Disclaimer:  I don't own Fushigi Yugi; if I did, then Tasuki would be the main character, Tamahome would die a slow and ironic death, Chichiri would get more screentime, and Miaka's voice wouldn't be so high pitched and annoying. (among other things :D)

Ch. 4: Jail Break

          "Mom…….Keisuke…….Yui……..Spot……Jane……………….DAIRY QUEEN!!!!!!"

       The sleeping Miaka glomped Tamahome and yelled," DON'T LEAVE ME PIZZA DELIVERY BOY!!!!"

          Tamahome, now officially weirded out, complained," And I thought Yuiren had issues…….."  Miaka chose that moment to let loose a snore that would make any tv-couch potato proud. 

          The prison guard yelled," Oi, keep it down in there!"

          Tamahome leapt to his feet and yelled," It ain't MY fault, that dimwit broad is making that racket." He muttered," At least YOU can leave whenever you want, but I'm stuck here……"

          The guard nodded his head sympathetically and said," I feel for you, man….." He then opened a pouch at his side and took out some food, apparently planning on taking his lunch break.  Unfortunately for him, Miaka smelled the squished kappa rolls, woke up, and immediately took her place at the bars, drooling and clawing for the food. 

          Miaka put on her best pleading face and asked," I'm starving, can I PLEASE have some, pretty please with sugar on top….? Mmmm, sugar…..candy's nice……and so are cinnamon buns……can't forget caramel apples……and chocolate covered strawberries too….." Miaka put her hands out through the bars and said," Gimme, gimme, gimme!"  Tamahome slapped his forehead at her stupidity. 

          The guard smiled and said," Sure, why not?"  He walked up to the bars and held out the remaining rolls, intending for her to take as many as she wished.  Fate would have it, however, that when Miaka tried to chomp down the whole batch at once, she ate the guard's hand as well.

          "AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!  MY ARM!!! MY ARM!!"  The guard ran around in circles, banging his head onto the walls to try to stop the pain, but he quickly fainted from blood loss.  Tamahome, seizing the day, grabbed the unconscious guard by his shirt, dragged him near the cell, and stole the keys to the lock.  He then unlocked the door and, acting upon the unspoken plans between him and Miaka, made tracks with Miaka scampering to keep up.

********

          "Quick, in here!" 

Tamahome and Miaka held their breath as they avoided yet another group of sentries on the lookout for them.  As the guards moved on, Miaka noticed a statue in the middle of the room.

          "What's that?" she asked Tamahome.

          Tamahome, following her gaze, saw the phoenix statue and smiled.  He then said," That is our country's god.  His name is……." He furrowed his brow in concentration," um………..I know this, just gimme a second……." 

          As Tamahome was stumbling after the name of the god, Miaka caught the whiff of food.  She thought, Well, I AM hungry, but should I just leave Tamahome behind?  She took a good look at him.  Yup, DEFINITELY leave him behind, she decided.  And with that, she crept out the door.

          "….cu….suzuki….SUZAKU!! Oh yeah, that's his name!" He happily looked up at Miaka, but found that she had left the room.  "…..crap."

******   

          After emptying the kitchen of anything remotely edible yet not getting caught by any of the chefs, Miaka had headed outside into a courtyard, but was, as most people would be in another world without a tour guide, completely and utterly lost.

          "……I really shouldn't have ditched Tamahome," she sighed.  As she turned a corner, she saw a familiar looking wall. 

          "Don't tell me I've been walking in circles! Aw man, I'm lost! Which way do I go?!"  Miaka jumped as she heard the sound of giggling.  She turned to where the laughter was coming from to see a beautiful, raven-haired woman wearing a sheet around her pointing to the left. 

          "If you're looking for the way out, that's the way," she said smiling. And also the way to the guardhouse, she mentally added.

          Miaka chirped," Thanks!" and started to walk off.  However, she was interrupted by the lady's question.

          "Aren't you the girl that was captured for harassing the emperor's men?"  Frozen, Miaka did the only thing she could think of; played dead.  Literally, she flopped down on the floor.  The woman sweatdropped and said," Don't worry, I'm on your side." 

          Miaka zoomed up with sparkly eyes and asked her," R-really?"  The woman nodded and smiled. 

          Miaka said relieved," I was worried that people from this world wouldn't be very nice-"

          The woman astonishedly asked," Another world?!?!"