"Hearts Aflame" by Ai Yuukan

Chapter 2

Vivien winced as she sat up. Her knee hurt like something awful. "I- Itai." She felt like she had just run a two-mile race and she had sprained a muscle.. all over her body! She looked down at her knee, wincing as she stretched. Gosh, she hurt like the devil! Her knee was scratched and bleeding.. and she looked as if she had been used a sharpening block for knives. She was bleeding all over.. but the cuts, though long.. were shallow and didn't hurt as much as her knee. Vivien grimaced at her knee. It would hurt like the devil when she got around to cleaning it. She looked around, wondering where in tarnation she was!
She first thought she was in a wasteland of sorts, with the dead trees and dead, brown ground, but she changed her mind when she saw the village in the distance.. not very far away. Wincing, Vivien stood up and looked around. Her knee felt awful! This place was definitely not Tokyo.. she was in a different place.. Maybe she was even in another world. But the worst thing was.. there wasn't a restaurant in sight! Her stomach whined. Vivien felt like whining too! She felt her stomach's pain!
Vivien finally leaned against a tree to think. "Let's see.." She last thing she remembered was walking up to the library ..and then.. Vivien frowned. She could clearly remember a fierce red light as it enveloped her.. that had felt so warm and pleasant against her skin.. Vivien's eyes widened. The red light!
She clearly remembered Miaka telling her several times of the red light that had taken to her to the book world and back. She froze. The book world? She shook her head.. it couldn't be..
"Vivi?"
Vivien looked up and to her surprise, saw a girl standing yards away from her. Vivien squinted in the bright sun to see the girl better. Her eyes widened as she recognized the light brown hair and black jumper outfit. "Sammy!" It was Samantha!

Vivien tore away from the tree and ran towards her sister.
Samantha stared as her sister ran towards her, unable to believe her eyes. "Vivi.." She couldn't believe it.. her sister was here. Her heart swelled with relief.
The two sisters embraced. "Sammy." Vivien hugged her sister, her eyes shining with gratitude. They finally broke apart. "Sammy.. how did you.. how did we..?"
Samantha shrugged helplessly. "I.. don't know. I was with Tetsuya and Taka when. Tetsuya got a call from."
Vivien's eyes widened. "Yui! It was Yui, right?"
Samantha nodded. "Yeah, it was her! I didn't really listen to what they were saying.. because.."
Vivien nodded her head eagerly. "Yeah! All of a sudden, I felt this warm wind.. then the feather.. it burst into flame.. then the ashes.. You felt the same thing, too, right?" Vivien didn't care that she was rambling.
Samantha frowned, confused. "Well.. not really.."
Vivien frowned. "You're not serious."
Samantha suddenly stared. "Vivi! You're bleeding!"
Vivien looked down at herself. "Oh yeah.. I forgot." She suddenly saw the tired look in her sister's eyes. "Sammy.. what's wrong.."
Samantha shrugged helplessly. She felt incredibly tired .. her soul felt drained..
All of a sudden, both sisters froze as a red light shone behind them. Samantha and Vivien turned to stare at each other. Could it be..?
They turned to look behind Vivien's dead tree. The red light had vanished. On the ground were two very familiar-looking girls. Vivien's eyes widened. "Miaka! Yui!"

Samantha and Vivien hurried to the two girls. Vivien knelt down next to the girl. "Hey, Miaka!" She started to shake Miaka violently.
Samantha gently nudged Yui's shoulder. "Yui-chan?" To the sisters' relief, the two girls started to stir. Finally, Yui and Miaka's eyes opened.
Slowly, Yui sat up. "What happened?" She stared at Samantha. "Who are you?"
Samantha blinked. "Excuse me?"
Miaka winced as she sat up. "Yui-chan.. are you okay?" She blinked at Vivien, who looked mad with worry. "Ne.. who are you?"
Vivien was beside herself with worry. "Don't play dumb, Miaka! How dare you scare me like that!!"
Miaka sweatdropped and turned to Yui. "Yui-chan.. who's the crazy woman?"

Vivien turned red. "I'm not crazy!" She shrieked.
Samantha sweatdropped. She looked at Yui, the more sane of the two girls. "Yui-chan.. I think you may have bumped your head when you landed.. don't you remember us?"
Yui frowned and slowly shook her head no. "Should I know you?"
Samantha sighed. Vivien was furious. "Great! They lost their memory! How perfect!" She growled.
Yui finally took a look around. "Where are we?"
Miaka looked frightened. They were in a different, strange place. with two crazy people. "Yui."
Yui suddenly slammed her elbow on Miaka's head, blinking. "Did that hurt?"
Miaka punched Yui so hard she went flying. "THAT HURT PLENTY!!"
Yui winced. "I-Itai. It hurts too much to be a dream."
Samantha and Vivien blinked at the two best friends. Miaka suddenly looked crestfallen. "Whether it's a dream or not.. there's no double cheeseburgers.. no raisin-nut ice cream either!" She cried out, looking extremely unhappy.
Samantha and Yui sweatdropped. Vivien looked sympathetic to Miaka's woes. "Is that all you can think about?!" Yui demanded, peeved. Suddenly, she and Samantha were suddenly grabbed from behind.
Vivien nodded sympathetically. "There's no food anywhere!" She cried.
Miaka looked like she was about to cry, too. "What'll we do, Yui- chan?" She blinked. "Yu-!" She and Vivien stared as they finally saw Samantha and Yui being held by a dirty-looking man. Another man leered at them. "Yui!"
"Sammy!"

"Miaka!"

Samantha didn't look frightened. just mildly surprised. A thug studied them. Only then did Samantha take offense and glare. "This one's good." He leered at the two girls gaping at them. "If we sell them, we'll make good money.."
Miaka looked confused. "What? Who are you?" She blinked. "Are you old men members of a Chinese Dancing team?"
Vivien's eyes boggled at Miaka. Even she wasn't that stupid. "Baka!"
The men looked highly offended. "You moron! We sell girls!"
Miaka gasped. Vivien groaned. How slow was she..? The thug laughed at Miaka's shocked expression. "How's that? Surprised?"

Miaka narrowed her eyes before bending over. Vivien stared. "Miaka..?"
Suddenly, Miaka rammed her head into one of the thug's middles. Vivien gawked. "Miaka!"
"Yui! Run!"

Vivien's eyes widened with sudden increased suspect for her penpal. How selfless.. Right. Vivien suddenly kicked the other thug holding Samantha with a powerful butterfly kick. Samantha broke free and pushed the thug roughly on the ground. "Thanks, Vivi!"
"It's Vi!"
The thug swore. He took out a sword. Vivien paled. Now that could hurt. "If you're not nice.. then.."
"Stop." All four girls stared at the young man that had appeared out to nowhere. Vivien and Miaka watched, fascinated, as the young man deftly punched the first thug.
The thug with the sword swore. "Konoyaro!" The young man grabbed the thug's arm and twisted it behind his back. Vivien's eyes widened. "Who is he..?" Miaka whispered. She stared at the young man's forehead. ".. there's a character.."
Vivien's eyes widened. "Ogre." Her heart thumped.

The young man turned to the four girls. "Ladies, are you all right?"

Yui smiled gratefully. Thank your very much."
The man bent down and held out his hand. "Money is a better way to show your appreciation."
Yui and Miaka were confused. "Huh?"
The man frowned. "Don't tell me.."
Samantha grabbed Vivien's arm. "Vivi.. is that..?"
".. You mean you ladies don't have any money?" The man sighed. "Ladies, ladies. Money's what makes the world go round. I can't go around helping anyone, you know?"
Yui became annoyed. "You helped us on your own!" She protested.
Miaka began rummaging for her skirt pocket. "I think I have a little money.."
The young man stood up and started to walk away. "I hate poor people."
"Matte!" Samantha cried out, standing up with her sisters. The man turned around and arched a brow in question. "Are you.. Tamahome?"
The man frowned. "How did you..?"
Vivien stared. "Your forehead.. we saw.. character.."
Tamahome sighed. "My name's Sou Kishuku."
"B-But your symbol.. it means.. 'ogre', right? A monster?"

Tamahome looked annoyed, then, after a moment, held out his hand. "If ya want a proper introduction.. it'll cost you."
Vivien just stared at him. "What are you..?"
Tamahome just shrugged and walked away. "If you can't pay up, I'm not interested. See ya!"
Now Yui looked very annoyed. She ran after him. "Hold it! Will you wait a second?! Where are we?!" Suddenly, a red light appeared underneath her feet.
Samantha stared. "Yui-chan!" She started running to Yui. Yui stared as the red light began to envelop her. "This is.." Vivien stared as Samantha reached Yui. Samantha grabbed Yui's hand. Yui stared. ".. the red light from before.. " She stared at Samantha holding her hand. Her hand started to vanish. She looked behind Samantha at Miaka. "Miaka!" Yui vanished. Miaka finally got the money from her pocket. "..Ta-da! Here it is!" She looked around. "Yui?" She looked up at Vivien. "Where's Yui, crazy woman?" Vivien was too shaken to take offense. "She.." She thought of Tamahome. His eyes.. as violet as her own.. Her heart thumped. "He.." Miaka's eyes widened. He? That young man? Vivien, Miaka, and Samantha rested on the hay cart, each thinking her own thoughts. They didn't notice the villagers they passed staring at them. Vivien stared at the ground as they rode on. Everything was just too weird.. That red light.. what was going on? You are in the Shi Jin Ten Chi Sho. You are at the beginning of the book. The very beginning. Your name is Kyoku. Vivien stared. That voice. sounded so familiar! She looked over at Samantha, who also looked thunderstruck. Was the voice talking to her too?" Another is speaking to her as I am speaking to you. You are Kyoku. I am Vivien! Vivien Smith! Your seishi name is Kyoku. I wish your aid if you will give it to me. If you will agree to help me, you will become one of my seishi. You will be given the power to rewrite the Shi Jin Ten Chi Sho, but you must not misuse that power. I will come again to you once your friend agrees to become the Suzaku no Miko.. until then.. think upon my words.. Vivien gasped as the voice's presence suddenly disappeared. Her skin was flushed. She just stared ahead as the cart finally stopped. What the..?!

Vivien was in a daze. Samantha looked like she had just seen a ghost. Both of them sat with Miaka as they were lost in their thoughts. Miaka was convinced that Tamahome had kidnapped Yui, and Vivien and Samantha were too dazed to correct her. "Ladies?" Miaka turned and saw a green-haired young man standing over her. The man smiled in a friendly manner. "I've been watching you. May I show you around Konan?" Miaka stared. "Konan?" "Hai." 'This is.. Konan? Miaka turned around. She didn't know that. Suddenly, she thought of something. She turned back around to stare at the green- haired young man. Ha! She gaped happily at him. Could he be hitting on me..?! She blushed with excitement. He must be! She became starry-eyed. I'm fifteen and I haven't had a boyfriend yet. I must be grown up enough that guys are finally noticing me! Then she turned sly. I shouldn't say 'yes' immediately.. I should be a little.. 'hard to get'..yeah.. I should hold out. I should let him try once or twice more. "Uh, umm.." Miaka dramatically shook her head. "Gomenasai, but I'm looking for someone." The young man nodded. "Oh, is that so?" He moved to walk away. Miaka grabbed him back. "Wait just a minute!"

"Tamahome?" She asked, remembering the queer play of words between the girl with red-gold hair and the blue-haired young man. "He said his name is Sou Kishuku. Do you know him?" The man nodded. "Hai. He's a friend of mine." Miaka smiled happily. "Hontou?!" He nodded again. "I'll take you to him." Miaka jumped up. "Okay!" She turned to the two girls. "I'll be right back, okay?" Both girls looked very distracted. Samantha didn't answer. Vivien, however, shook her head, dazed. "Yeah, sure. Whatever."

After a couple of minutes, Vivien tentatively tried to talk to Samantha. "Sammy? Did you..?" "Hear a voice talk in my head? Yes." Vivien sighed. "Then I'm not crazy as Miaka thinks. What did.. the voice tell you?" Samantha looked very tired. "He said I'm in the Shi Jin Ten Chi Sho.. He claimed me. as his seishi. Did he claim you as well?" Samantha asked her sister hesitantly. Vivien slowly shook her head. "No.. he asked me if I would be his seishi. I have to answer him by the time Miaka.." Her eyes widened with sudden realization. "Sammy.. do you think?" Samantha's eyes widened. "It must be.." She turned to Vivien sharply. "Vivi.. we're in the book." "The book?" "The Shi Jin Ten Chi Sho!"

"The what?" Vivien asked, absolutely clueless. Samantha sighed. "The book! Remember? The book world! The one Miaka and Yui were pulled into?!"

Vivien gaped. "How do you know about that?!" She demanded. "Tetsuya and Taka." Vivien blinked. "You're kidding." Samantha slowly shook her head. Everything was beginning to make sense.. "I know all about it. No wonder Tamahome looked so familiar! He's Taka!" Vivien snorted. "Get real, Sammy. There's no way sweet Taka could ever be that money-hungry pathetic fool as Tamahome. Sure, they could be twins.. Taka has shorter hair.. and.. and.." Vivien's eyes widened. "HOLY COW!" She stared at Samantha. "He is Tamahome!" Why, the only thing different between the two was the hair.. and the personality. She frowned. "Are you sure?" "Yes! We're at the beginning of the book! The very beginning!" Samantha pressed a hand to her head. "I don't feel so good.." Vivien's mental processor was on overdrive. "Woah, now. If we're at the beginning of the book.." She suddenly gasped, and felt the urge to slap herself. "Duh! I should have known! We are at the beginning at the book!" She finally gave in and slapped her forehead. "Shit! Didn't Miaka go off with that guy a little while ago?" Samantha stared. "You can't be serious." "As serious as a triple-scoop ice cream with extra fudge." She shot up and grabbed her sister's hand. "Come on!" "You are serious."

"Excuse me.. Where's your friend?" Miaka asked, starting to get nervous.

The man stopped. "Here." Miaka gasped when she saw several other men walk out in front of her with her guide. Her eyes widened with fear. "She looks odd.." One of the thugs remarked. The leader smirked. "You don't find one like this every day." He looked thoughtful. "We'll get good money for her clothes, too." Another thug came up to her. "I wonder if foreign women really do taste different.." "Hold it, mister!" Everyone turned. Miaka gasped. "You!" Vivien looked murderous. Samantha looked equally dangerous as she stood behind her. When she saw Miaka's surprised face, her expression softened. "My name's Samantha Smith." She gestured to her sister, who looked like she wanted to pound the thugs' faces in. "She is my elder sister, Vivien Smith." After a little hesitation, she added, "My seishi name is. Tei. You may call me Tei." Vivien was too angry to pay attention to what Samantha was saying. "Yeah! And I'm going to kick all your asses!" She looked like she meant it, too. Miaka's eyes were wide with wonder. "Who are you people?" Vivien smirked. "Didn't you hear? I'm the girl who's going to kick all their asses! The name's Vivien!"
"Everyone else calls her Vivi." Samantha injected.
Vivien turned around to frown at her sister, exasperated. "For the last time, Sammy, if you must call me by a nickname, call me Vi!"
Miaka was frowning at the thugs, who looked confused but a little amused at the squabble between the two sisters. She frowned, and tried to think. This is ancient China. I was tricked by these thugs! Then she froze. "Matte.. this is ancient China."
Vivien and Samantha stopped arguing. "Hai." Samantha said, nodding.
Miaka's eyes lit up. "So.. that means whatever I do here won't be on my permanent record!"
Vivien slapped her forehead again. How slow was she? "Obviously!"
Miaka grinned at her newfound friends. "So, what do you say? Why don't all of us kick their.." She hesitated. "..butts?"
Vivien grinned. "With pleasure." Oh, this was going to be fun.
Samantha nodded. "Certainly."
Miaka grinned slyly at the dumbfounded thugs. "Yosh! Let's sock!" She said in English.
Vivien blinked. "Come again?"
"I think she was trying to say, 'let's rock'."

The combined efforts of Vivien, Miaka, and Samantha easily put the thugs in their place.. behind what looked to be a dumpster behind a small house. "Well, that was fun!" Vivien said cheerfully.
Miaka smiled. Her new friends were really nice. "So you're Tei?" She asked Samantha.
Samantha nodded. Vivien frowned. "Uh.. her name's.."
Your seishi name is Kyoku. Vivien frowned. "My name is.. what?"
Kyoku, the voice said patiently. "Kyoku?"
Miaka extended her hand. "Nice to meet you, Kyoku."
"But my name is..?"

Please use your seishi name in this world. You'll have an easier time if you do. Vivien's frown grew deeper. "Who's talking here? You or me?"
Samantha chuckled.

Tamahome stared at the three girls from atop a roof. He looked thoughtful.. and impressed. The girl with the foreign red-gold hair was obviously a master of martial arts.. and the girl with short brown hair was quite competent in defending herself. The girl with her brown hair in two buns atop her head, however.. had used crude.. yet effective attacks on the thugs. Normally, his attention would have been drawn to the girl with red- gold hair, who had displayed impressive martial arts techniques.. but he could not explain the way he felt drawn to.. the brown-haired girl with warm brown eyes and that friendly, open smile..

All three girls stared as the young man jumped down in front of them. "Tamahome.." Vivien whispered, in awe.
Samantha smiled. He looked exactly like her friend, Taka, only with an annoyed and suspicious look upon his face. Miaka stared at Tamahome, somehow mesmerized by his eyes.
Vivien noticed that Miaka and Tamahome were staring at each other and sighed wistfully, knowing the signs of 'love at first sight' right away. They were going to fall in love. It was inevitable. And yet.. How long must she wait for someone to love her as she knew Tamahome and Miaka would soon love each other?
Miaka quickly came to her senses. Tamahome jerked his gaze away from those warm brown eyes. "You three were looking for me, weren't you? Well, what do you want?"
Miaka nodded, remembering. "H-Hai! Do you know where Yui-chan is?"
"Yui-chan?"
"You know, that girl who was with me?"
Tamahome looked at the three girls, then finally remembered that there had been a fourth when he had first met them.. "Ah!" Miaka smiled happily. "I have no idea." Miaka fell to the ground. He turned to walk away. "Jaa!"
Vivien felt insulted for her friend. She tried to go to him to give her a piece of her mind, but Samantha stopped her. "No, Vivi.."
"Vi."
"Whatever. Remember, this is only one of the things that leads up to them falling in love with each other. We don't want to mess that up, do we?"
"No.. but.."
"No buts."
"Sammy!" Vivien whined.
"HEY!" She knocked him down with a single lunge. Vivien smiled. You go, Miaka. "I asked you a question! Answer me!" She refused to let go of him. "I won't let go 'till you tell me!"
Tamahome, face mashed in the dirt, waved up a white flag. Vivien's smile grew broader. This was actually quite comical. She sighed. Miaka and Tamahome would fall in love.. but somehow, she wished someone could love her as much as Tamahome would love Miaka.. somehow..