"Song of Lovers" by Ai Yuukan

Chapter 2

Without a word, Samantha sat up and looked down at her hands in surprise. They were bleeding. and dusted with frost. As they quickly melted in the mild heat, Samantha brought herself to get up and look around. Where was she?
She was in some sort of wasteland. The trees were bare and the ground, dry. She turned around and with some relief, saw a village nearby. Samantha quickly pinched herself and squealed with chagrin at the pain and the realization that she wasn't in Tokyo anymore. Then where was she?
Samantha closed her eyes and tried to relax. There had to be a logical explanation for all of this. But no matter how much she searched her mind, she couldn't find an answer! One moment she was in her friend's car, and now she was in a desolate wasteland. Oh lord, she was going crazy.
Okay.. the last thing she remembered was that scary voice telling her to say goodbye.. and that flash of.. green light. Samantha's eyes shot open. Green light? For some reason, she had the strangest feeling that was supposed to mean something.
When she had been enveloped in that light, she had felt a certain, definite chill surrounding her.. and she had felt so.. afraid. She shivered at the memory. What had happened to her? And where in the hell was she? And why.. was she feeling so.. tired?
Suddenly, she thought she saw someone leaning against a tree.. She walked towards the figure and her eyes widened as she instantly recognized that red-gold hair! "Vivi?" She ventured cautiously.
Vivien turned towards her and stared. "Sammy!"
Samantha let out a relieved breath and ran towards her sister. "Vivi.." She couldn't believe it. Her sister was here. Her heart swelled with relief.
The two sisters embraced. "Sammy.." Vivien hugged her sister tight. "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 with some surprise. "Yeah, it was her! I didn't really listen to what they were saying.. because..
Eagerly, Vivien nodded. "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?"
Samantha frowned in confusion. "Well.. not really.." What was Vivien rambling about? It had been cold and frosty! What was talking about?
Vivien frowned equally in confusion. "You're not serious."
Samantha suddenly noticed her sister bleeding in several places. "Vivi! You're bleeding!" She cried out in alarm.
Vivien looked down at herself. "Oh yeah.. I forgot.."
Samantha sweatdropped. How could someone forget they were bleeding? Rather profusely, even? She sweatdropped even more as Vivien stared hard at her. W-What?
"Sammy.. what's wrong..?"
Samantha then knew what she was talking about and shrugged helplessly. She did feel 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 where the red light had vanished. On the ground were two very familiar-looking girls. Vivien was the first to recognize them despite their changed appearances. "Miaka! Yui!"
Samantha's eyes widened. Nani?! As she and Vivien hurried to the two girls, she vaguely noted with some alarm that she had just thought.. in Japanese. Weird.
Vivien knelt down next to Miaka. "Hey, Miaka!" She started to shake Miaka violently.
Samantha stared. Vivien was talking in Japanese! She gently nudged Yui's shoulder and said tentatively in English, "Yui-chan?" She gasped. It had come out in Japanese! What was going on?!
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. "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?"
Samantha sweatdropped. Vivien turned red. "I'm not crazy!" She shrieked.
Samantha sweatdropped even more. She looked at Yui, who had always been the more sane of the girls, in her opinion. "Yui-chan.. I think you may have bumped your head when you landed.. don't you remember us?"
Yui frowned and looked at Samantha for a while before slowly shaking her head no. "Should I know you?"
Samantha sighed. She didn't know what was going on or where they were, exactly, but she was beginning to have suspicions.. 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. Samantha reddened as 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 was speechless with surprise. 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?"
Samantha slumped. They were doomed.
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. Samantha sweatdropped. Miaka really was as clueless at Tetsuya said she was. 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 took her chance and broke free, pushing the thug roughly on the ground. "Thanks, Vivi!"
"It's Vi!"
Samantha only smiled.
The thug swore. He took out a sword. Vivien paled. Samantha stared. Now they were in trouble. "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."
Samantha stared at the captivated look in her sister's eyes. "Vivi..?"

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.."
No.. it couldn't be.. Taka! 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?" He looked exactly like Taka!
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. That red light..! "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.
Samantha was too dazed to notice. Everything was.. defying all sense of logic! She was in the book world.. the book.. what was it called again?
You are in the Shi Jin Ten Chi Sho. Samantha bolted upright. That voice..!
"I'm where?!"
Vivien and Miaka were too absorbed in their own thoughts to hear her. Samantha stared. That voice.. it was the same.. You are at the beginning of the Shi Jin Ten Chi Sho. It is now your duty to rewrite it.. but only to write its balance. You may not change this history any more than that. The cold voice echoed in her head. Samantha grabbed her head with her hands. "Who are you?!"
My name is not of consequence. Your name, however, is Tei. You have been given to me by my fellow deity, Taittsukun. You are now my servant and it is your duty to summon me once more and obey my command. You will complete your fate and have me grant you a single wish. What you do with yourself from then on will be yours to decide. Afterwards, I will have nothing to do with you. Remember: your name is Tei.
But.. my name is Samantha. Samantha Smith.
Your name is Tei! As of now, that is your one name! Do you understand me? The voice demanded coldly.
Samantha shivered with shock and fear. That voice.. was so familiar..
I require an answer, Tei.
Samantha shivered even more and wrapped her arms around her knees. Y- Yes. I understand.
Good. Then the voice was gone.
Samantha shook. But she didn't understand. She didn't understand anything!

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." Samantha said tonelessly. 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. Oh no. "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!" Samantha was furious. Vivien looked equally murderous. When Samantha 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." Your name is Tei. Samantha shivered, "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!" Samantha cringed. Such language! 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. And?
Miaka's eyes lit up. "So.. that means whatever I do here won't be on my permanent record!"
Samantha groaned. How slow was Miaka?
Vivien slapped her forehead again. "Obviously!"
Miaka grinned at her newfound friends. "So, what do you say? Why don't all of us kick their.." She hesitated. "..butts?"
Samantha smiled. Well.. at least her language was more appropriate.
Vivien grinned. "With pleasure."
Samantha nodded. "Certainly." To her surprise, she was looking forward to it. She had never been in a fight before. But did that put her at a disadvantage? She sweatdropped. It did.
Miaka grinned slyly at the dumbfounded thugs. "Yosh! Let's sock!" She said in English.
Vivien blinked. "Come again?"
Samantha grinned. "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. She scowled at her sister. "Speak for yourself." She muttered. Samantha rubbed her sore posterior and winced as the pain hurting every part of her body.
Miaka smiled. Her new friends were really nice. "So you're Tei?" She asked Samantha.
Samantha nodded. Vivien frowned. "Uh.. her name's.."
Vivien suddenly frowned. "My name is.. what?"
"Kyoku?"
Samantha's eyes widened in realization. The voice must be speaking to Vivien!
Miaka extended her hand. "Nice to meet you, Kyoku."
"But my name is..?"

Vivien's frown deepened. "Who's talking here? You or me?"
Despite herself, Samantha chuckled.

All three girls stared as the young man suddenly 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.
Samantha made a face at the captured looks on Miaka and Tamahome's faces. Really, this was going too far. There really wasn't such a thing as 'love at first sight', was there?
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!"
Samantha stopped her sister when she was about to rally to Miaka's cause, realizing something. "No, Vivi.."
"Vi."
Samantha rolled her eyes. "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." Samantha put on her sternest expression.
"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. Samantha chuckled. This was really quite amusing.. yet pointless. Her smile vanished. She turned away. No, it wasn't.. pointless. Love was a wonderful thing.. if it was real and true.
Love is a nuisance that gets in the way of your duties. I forbid you to do the same. It will only distract you. I will not have my calling delayed.
Samantha kicked the dirt, suddenly angry. You have no right to order me about like this!
Silence!
Samantha suddenly froze. He sounded just like her.. father. Cruel and commanding in all his ways. She gritted her teeth. No.
The voice seemed to harden. No, what?
Samantha's hands turned into fists. No, I won't shut up. She was stronger now! This guy wouldn't scare her! Not like him! But do me a favor, and you shut up instead!
You will not speak to me in that manner! The voice bellowed.
Samantha's eyes narrowed. I'll talk however I want! And leave me the hell alone!