Les Jeux Mystèrieux: The Mysterious Games
Oh, in case you didn't get this earlier, this entire story is filled with HUGE spoilers. If you haven't finished Fushigi Yuugi (and you plan to later)…DON'T READ ANY FURTHER! Put down the computer and just walk away slowly…come back when you're finished.
Oh, and about the last part…it's a little obscure, but if you remember what Taiitsu-kun told Miaka after Suzaku's summoning ceremony…it's the same thing. I'm sure that Anne would take it quite differently than Miaka did…
Janna: Last episode, Anne, Subaru and Tokaki were attacked by assassins too fast to see.
Kat: The situation looked desperate; Subaru couldn't touch them and Tokaki couldn't move fast enough to attack them.
Jeff: So guess who steps in to save them?
Nick: I did!
Luna: Don't worry, none of us expected it either.
Nick: Hey!
Chris: So Nick saved us…and then we continued on to Mt. Taikyoku.
Max: The quartet reached the forest before the mountains, only to have a storm brew above them. In an amazingly unlucky moment, they were struck by lightning.
Anne: And now something strange is happening…
Episode 11: Sasayaite yo, sotto ni. (Whisper, softly)
(Anne stands straight up, confused. Tokaki, Subaru and Tatara are slowly walking away from her, very scared)
Tokaki: Wh-what it it?
Subaru: I don't know!!!!!
Tatara: Wasn't…it speaking in Anne's voice?
Anne: What's going on??? Hello???? What's wrong with you guys?
Tokaki: It did it again!!!
Tatara: What di-did you do with Anne?
Anne: I am Anne! What are you guys talking about???
Subaru: It must be some sort of demon!
Anne: What is WRONG with you guys??? (Anne opens her pack and brings out the Shi Jin Ten Chi Sho) Look! It's the Shi Jin Ten Chi Sho!
(The three Warriors stare at the scroll in horror)
Tatara: It…has the Shi Jin Ten Chi Sho…
Subaru: Does that mean…Anne…
Tokaki: Oh my god! What did you do to Anne???
Anne: This isn't working! They think I'm some sort of monster! How can I tell them who I am???
(Anne thinks for a moment, and the woman's voice comes back to her.)
Woman's voice: If you really are the Priestess of Byakko…break my spell!
Anne: A spell? Meant…to test us? That must have been what the Shi Jin Ten Chi Sho was talking about…but…how can I dispel the illusion??? You guys, snap out of it! This is an illusion, whatever you're seeing!
Tokaki: It's trying to fool us now! Don't believe it!
Tatara: I can't….it's too scary to be Anne!
Anne: Now, honestly. No, I'm serious! This is the test that the Shi Jin Ten Chi Sho was talking about! You guys have to see through the spell!
(Anne moves toward Subaru, and pushes her hand forward, as if beckoning. There is a bright flash of dark, and Subaru is sent flying backwards into a tree. Anne's eyes open wide)
Tokaki: Subaru!!! (he runs to her side)
Tatara: What did you do to her???
Anne: Oh my god…what did I just do??? No, I didn't mean it! I'm sorry! This really is me!
Subaru: (weakly sits her head up) Anne…find Anne…
Tokaki: (turns his head, angrily towards Anne) We're going to make you pay!
Anne: No…they're going to attack me now! They'll probably kill me! But…if I try to fight back, then…I'll just hurt them! What can I do…what can I do???
Woman's voice: (in Anne's head) Show me the strength of your heart!
Tatara: Tokaki! Let's go!
(Tatara holds out his right hand, and small green tendrils shoot out, enveloping Anne in rapidly-growing vines. Almost instantly, the vines begin to grow, glowing faintly white along with Tatara's right hand.)
Anne: Oh no! I can't move! Tatara, listen!!! It's me!!! Anne!!!
(Tatara closes his eyes, as if in pain. Tokaki covers his as well, and looks down at Subaru, who is also pained)
Tokaki: Cover your ears!
(Subaru weakly tries to lift her hands up to cover her ears, but she doesn't have enough energy.)
Anne: My voice…it's hurting them??? That means I can't talk to them, or I'll hurt Subaru more…but if I can't talk to them…they'll kill me!
(The chilling realization spreads down Anne's spine as the vines start constricting)
Anne: But…it's either them or me! If I try to talk to them, or do anything, it will hurt them! No…it's a die-die situation!
Tokaki: Subaru…I'm going to make that monster pay.
Subaru: (very weakly) No…Anne…
Tokaki: I understand; I won't let it find Anne.
(Tokaki stands up)
Tokaki: I don't know who or what you are…but I won't let you hurt my friends!
Tatara: In the name of the moon, we shall punish you!
Tokaki: Tataraaaaaa……………
(A tear runs down Anne's face)
Anne: So this is it…this is how it's going to end. I can't kill my friends to save myself…I'm going to have to let this happen. (Anne shakes her head) No! It's not fair! Why do I have to die now? Die without anybody knowing what happened to me? Die without ever seeing my family again??? No way! I won't let it…but what can I do? What can I say that will convince them?
(Tokaki dashes at Anne, who is now unable to move. His left cheek glows as he throws a punch to Anne's midsection. Anne, wind knocked out of her, is sent flying backwards. Tokaki teleports behind her and punches the back of her head as she flies towards him, sending her now sprawling into the dirt. He sticks his foot onto Anne's back.)
Anne: Ohh…it hurts…my stomach… (Anne coughs, red specks splattering the ground)
Tokaki: This is only the beginning! You won't get away with hurting Subaru!
(Tokaki grabs Anne's hair and pulls her up by it. He holds her head next to his…)
Tokaki: Now tell me…who are you, and why are you trying to kill us?
(Anne opens her mouth slowly, blood dripping out of it)
Anne: (softly) Remember…that time by the lake? Outside of Shijuen?
(Tokaki's eyes close as Anne's piercing voice cuts into his eardrums, so close)
Anne: You told me…about the fortune-telling woman. And about…how she gave you the stolen book.
(Tokaki's eyes open wide as he realizes what Anne is talking about)
Anne: And…then, the soldiers attacked…do you remember?
(Tokaki's mouth slowly opens as he realizes who he is holding)
Tokaki: Oh my god…Anne?
Anne: Tokaki…thank you…(Anne's head drops onto her chest)
Tokaki: Oh no…oh no…Anne!!!!
(Tokaki now looks at Anne's body, and truly sees her as her, not as some nightmare. Tatara holds his hands in front of his mouth, eyes stretched wider than possible. The rain has by now completely stopped, and it is but cloudy)
Tatara: Could that…Anne…no, it couldn't be. Could it? Could it????
(Tokaki lets down her body slowly, and feels at her neck)
Tokaki: She…she still has a pulse. But she's losing blood, fast.
Tatara: Let Subaru fi- (he looks back at Subaru, who has now passed out) Oh shit. Ohhhhh shit. This is bad.
Old Woman's voice: Celestial Stars of Byakko!!!!
(Tokaki and Tatara turn their heads to the east, where an extremely old and rather ugly old woman hovers, seated, in the air. She is dressed in a green robe, and has several pink ribbons hovering around her.)
Tokaki: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!! IT'S SO UGLY!!!!
Old Woman: Quiet! I bring you a message; your Priestess has passed the test.
Tatara: The test???
Old Woman: Of course, what are you, braindead? This whole thing was made to test you and her. She passed, with flying colors I might add.
Tokaki: But…Subaru…Anne…this was your doing????
Old Woman: Of course. I had to make certain that the Priestess was worthy of my help.
Tatara: Your help…you don't mean…you're…
Old Woman: Brilliant. I am none other than Taiitsu-kun, the one of whom you seek.
Tokaki: But wait! That doesn't matter!!! You made Anne and Subaru get hurt!
Old Woman: Subaru's injuries are completely mental. All she needs is a good shake. I will heal the Priestess's wounds.
Tatara: Completely…mental???
(Tatara walks over to Subaru, and shakes her vigourously)
Subaru: Oooh…Orlando…Wha?
Tatara: Get up, your injuries don't exist.
Subaru: What? What are you- hey, I feel fine!
Tokaki: What were you dreaming about?!?!?!
Subaru: Oh, nothing. (gets up and sees Taiitsu-kun) AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!
Taiitsu-kun: Why do I always get that from everybody who meets me???
Tatara: Um…dunno. So…what's gonna happen now?
Taiitsu-kun: Honestly. I'm taking you four to Mt. Taikyoku, where a few things need explaining.
Tokaki: Just so long as Anne is taken care of.
Taiitsu-kun: Keep your pants on, she'll be fine.
(Taiitsu-kun closes her eyes, and places her index fingers together. A large carpet descends from the sky.)
Subaru: Ohhhkay…what's going on?
Taiitsu-kun: Hop on.
Tatara: Um…sure.
(The three Warriors sit down on the large carpet. Anne mysteriously levitates onto it. In a moment, the carpet shudders, and then takes off, flying for the mountains at a leisurely place. Taiitsu-kun levitates beside them.)
Taiitsu-kun: We're flying towards Mt. Taikyoku now. See that large mountain, bigger than all the rest?
Tokaki: Yeah…is that Mt. Taikyoku?
Taiitsu-kun: No, that's just a large mountain. It's the smaller one to the left.
(The carpet speeds towards the mountains, and the three friends can see many beautiful, cascading waterfalls, patches of green grass, and spherical purple bubbles floating around to match with the pastel sky.)
Tatara: Um…not meaning to be rude or anything…but what's with the bubbles.
Taiitsu-kun: I have no idea myself. The Nyan-Nyan likes them.
Subaru: Nyan…Nyan?
Tokaki: That is the most idiotic name I've ever heard. Who are they?
Taiitsu-kun: Don't worry; you'll soon be more acquainted with them than you'd ever like to be.
(The carpet starts to descend, and the group lands at what appears to be a palace, stuck on top of the mountain.)
Taiitsu-kun: We're here. Welcome to my home.
Tatara: Ohhh! Coooooool!
Tokaki: Tatara, get over yourself. What's going to happen to Anne?
Taiitsu-kun: One moment. Nyan-Nyan!
(Three pops are heard, punctuated with three puffs of smoke, and three little, infectiously cute, blue-haired little girls phase into existence next to the group)
Subaru: AAAAHHH!!! Where did you come from???
Tatara: They're so cute!!!
Nyan-Nyan 1: Hello!!!
Nyan-Nyan 2: Fix??
Nyan-Nyan 3: Heal??
Taiitsu-kun: Nyan-Nyan, this girl is badly hurt. Please fix her.
Nyan-Nyan 1: Heal!
Nyan-Nyan 2: Fix!
Nyan-Nyan 3: Can we fix your face too?
(Taiitsu-kun glares and the Nyan-Nyans disappear with Anne in tow.)
Taiitsu-kun: All right. Now that that's settled, we can go in.
Tokaki: Those…Nyan-Nyans…can we trust them???
Subaru: Heh, Tokaki's getting maternal!
Tokaki: (blushes, and then glares) I am not! I'm just not sure we should trust Anne in the hands of little girls!
Tatara: But they were so cute…I wonder if they make Nyan-Nyan dolls…
Subaru: Of course not!!!…but if they did I'd buy one.
Taiitsu-kun: Silence! We have more important things to discuss!
Tokaki: We do?
Taiitsu-kun: What did you think I brought you here for, to have a tea party?
Tatara: (Imagines having a tea party with the Nyan-Nyans) The cuteness…IT'S OVERWHELMING!!!!!
Subaru: But…shouldn't we wait for Anne?
Taiitsu-kun: We will talk for a while, and then wait for Anne. Some of this does not concern her.
Tokaki: How can it not? Isn't Anne part of the group?
Taiitsu-kun: Yes, that is true, but she is not a Celestial Warrior. I do not mean that you should not tell her; you may do this later. But this information I am about to tell you is about the Celestial Warriors. Follow me.
(Taiitsu-kun floats through the door to the palace, followed by Tokaki, Subaru and Tatara. She floats down a few corridors, then enters a large room with a throne. She floats over and sits down, motioning for the three to come over.
Taiitsu-kun: Now, we can begin.
Tatara: (snaps out of daydream of Nyan-Nyan tea parties, which he is still having) OK, spill.
Taiitsu-kun: As you know, when one of the four countries is in trouble, a Priestess is summoned into this world to gather the seven Stars of the god. This has been the case with all four previous Priestesses.
Tatara: Wow…that's FASCINATING.
Taiitsu-kun: I'm not done! Normally, this would be what had happened for this current cycle, but it didn't. There was one fundamental, but extremely significant difference. The seven Stars of Byakko were also summoned from the world of the Priestesses.
Tokaki: What? You mean…normally, they aren't?
Taiitsu-kun: No. All previous Stars have been born in this world, and all but three died here, their spirits staying in this world.
Subaru: What happened to those other three?
Taiitsu-kun: This is the important part. One of the two was the Seiryuu Star Nakago; he ended up battling the Suzaku Stars in your world, trying to take control of it. He died there. It is a long story, one that I hesitate to tell here. The conditions that led to that event will never happen again, so we do not need to worry about that possibility.
Tokaki: OK…there are two more.
Taiitsu-kun: Yes, there are two more whose spirits do not reside in this world. Their spirits both left this world for the same reason, though.
Subaru: Who are they?
Taiitsu-kun: One was Tamahome, a Suzaku Star. The other was none other than Tatara.
Tatara: !!!! Tatara????
Taiitsu-kun: Yes. Did you not think there was another Tatara before you? There was another Tokaki, another Subaru, another Kokie, Amefuri, Karasuki and Toroki.
Tatara: Then…why did their spirits leave this world?
Taiitsu-kun: They both made the fatal mistake of falling in love with their Priestess.
(All three Warrior's eyes open wider)
Tokaki: I don't understand…how would that be fatal?
Taiitsu-kun: Think about it. Two people, from two different worlds, falling in love. It is a love that could never be.
Subaru: Oh…that's so sad. But wait…couldn't the Priestess wish for them to be together?
Taiitsu-kun: Very astute, but no. The previous Priestess of Byakko wished for that, but none of the gods are able to grant that wish. It took until Tatara's death until his spirit was reunited with Suzuno Oosugi, the preceding Priestess of Byakko.
Tatara: Suzuno Oosugi…that name is Japanese.
Taiitsu-kun: Pardon me?
Tatara: Oh, nothing.
Tokaki: So, what happened to Tamahome?
Taiitsu-kun: That was a different story, much longer. Tamahome died in the course of protecting his Priestess…sort of. Don't ask. So I made this one exception, which was to let Tamahome's spirit be reborn in the other world. This was a mistake by me, as it led to far worse things…but Tamahome's spirit, actually, still exists in this world.
Tatara: What? You said it didn't anymore!
Taiitsu-kun: Slip of the tongue. His reincarnation lives in the real world; his spirit is still in this world.
Subaru: How interesting…must be a complicated story.
Taiitsu-kun: Quite. Obviously, Sailo needed its Stars. But Tatara's spirit was unable to be reincarnated in this world. So I brought in seven Stars of Byakko from the other world, along with the Priestess. It was quite draining; I do not want to do it again.
Tokaki: That's absolutely wonderful.
Taiitsu-kun: Very gracious, I can see. Luckily, I have no more to tell you until the Priestess awakens. I suggest that you rest in the chambers down the hall until she recovers.
Tatara: And that will be...how long?
Taiitsu-kun: The Nyan-Nyan are experts at what they do. However, I do not exactly know what it is they DO do…so the amount of time that it will take is unknown.
Subaru: What????
Taiitsu-kun: In a nutshell, I don't know. And I have more important things to do than babysit you three. Go amuse yourselves somewhere else.
Tokaki: Fine. Old hag.
Taiitsu-kun: (Hits Tokaki hard) I heard that!
(The three Warriors quickly leave the room, scurrying down the hallway.)
Taiitsu-kun: Such young children…will they be able to bring peace to Sailo? Or will they die in the process?
*************
(A girl enters the town inn as the sun sets. She sits down at one of the tables and wearily orders her meal from the waitress. The waitress walks over to the cooks and places the order. As the food is brought to the table, the waitress subtly opens a small packet and pours it into the food…)
*************
(The three Warriors, after finding the time to be very late, swallowed their worries for Anne and slept in Taiitsu-kun's lavish guest bedrooms. It's now morning, and Tokaki and Tatara are still asleep in their rooms)
Tokaki: Mmmmm…mmmmmm…*snort*…
Tatara: (sleeps quietly)
(Suddenly, there are three loud pops as three Nyan-Nyans pop into the room)
Nyan-Nyan 1: GOOD MORNING!!!!!
Nyan-Nyan 2: WAKE UP!!!!
Nyan-Nyan 3: HIIIII!!!!
(Tokaki and Tatara sit up speedy quick. Tatara smiles in glee at seeing the unbearable cuteness, while Tokaki glares at them for waking him up)
Tokaki: DO YOU THINGS HAVE ANY SHAME???
Tatara: Tokaki! How can you yell at something so cute?
Tokaki: They woke me up!!!!
Nyan-Nyan 1: Come on, get ready!
Nyan-Nyan 2: Busy day ahead!
Nyan-Nyan 3: Girls wait!
Tatara: Girls?
Tokaki: That means…
Nyan-Nyans: FIXED!!!!
Tatara: Aaah! That's wonderful! Here, let us get dressed and we'll be out shortly.
(The Nyan-Nyans reluctantly pop out of the room as the boys get dressed. They are quickly out of the room and moving down the hallway, where they can hear the girl's voices. They walk down the hallway to an open door, where Anne and Subaru are sitting at two ends of a square table, filled with food. They are already eating, and look up as the boys enter)
Subaru: Morning!
Tatara: Anne!
Tokaki: Anne! You're all right!
Anne: Yeah, I'm ok. Those Nyan-Nyans really do know how to heal somebody.
Tatara: Wow…they're unbearably cute and yet get the job done!
Tokaki: Can you possibly get any dumber?
Subaru: Yes.
Anne: Come on, guys, quit bickering and sit down!
(The two boys join the girls in eating. The food is very good, and when they have finished, Taiitsu-kun abruptly appears.)
Taiitsu-kun: Hello again.
Tokaki: AAAAAAAAH!!!! Don't scare me like that!
(Taiitsu-kun glares at Tokaki as the table disappears, shocking all four of the eaters)
Tatara: The table!!! It's gone!
Taiitsu-kun: What, you've never seen something teleport before?
Tokaki: Yes, he has.
Subaru: You must be really powerful to do something like that so easily.
Anne: Um…she did kinda create the world…
Taiitsu-kun: Yes, and it would serve you well not to forget it! Now, on to business. Now that the Priestess has woken up, I have a few things to discuss with you.
Tatara: Ok, go ahead. We're listening.
Taiitsu-kun: While this may seem like old news to you, I cannot stress enough the urgency your mission has. Kutou's sudden expansion into Sailo both confuses and worries me.
Subaru: Why? Isn't Kutou a really martial country?
Taiitsu-kun: Yes, but Kutou has attacked Sailo in the past already. Furthermore, Kutou has also attacked Hokkan and Konan as well. What worries me is Kutou's motive. The Emperor of Kutou is not stupid; he knows that a Priestess would be summoned if the country were in enough danger.
Tokaki: That makes sense…so what are you getting at?
Taiitsu-kun: Basically, you need to hurry up gathering the other four Stars. Time is of the essence; every day Kutou's armies conquer more of Sailo. And you must be careful as well; as you probably know, there are assassins on your trail.
Anne: Yeah, we knew that. Kutou needs to get some better assassins, though. They've failed twice.
Taiitsu-kun: The persons sending the assassins are not affiliated with Kutou.
Tatara: What???
Subaru: If they're not with Kutou, who are they?
Tokaki: And why would they want to kill Anne?
Taiitsu-kun: Well…these certain people do not operate under normal guidelines. They are…how can I put this…a religious cult.
Anne: That's really odd…which god do they revere? Suzaku or Genbu?
Taiitsu-kun: They do not worship any of the four gods.
All: HUH??? Then who DO they worship?
Taiitsu-kun: They worship…(eyesbrows crease) Never mind who they worship. It is not important. I just tell you this so that you are careful. They are quite powerful and influential.
Anne: But why would they want to kill me???
Taiitsu-kun: As I said, they do not operate logically. Most likely your death is in the best interests of their "god."
Tatara: Wait…they don't plan to like, resurrect the god, which is actually a supercomputer that crashed to earth 15,000 years ago, do they?
Tokaki: WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT???
Taiitsu-kun: I highly doubt that whatever you are saying is true. I will not waste any more of your time; you must hurry and find the Warriors. When you find all seven, return to this mountain and I will give you directions for the ceremony.
Subaru: OK…we'll be back then.
Anne: Thanks for letting us stay the night!
(The group gets up and walks towards the door.)
Taiitsu-kun: Wait. I must speak to Anne, alone.
Anne: Me?
Tokaki: Alone???
Taiitsu-kun: This will take but a moment. I only have to tell her one thing. Just wait outside.
(The three Warriors shrug, and then walk out the door. It closes behind them. After a few minutes, Anne's voice is heard through the walls)
Anne: WHAAAAAAATTTTTTTTTTTTT??????????????????????
Subaru: Whoa…what just happened?
Tatara: Guess she heard something she didn't like…
Anne: AAAHHH!! AAAAAHHHH!! She said "it will be hard for me"!!! AAAHHH!!!
Nick: Wait, what did she say???
Luna: I guess that's just gonna be one of life's unanswered questions
Kat: Just like "how many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Roll Pop."
Janna: And "How many brain cells does Chris have?"
Chris: Hey! I have brain cells! You can even look inside my ear and see them!
Max: (looks inside Chris's ear) "This space for rent."
Chris: IDIOT!!!!!
Jeff: (sighs) Anyways, the next episode is called "Shiban no Seishi", or "The Fourth Celestial Warrior."
Anne: Gee, I can't guess what's gonna happen.