked at Tamahome and everyone could see the half happy-half sad smile on her face.

Later on that night, the six Suzaku Seishi, one Seiryuu Seishi, one miko and two space travelers were looking over maps of Hokkan. "We're here at the city entrance so let's split up and search, no da." Chichiri explained. "So now, we figure out where we go from here no da. Mitsukake is pretty level headed, so he can keep Tasuki on a leash no da."

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?!" Said bandit glowered, but the monk simply ignored him.

"Chiriko's still a child so he and I will pair up, na no da."

"Obake-chan can keep Miaka company." Ryoko remarked with a smirk on her lips.

"Stop calling me that!" Tamahome automatically replied. Tasuki and Ryoko snickered as Tamahome glared at them.

"Ryoko, you could pair up with Ami-chan." Kiyone said.

Amiboshi raised his head when he heard his name but then glowered and returned staring at the table.

"What about you, Nuriko?" Miaka asked the cross-dressing seishi.

"Me? I think I'll pair up with Kiyone-chan." He said quietly. Kiyone blinked and frowned lightly. Nuriko had been lost deep in thought ever since they entered the inn.

"Hey cutie!" A drunk walked up to Nuriko and put his hand under his chin. "You're one fine piece! How about I buy you a little drink?"

The next second found the drunk flat against the floor with a broken table covering him.

"Do I look like I'd be tempted by trash like you?" Nuriko said, dusting off his hands.

"'A fine piece' huh?" Tasuki said, voice teasing. "Maybe putting Nuriko and Kiyone together is bad news!"

"That's true. Everywhere you go, men are gonna block the way." Tamahome said thoughtfully.

Nuriko stayed silent, his eyes darkened with unknown thought. "I get it." He said quietly. "If I don't act like a woman anymore, then it's okay, right?" Before anyone could protest, he grabbed a knife off the table and severed his braid.

Everyone was silent until Tamahome said, "I can't believe you did that."

"Your hair was so pretty, Nuriko-chan." Kiyone added.

"You know you can't dress like a woman anymore, right?" Miaka said.

"I know. I told you, it's about time I gave it up. Besides, we're about to go to war against the Seiryuu Shichiseishi. Can't be delicate and womanly doing that!" Nuriko closed his eyes, an enigmatic smile on his face.

"The Seiryuu Shichiseishi . . ." Mitsukake said. "Yes, we should be careful. If they are here in Touran, as Amiboshi said, we could run into them."

Chichiri had a frown on his ever-smiling face. "True. The problem is communication. They can discover us when we use Suzaku's powers no da . . ."

"Perhaps I have a solution!" Chiriko pipped up. For most of the day, he had been seen with that dazed expression he always seemed to have when his kanji was missing. Tasuki yelped at his sudden move.

"Quit turnin' sane on us all of a sudden!" Tasuki yelled.

"I'm a child, not mentally ill." Chiriko said in his defense. It was then that Chiriko explained that they could use fireworks instead of their seishi powers and that they would start looking tomorrow morning. Nuriko had left halfway through the meeting, giving a half-hearted 'oyasumi nasai' before going to bed. Everyone else decided to now follow his example and headed off to their rooms.

"Kiyone-san . . ." Amiboshi said, grabbing onto her arm. "I-I need to talk to you."

Kiyone blinked but nodded and followed Amiboshi. "Ami-chan, what is this--"

"Why?"

Kiyone blinked at the question as Amiboshi continued.

"Why, Kiyone? Why did you chose him over me?" Amiboshi's eyes were slightly glossy as he looked at Kiyone.

"Ami-"

"Why?" Amiboshi said a little more forcefully, a few tears slipping down his face. "Can't you see that I love you too?!"

The room that the two were in became silent. Kiyone looked lightly shocked and Amiboshi was breathing heavily.

Kiyone was the first to break the silence. "Ami-chan . . ."

Amiboshi shook his head enthusiastically. "Forget I said anything." With that quiet sentence, Amiboshi fled the room, seeking refuge in his own.

Kiyone stood still, sadness reflected in her blue eyes. "I'm sorry, Amiboshi." She said quietly. "I'm so sorry . . ."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The next morning, the group of ten split up into their respective pairs, each taking one flare. With cheerful goodbyes, they all headed off in different directions.

"Kiyone-chaaaaaaan, you've been as talkative as a rock." Nuriko whined about an hour into their journey. "Something bothering you?"

Kiyone gave a half smile. "Something like that."

"C'mon, tell me!" Nuriko prodded.

Kiyone sighed. "It's Amiboshi."

"Ne, Amiboshi?" Nuriko blinked.

"Last night, after our meeting, he asked if he could talk to me privately. We went to an unused room, and he told me he was in love with me." She ran a hand through her hair. "I don't know what to do, Nuriko. I've never seen him so upset!"

Nuriko had a smile on his face, his eyes closed. "First love is always hard to get over. Especially if it's unrequited." Kiyone blinked and looked at Nuriko. "It can hurt more than anything, but you never want to give it up." He opened his eyes and gave Kiyone a warm smile. "Just give Amiboshi a little time. He'll move on."

Kiyone smiled back. "It sounds like you've experienced unrequited love quite a bit, Nuriko."

Nuriko only nodded. "I think you already knew about Hotohori-sama." Kiyone nodded. "That was the female part of me, the part that lived for Korin. But this part of me, the male part, is falling for Miaka."

Kiyone gasped. "Miaka?!"

"That's why it's unrequited. I don't want to take Miaka from Tamahome; that would be selfish." He looked up at the sky. "If you really wanted to know, I love you too." Kiyone blinked. "Just like I love Ryoko, and Tamahome, and Tasuki, everyone. I think that it's one of the things that makes me a Suzaku Shichiseishi, and I'm proud of that!"

"Nuriko . . ." Kiyone smiled.

"So, whatever happens, whether you and Ryoko go home, or you end up staying here, marrying Chichiri and having five kids, I'll be watching over all of you!"

"Thanks Nuriko." Kiyone said.

"Besides, didn't Ryoko already ruin her chances of going home?" Nuriko implied slyly.

Kiyone smiled and shook her head. "She told me this morning when I asked her. She knows Tenchi won't love her like she does –or did–but she still isn't completely comfortable in another relationship." Kiyone giggled. "Of course, she didn't say it so plainly."

"Of course not." Nuriko sniffed. "I swear, that girl has a mouth dirtier than a bandit of Mount Reikaku!"

Kiyone laughed until she realized something. "Ne, Nuriko-chan, didn't Taiitsukun say that in order to be a Miko, you had to be a virgin?"

The purple-haired seishi frowned, "Do you mean you think Miaka and Tamahome--"

"No! I wasn't talking about her!" Kiyone interjected. "Didn't Miaka say that her friend Yui, the Seiryuu no Miko, was raped when she came to this world?"

"So, what you think is that . . ."

Kiyone nodded. "I don't think Yui was raped. Nakago was probably toying with her mind." She smiled. "Well, Miaka will be happy to know!"

Nuriko smiled back before he frowned playfully and clicked his tongue. "Well, one and a half hours spent, and we haven't found a clue to where the Shinzaho is!"

Kiyone frowned as well before looking ahead of her. "Ne, Nuriko-chan, I think you spoke too soon." When Nuriko looked at her funny, Kiyone pointed to the monument ahead of her. Nuriko smiled again, until that faded into a frown when he caught the figure sitting on the monument's steps.

"Miaka!"

The girl in question raised her head and smiled at the two as they walked over. "Hey Kiyone! Nuriko!"

"Miaka, where's Tamahome?" Kiyone asked.

Miaka blinked. "He's talking to a scholar about translating this." She waved a hand behind her, indicating the monument.

"And that idiot didn't take you with him?!" Nuriko yelled. After a few stares, Kiyone clamped her hands over the seishi's mouth and sweatdropped, giving the spectators an apologetic glance.

"Nuriko, keep it down!" She hissed. Nuriko just smiled behind her hands, and gently pried them off of his face.

"People nearby said that he was a well known thug around here." Miaka said, folding her hands behind her head.

"Hmm . . . that would explain why Tamahome didn't take her along." Kiyone said. "Do you mind if we tag along with you guys? We found no clues in our search."

Miaka shook her head and both Nuriko and Kiyone smiled, taking seats on the monument steps as well. "When is Tamahome getting back?" Miaka asked.

"Relax! He just left!" Nuriko said, pulling something out of his tunic. Miaka blinked as she thought of something.

"Hey, Nuriko? Do you regret cutting your hair?"

Nuriko shook his head. "Not at all. I think of this as Korin, my sister. I'll find a nice place to bury it."

"But you know Nuriko," Miaka said with a smile, "You look really hot with short hair." Kiyone nodded.

Nuriko blushed lightly, but passed it off with a smile and said, "It's about time the two of you noticed!"

Miaka had the decency to look mildly offended before the three of them broke into laughter. After they quieted down, they stayed silent for a while before Miaka shivered. "What's wrong, Miaka? Are you cold?" Nuriko asked, true concern apparent in his voice.

"No. I just got this ominous feeling again." She said quietly before standing up. "I'm going to find Tamahome, he's late!"

"Wait a minute, Miaka, we're coming too!" Nuriko said as both he and Kiyone stood up.

A shadow fell over Miaka. "Found you! Suzaku no Miko!" A large, bulky body jumped from the rooftop, long claws heading straight for Miaka.

"Miaka!" Both Nuriko and Kiyone yelled as they both ran forward at breakneck speed to get to the Miko.

"DIE!" The man beast roared.

"Miaka!" Nuriko threw himself in front of his Miko, receiving a nasty gash on his arm.

"Nuriko!" Kiyone yelled as he gasped sharply in pain. She caught sight of a glowing blue character on his back that read 'Tail'. "This . . . This is one of the Seiryuu Shichiseishi?!"

"What is that?!" A villager screamed. The beast, Ashitare, turned his attention to one of the villagers, who had fell in an attempt to scramble away. Ashitare loomed over the man before . . .

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!"

Miaka, Kiyone and Nuriko looked up as Ashitare turned to face them. In his jaws was the tattered, mangled remains of an arm. "Oh my God!" Kiyone exclaimed.

"Nuriko! Th-that's an arm and a h-hand!" Miaka stuttered, pointing frantically at the human limb in Ashitare's jaw.

"This is a Seiryuu Shichiseishi?" Nuriko asked Kiyone, who just gulped and nodded.

Ashitare spit out the arm. "Old flesh is too tough." he stated, blood still running down his jaw. "Next, let's try you . . ." He advanced slowly on the traveling party of three.

"Hotohori's Deity Sword!" Miaka exclaimed. "Where is it?! Where is it?!" And then it hit her and she burst into tears. "Wahhhh! I left it in the traveling pack with Chichiri!"

Nuriko's eyes widened as he caught sight of something else. "The flare!" Without hesitation, Kiyone grabbed it and with a quickly lit match, she fired it at Ashitare, catching half of his face on fire. He yelped in pain, much like a wounded dog, and ran off.

Kiyone took a huge sigh of relief. "Good thinking, Nuriko." She said with a smile.

"Yeah." He said weakly. "That's one way to use Chiriko's flares . . ." And he sank down to his knees, his hand pressing firmly on the wound on his arm.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thank God, it's done! Read 'n' Review minna!

Shiroi Hikari: I know. And know if you ruin any page of my Wing Zero manga . . . You know I know where you live . . . ^-^

SessyRyo: I admit it, I'm a bad person and read spoilers on 'The Fire of Suzaku's Wings'. It's the only reason I know about Hikou and Kouran. -_-

Sunsetseve: *blinks a couple of times* If it helps, I'll read your fics too (actually I have, and it was really good. ^-^). As for pairings, they're not completely my idea. SessyRyo wanted me to write a TasRyo fic (like 'Love and Fire' -- Another good read!), and Burnedshadow had the idea of ChiKi. Thanks for the praise!

Burnedshadow: Awkward enough for you? ^^ And just keep those hentai thoughts to yourself, I said I wasn't making this a citrus! (Though I'm incredibly tempted too . . .)

Xoni Newcomer: Wow, I feel so . . . honored by your praise. I honestly think I did a horrible job (but then again, I'm a perfectionist). And I noticed that about romance fics . . . a lot of it does seem rushed. Thank you for your review!