Disclaimer: I still don't own Fushigi Yuugi. If I did, why would I be
sitting here writing this?
Thanks to:
Otaku Pitcher: Don't worry; Shiriko does in fact get better soon. He is a major character so he's needed. Chichiri does get a bigger part in the next few chapters so I think you should be happy. Oh, the reason the story seems so planned out is because I have a lot of the chapters written up (I'm on 14 now) but I'm too lazy to type them and don't always have time. Tamahome will get better he just has to see what kind of person Yume is.
Lanen: I'm sorry, Shiriko had to get hurt. It's important to the plot, I promise. I'm glad you like the camera scene, and I will take care of the double sentence, thanks for pointing it out. It goes to prove that even I, the great Smack, make mistakes. (Tasuki: Get over yourself. ::smacks Smack upside the head::)
Milady: And we have a new reviewer! Thanks for reviewing! I'm glad you like the story and yes, as sad as it is, they have to be mean to Yume. Eventually, they may become nice to her but for now, they're all big fat jerks!
Author's Note: I'm so sorry that this took so long! The day I was ready to put it up, fanfiction.net was down so I had to wait. Hopefully you'll figure me since this is the chapter that will change everything. Actually, it won't. There are three chapters that change everything and none of them have happened yet. (Although one is coming up rather soon. . .chapter 8 actually is the first.) This is a kind of confusing chapter; a lot of it doesn't take place in the real realm. Let's just say that poor Yume has some issues, some real issues. That's all I'm giving away for now. This chapter is just too important to give it all away. One more thing, be sure to read the end author's note. It contains a little bonus for my reviewers. . .
Yume's thoughts will be represented like this: '. . .'
Chapter 6: Nightmares and Reflections!
I was walking through what seemed to be an abandoned house of some sort. It was extremely dark so I couldn't see well. "Mom! Tony! Shiriko! Anyone!" I called out into the darkness. I kept walking until I saw a wavy image of my mom and brother. I ran towards them, my arms out. They didn't even seem to notice me, not even as I ran straight through them. They gradually faded away, leaving me alone once more. "No! Mom! Tony! Don't go! Don't leave me again!" I cried. I stood there for a second, waiting to see if they'd come back. I decided to look for a way out; they obviously weren't coming back. 'This place is like a dark maze,' I thought as I continued to make my way through the endless halls and corridors. I thought I saw Shiriko running towards me. "Shiriko?" I called to him, but he did not hear me. He ran straight through me and continued on, until he too disappeared. I felt like crying. "Why are you all leaving me?" I asked the darkness.
"Frustrating, isn't it?" an emotionless voice asked. I turned to find a figure standing behind me. I couldn't see his face clearly but that voice. . .for some reason, it sent chills down my spine.
"Who are you? What is this place?" I questioned. He didn't answer; he just laughed a cold, heartless laugh. He pulled out a strange weapon, one I had never seen before. I was very exotic, the only part I recognized was a chain that connected the blades to the part he was holding. I started running, trying to escape. He swung the weapon around his head, the blades twirling, and then he swung it at me. I tried to dodge but my body wouldn't move: it was like I was frozen in place. I felt the cold blades slice through my flesh like nothing. I fell to the ground, unable to hold back the tears that were forcing themselves out of my eyes as I watched the unknown pursuer walk towards me, knowing I could do nothing but sit there and bleed. He smiled down at me and then proceeded to kick me in the stomach. I coughed and blood came out. He swung the weapon again, this time cutting me from my arm to my cheek. "Stop. . .why. . .* cough* are you. . .* cough* doing this?" I asked, struggling to speak.
I didn't get a response as I struggled to get up, to escape, but found it nearly impossible. The figure stood over me, his shadowed face smirking down at me. I managed to get up, and wiped the blood from my face. It was in vain, however, because fresh blood soon poured from the wound. The skin on my cheek felt like it was going to fall off. My world started spinning, probably due to loss of blood, and I fell down again.
The figure grabbed me by my hair and dragged me along the ground. The scenery changed, we were on a snow-covered mountain now. He dragged me through the snow like I was but a doll. My body grew numb from the cold as I laid there, dazed, watching as the snow around me turned pinkish red as I passed through it. We reached our destination I guess, because I was thrown against something hard, the wall of a cave, perhaps. I turned my head, numb still, and saw another figure. I couldn't see his face, either. The two started to battle as my world blacked out. . .
I woke up in a strange dark room. I was breathing heavily and covered in a cold sweat. Then it hit me; I knew where I was. I longed to be home; in my bed, in my house, where my family was. 'No. . .they weren't there. If I was home, I'd be by myself. They were never home. Why would I want to go back there?' I thought bitterly. No sense staying in bed, crying over a world where you knew no one cared. I got up and checked on Shiriko. His leg looked a little better. I rewrapped it and got dressed in the clothes Miaka gave me. 'Every little thing I do makes me think of home. I hate it!' I thought, as I grabbed my sweatshirt and put it on. "I'll be back Shiriko. I just need to think," I told my pet as I left the room. 'Think. . .ha. I need to do more than think.'
The ground was still covered with early morning dew and a thin layer of fog covered the world. I breathed in the fresh morning air and shivered. 'I'm glad I have my sweatshirt. It can be cold in the spring, during the morning anyway.' My mind told me it was around six in the morning. Normally, I'd love to be asleep this time of day, but today I was worried, scared actually, of going back to sleep. It was truly beautiful here, but I was too upset to appreciate it. I felt more lost and alone then I had in a long time. Not since before I had found Shiriko had I been so unsure of my life. 'You didn't tell Tasuki the whole story of your finding Shiriko,' my mind reminded me. 'I did find him in the river, but never did I mention the reason that I was at the river.'
I wandered around the early morning world, oblivious to its splendor, lost in my own memories. I was being brought back to right before I had found Shiriko. 'I had just gotten into a huge fight with my mom, about what I cannot remember. I think I wanted her to be home more. No, it was because she missed my concert,' I recalled. 'I was young, only about twelve, not that that was all that long ago, and that was important to me. The fight ended with me yelling, "I hate you!" and storming out of the house.'
'I was so hurt I didn't even give her time to explain,' I noticed as the memories kept surging forward. I couldn't even see the real world anymore; all I could see was my memory. I ended up at the river, I never did figure out why I went there, still crying my eyes out. I heard myself talking to someone. "God? Why don't my mom and brother care about me? How come they're never there when I need them?" I asked. I watched as my younger self sat down on a rock and tried to stop crying. My younger mind decided that they didn't care about me because I wasn't worth caring about. 'I still don't understand how my mind decided that.' My younger self got up and walked towards the water, preparing to end my life, when it saw something bobbing in the river. I heard faint whimpering as well. I swam over to the bag, this new cause omitting all thoughts of suicide from my mind. I had a feeling that I was here to save whatever was in the bag. The jagged rocks cut me but I didn't care. All I cared about was getting to the bag and bringing it back to shore. I made it back to shore, miraculously, and opened the bag. Inside were seven puppies, but I noticed that only two were moving. "Uh oh!" I yelled. "I better get home quick! I gotta save them!"
Forgetting that my clothes were soaked and that my shoes were ruined, I started running back home. It was about fifteen minutes later when I stormed through the door to my house, out of breath and feeling as though I were out of time. "Mom, you have to take me to the vet quick. I found these puppies in the river and only two of them are moving." I gasped for breath, still tired from my run.
"You need to change before we go anywhere. You're soaking wet!" she ordered. 'There's no time! I felt the urgency once again and practically screamed the words. 'There's no time!' my mind yelled. She gave in and handed me a towel and we got in the car. I opened the bag and took a look at the puppies, still only two were moving. One kept on nudging the other, as though it were trying to get it closer to the air hole. It made me sick. . .who could do that to any living thing?
We rushed into the vet's office and up to the desk. "Excuse me," the lady at the desk said. "Do you have an appointment?"
"No, but there's no time! I found these puppies in the river and only two are moving. You have to help them," I pleaded.
"We better hurry. Please follow me." We took off down the hallway, towards the area marked "emergency room." I found out that only two of the puppies were alive: a male and a female. The others were dead when I found them.
The vet emerged from the room, wiping the sweat from his brow. "You're lucky you found those two when you did," he told us. I had gone home to change sometime before then and had been waiting expectantly at the office for a while. "A little bit more and. . .I don't think I would have been able to help."
"Can I see them?" I asked, my eyes filled with hope.
"I suppose. We don't know what to do with them. Our tests have shown that they are half wolf and not many people can handle that type of dog. The girl hasn't given us much trouble; she's just been shy. It's the male we are worried about. He won't let anyone near him." He led us into a room filled with cages of all sorts and sizes chock full of a variety of animals. In a cage away from the other animals, the puppies sat. 'I remember my first reaction to seeing Shiriko. I felt drawn to him. . .like it was my job to protect him.' It was strange, this memory, it seemed like I was watching a movie. I didn't see things through my eyes.
My younger self's face lit up. As I reached to pet the cinnamon and white one, the little white and gray one charged. He tried to growl, but it sounded funny. His bright blue eyes glared with complete distrust at me. I tried again but he tried to bite me. "I told you. That one doesn't want to trust anyone. If he keeps it up, we may have to put him down."
My expression to changed to one of horror. "No! You can't just kill him for protecting his sister! He has no reason to trust people! Look what people did to him and his brothers and sisters!" I yelled. After a large debate, I convinced the vet and my mom to let me keep the pups until we could find homes for them. I relived the training and taming of the pups and watched as Shiriko and his sister, Kira, gradually learned to trust people again and grew up. Kira was given to a friend of my mom's but we couldn't find a home for Shiriko. Shiriko had more wolf traits than his sister, which made it very hard for us to find a home for him. The only person he trusted besides me was my family; and he didn't even trust them very much. Finally, we had no choice but to keep him. Not that I minded.
"Hey Yume! What are you doing up so early?" a voice asked me, taking me by surprise and shattering my memories.
"Huh? What?" I asked, looking around confused. I spotted Chichiri standing by the water, fishing pole in hand, and watching me with interest. "I couldn't sleep, I needed to think."
"Yea, I understand that feeling. Whatever it was, it must have been important, you looked pretty absorbed in your thoughts, you know," Chichiri stated. His face was smiling, of course. 'I wonder how he can always be smiling. Is he really that happy all of the time? I wish I was. . .but that kind of thinking is how I got here in the first place. . .'
"Do you mind if I sit with you for a little bit? I'm not done thinking but I don't feel like being alone," I asked, uncertain of the answer. 'God. . .watch, now everyone will think I'm after Chichiri, too.' My bitter thoughts were starting to annoy me.
"Sure, I don't mind. It's nice to have some company once in awhile, you know," he replied and we both sat down. We sat in silence; I was too lost in my own thoughts and he was fishing. Finally, he said, "It's peaceful here, isn't it? This is my favorite fishing spot."
"Yea it's nice. Nothing like home," I answered instinctively. "Home. . ." I whispered.
"You miss your world, don't you? That's what you were thinking about, wasn't it?" he asked. I don't think he was trying to be rude or nasty, but it sure sounded like it.
"Yes and no." He looked over at me, as though he were indicating that he would listen but not pry. "I do miss my world a little, but it wasn't like I was leaving much. I have the one thing that really matters to me with me and I was always home alone. But I wasn't thinking about home. I was just adding salt to an old wound."
"Oh?" He didn't say anything else; I guess he was waiting for me to say more. I didn't. 'He doesn't need to know more. Who is he to you? We can't trust him,' my head told me. Part of me believed that I could trust him, but I wasn't ready to take that chance. He tried to change the subject. "Where's Shiriko? He's almost always with you, you know?"
"He hurt his leg last night. We went on a walk before bed and he ran off. When he got back, his leg had a huge cut on it. I don't exactly know what happened," I told Chichiri.
"You should take him to Mitsukake! He should be able to help. Come on, we can go get him and Mitsukake and can heal him."
"Oh no. I wrapped it up and it looks better now." I didn't want to have any more guys helping me. I don't need Chichiri to be added to the growing list of "guys that I control."
"Well, Mitsukake should at least take a look at it. He is a doctor, he can help," Chichiri insisted, getting up. He pulled me to my feet. No sense in arguing with him, he may get suspicious.
We arrived at my room quickly and he politely stayed at the door. "Is Mitsukake even up?" I asked. 'Shiriko is limping now. Is he even worse?'
"He gets up early but stays in his room," Chichiri responded. "Are you sure he's ok? He is limping, you know."
"It looked better this morning." We reached Mitsukake's door and knocked on it. Sure enough, he was up and opened it. Chichiri told him about Shiriko and he tried to touch his leg, but Shiriko snarled at him. "Let me do it. It's ok Shiriko, we're just going to look at it." I grabbed his leg softly and removed the bandage. It seemed the wound had gotten worse.
"I think I can help if he'll let me touch his leg," Mitsukake hinted. Shiriko understood and allowed him to put this weird old medicine on it. It must have worked because Shiriko licked Mitsukake's hand and stopped limping. "Keep it bandaged and make sure he rests it. It should be fine, though."
"Thanks a lot Mitsukake!" I gave him a quick thank you hug and Shiriko and I took off. 'Maybe I shouldn't have hugged him. It will just feed the rumors. Everything I do feeds the rumors. I don't care anymore.' As we were walking away, I heard footsteps behind me. 'Must be Chichiri. Wonder why he's following me?'
I turned around to see if it was Chichiri following me, but as far as I could tell, he hadn't left Mitsukake's room and no one else was in the hall. 'Oh great, not this again. I'm probably just hearing things.' I kept on walking eventually hearing a door close and more footsteps. Out of nowhere, Shiriko decided to test his recovering leg. "Shiriko! You heard what Mitsukake said! You have to take it easy! That means no running!" I called after him. 'I should have left him on the leash,' I thought as I ran to catch up with him.
I experienced a case of déjà vu as Shiriko stopped suddenly and began to growl as he turned the corner. "Shiriko? What's wrong? What's there?" I asked as I started to turn the corner slowly, afraid of what I might find.
Author's Note:
Tasuki: You were scared of what you might find? HA! Coward!
Yume: You'd be scared too, if you knew what I found the last time this sort of thing happened.
Tasuki: What happened last time?
Smack: She isn't allowed to tell you. ::makes Yume disappear before she can open her mouth:: Now then, what will she find when she turns that corner? What could make Shiriko go on attack mode? Anyway, here's my little hint of things to come:
"We have some questions for you, Yume. It's very important that you answer with complete honesty. Do you understand?" Hotohori asked.
Smack: That's all you get! Anymore and I'd give way too much away. Oh, you know that dream she had? That was based on a dream I had the night before I wrote the first part of this chapter. I thought it'd work pretty good in here. Do yourselves a favor and don't forget it, ok?
Smack's Special Offer:
Ok, I have four parts in the story which need filling. I haven't decided whether they will be major or minor but they will be important to the plot for a while. (And you get to boss around Miaka. Wait? Did I just say that?) One, I think, is going to my best friend, mini, but the other three and up for grabs. (And there are three of you so it works out perfectly.) All you have to do is respond in your reviews or send me mail. * grins* I love mail. Anyway, just tell me the name you want for your character, physical description, age (optional), and personality (basic. . .I can develop it if you want). One more thing, it would work better if they were girls but it don't matter. That's what you guys get for being such faithful reviewers!
Thanks to:
Otaku Pitcher: Don't worry; Shiriko does in fact get better soon. He is a major character so he's needed. Chichiri does get a bigger part in the next few chapters so I think you should be happy. Oh, the reason the story seems so planned out is because I have a lot of the chapters written up (I'm on 14 now) but I'm too lazy to type them and don't always have time. Tamahome will get better he just has to see what kind of person Yume is.
Lanen: I'm sorry, Shiriko had to get hurt. It's important to the plot, I promise. I'm glad you like the camera scene, and I will take care of the double sentence, thanks for pointing it out. It goes to prove that even I, the great Smack, make mistakes. (Tasuki: Get over yourself. ::smacks Smack upside the head::)
Milady: And we have a new reviewer! Thanks for reviewing! I'm glad you like the story and yes, as sad as it is, they have to be mean to Yume. Eventually, they may become nice to her but for now, they're all big fat jerks!
Author's Note: I'm so sorry that this took so long! The day I was ready to put it up, fanfiction.net was down so I had to wait. Hopefully you'll figure me since this is the chapter that will change everything. Actually, it won't. There are three chapters that change everything and none of them have happened yet. (Although one is coming up rather soon. . .chapter 8 actually is the first.) This is a kind of confusing chapter; a lot of it doesn't take place in the real realm. Let's just say that poor Yume has some issues, some real issues. That's all I'm giving away for now. This chapter is just too important to give it all away. One more thing, be sure to read the end author's note. It contains a little bonus for my reviewers. . .
Yume's thoughts will be represented like this: '. . .'
Chapter 6: Nightmares and Reflections!
I was walking through what seemed to be an abandoned house of some sort. It was extremely dark so I couldn't see well. "Mom! Tony! Shiriko! Anyone!" I called out into the darkness. I kept walking until I saw a wavy image of my mom and brother. I ran towards them, my arms out. They didn't even seem to notice me, not even as I ran straight through them. They gradually faded away, leaving me alone once more. "No! Mom! Tony! Don't go! Don't leave me again!" I cried. I stood there for a second, waiting to see if they'd come back. I decided to look for a way out; they obviously weren't coming back. 'This place is like a dark maze,' I thought as I continued to make my way through the endless halls and corridors. I thought I saw Shiriko running towards me. "Shiriko?" I called to him, but he did not hear me. He ran straight through me and continued on, until he too disappeared. I felt like crying. "Why are you all leaving me?" I asked the darkness.
"Frustrating, isn't it?" an emotionless voice asked. I turned to find a figure standing behind me. I couldn't see his face clearly but that voice. . .for some reason, it sent chills down my spine.
"Who are you? What is this place?" I questioned. He didn't answer; he just laughed a cold, heartless laugh. He pulled out a strange weapon, one I had never seen before. I was very exotic, the only part I recognized was a chain that connected the blades to the part he was holding. I started running, trying to escape. He swung the weapon around his head, the blades twirling, and then he swung it at me. I tried to dodge but my body wouldn't move: it was like I was frozen in place. I felt the cold blades slice through my flesh like nothing. I fell to the ground, unable to hold back the tears that were forcing themselves out of my eyes as I watched the unknown pursuer walk towards me, knowing I could do nothing but sit there and bleed. He smiled down at me and then proceeded to kick me in the stomach. I coughed and blood came out. He swung the weapon again, this time cutting me from my arm to my cheek. "Stop. . .why. . .* cough* are you. . .* cough* doing this?" I asked, struggling to speak.
I didn't get a response as I struggled to get up, to escape, but found it nearly impossible. The figure stood over me, his shadowed face smirking down at me. I managed to get up, and wiped the blood from my face. It was in vain, however, because fresh blood soon poured from the wound. The skin on my cheek felt like it was going to fall off. My world started spinning, probably due to loss of blood, and I fell down again.
The figure grabbed me by my hair and dragged me along the ground. The scenery changed, we were on a snow-covered mountain now. He dragged me through the snow like I was but a doll. My body grew numb from the cold as I laid there, dazed, watching as the snow around me turned pinkish red as I passed through it. We reached our destination I guess, because I was thrown against something hard, the wall of a cave, perhaps. I turned my head, numb still, and saw another figure. I couldn't see his face, either. The two started to battle as my world blacked out. . .
I woke up in a strange dark room. I was breathing heavily and covered in a cold sweat. Then it hit me; I knew where I was. I longed to be home; in my bed, in my house, where my family was. 'No. . .they weren't there. If I was home, I'd be by myself. They were never home. Why would I want to go back there?' I thought bitterly. No sense staying in bed, crying over a world where you knew no one cared. I got up and checked on Shiriko. His leg looked a little better. I rewrapped it and got dressed in the clothes Miaka gave me. 'Every little thing I do makes me think of home. I hate it!' I thought, as I grabbed my sweatshirt and put it on. "I'll be back Shiriko. I just need to think," I told my pet as I left the room. 'Think. . .ha. I need to do more than think.'
The ground was still covered with early morning dew and a thin layer of fog covered the world. I breathed in the fresh morning air and shivered. 'I'm glad I have my sweatshirt. It can be cold in the spring, during the morning anyway.' My mind told me it was around six in the morning. Normally, I'd love to be asleep this time of day, but today I was worried, scared actually, of going back to sleep. It was truly beautiful here, but I was too upset to appreciate it. I felt more lost and alone then I had in a long time. Not since before I had found Shiriko had I been so unsure of my life. 'You didn't tell Tasuki the whole story of your finding Shiriko,' my mind reminded me. 'I did find him in the river, but never did I mention the reason that I was at the river.'
I wandered around the early morning world, oblivious to its splendor, lost in my own memories. I was being brought back to right before I had found Shiriko. 'I had just gotten into a huge fight with my mom, about what I cannot remember. I think I wanted her to be home more. No, it was because she missed my concert,' I recalled. 'I was young, only about twelve, not that that was all that long ago, and that was important to me. The fight ended with me yelling, "I hate you!" and storming out of the house.'
'I was so hurt I didn't even give her time to explain,' I noticed as the memories kept surging forward. I couldn't even see the real world anymore; all I could see was my memory. I ended up at the river, I never did figure out why I went there, still crying my eyes out. I heard myself talking to someone. "God? Why don't my mom and brother care about me? How come they're never there when I need them?" I asked. I watched as my younger self sat down on a rock and tried to stop crying. My younger mind decided that they didn't care about me because I wasn't worth caring about. 'I still don't understand how my mind decided that.' My younger self got up and walked towards the water, preparing to end my life, when it saw something bobbing in the river. I heard faint whimpering as well. I swam over to the bag, this new cause omitting all thoughts of suicide from my mind. I had a feeling that I was here to save whatever was in the bag. The jagged rocks cut me but I didn't care. All I cared about was getting to the bag and bringing it back to shore. I made it back to shore, miraculously, and opened the bag. Inside were seven puppies, but I noticed that only two were moving. "Uh oh!" I yelled. "I better get home quick! I gotta save them!"
Forgetting that my clothes were soaked and that my shoes were ruined, I started running back home. It was about fifteen minutes later when I stormed through the door to my house, out of breath and feeling as though I were out of time. "Mom, you have to take me to the vet quick. I found these puppies in the river and only two of them are moving." I gasped for breath, still tired from my run.
"You need to change before we go anywhere. You're soaking wet!" she ordered. 'There's no time! I felt the urgency once again and practically screamed the words. 'There's no time!' my mind yelled. She gave in and handed me a towel and we got in the car. I opened the bag and took a look at the puppies, still only two were moving. One kept on nudging the other, as though it were trying to get it closer to the air hole. It made me sick. . .who could do that to any living thing?
We rushed into the vet's office and up to the desk. "Excuse me," the lady at the desk said. "Do you have an appointment?"
"No, but there's no time! I found these puppies in the river and only two are moving. You have to help them," I pleaded.
"We better hurry. Please follow me." We took off down the hallway, towards the area marked "emergency room." I found out that only two of the puppies were alive: a male and a female. The others were dead when I found them.
The vet emerged from the room, wiping the sweat from his brow. "You're lucky you found those two when you did," he told us. I had gone home to change sometime before then and had been waiting expectantly at the office for a while. "A little bit more and. . .I don't think I would have been able to help."
"Can I see them?" I asked, my eyes filled with hope.
"I suppose. We don't know what to do with them. Our tests have shown that they are half wolf and not many people can handle that type of dog. The girl hasn't given us much trouble; she's just been shy. It's the male we are worried about. He won't let anyone near him." He led us into a room filled with cages of all sorts and sizes chock full of a variety of animals. In a cage away from the other animals, the puppies sat. 'I remember my first reaction to seeing Shiriko. I felt drawn to him. . .like it was my job to protect him.' It was strange, this memory, it seemed like I was watching a movie. I didn't see things through my eyes.
My younger self's face lit up. As I reached to pet the cinnamon and white one, the little white and gray one charged. He tried to growl, but it sounded funny. His bright blue eyes glared with complete distrust at me. I tried again but he tried to bite me. "I told you. That one doesn't want to trust anyone. If he keeps it up, we may have to put him down."
My expression to changed to one of horror. "No! You can't just kill him for protecting his sister! He has no reason to trust people! Look what people did to him and his brothers and sisters!" I yelled. After a large debate, I convinced the vet and my mom to let me keep the pups until we could find homes for them. I relived the training and taming of the pups and watched as Shiriko and his sister, Kira, gradually learned to trust people again and grew up. Kira was given to a friend of my mom's but we couldn't find a home for Shiriko. Shiriko had more wolf traits than his sister, which made it very hard for us to find a home for him. The only person he trusted besides me was my family; and he didn't even trust them very much. Finally, we had no choice but to keep him. Not that I minded.
"Hey Yume! What are you doing up so early?" a voice asked me, taking me by surprise and shattering my memories.
"Huh? What?" I asked, looking around confused. I spotted Chichiri standing by the water, fishing pole in hand, and watching me with interest. "I couldn't sleep, I needed to think."
"Yea, I understand that feeling. Whatever it was, it must have been important, you looked pretty absorbed in your thoughts, you know," Chichiri stated. His face was smiling, of course. 'I wonder how he can always be smiling. Is he really that happy all of the time? I wish I was. . .but that kind of thinking is how I got here in the first place. . .'
"Do you mind if I sit with you for a little bit? I'm not done thinking but I don't feel like being alone," I asked, uncertain of the answer. 'God. . .watch, now everyone will think I'm after Chichiri, too.' My bitter thoughts were starting to annoy me.
"Sure, I don't mind. It's nice to have some company once in awhile, you know," he replied and we both sat down. We sat in silence; I was too lost in my own thoughts and he was fishing. Finally, he said, "It's peaceful here, isn't it? This is my favorite fishing spot."
"Yea it's nice. Nothing like home," I answered instinctively. "Home. . ." I whispered.
"You miss your world, don't you? That's what you were thinking about, wasn't it?" he asked. I don't think he was trying to be rude or nasty, but it sure sounded like it.
"Yes and no." He looked over at me, as though he were indicating that he would listen but not pry. "I do miss my world a little, but it wasn't like I was leaving much. I have the one thing that really matters to me with me and I was always home alone. But I wasn't thinking about home. I was just adding salt to an old wound."
"Oh?" He didn't say anything else; I guess he was waiting for me to say more. I didn't. 'He doesn't need to know more. Who is he to you? We can't trust him,' my head told me. Part of me believed that I could trust him, but I wasn't ready to take that chance. He tried to change the subject. "Where's Shiriko? He's almost always with you, you know?"
"He hurt his leg last night. We went on a walk before bed and he ran off. When he got back, his leg had a huge cut on it. I don't exactly know what happened," I told Chichiri.
"You should take him to Mitsukake! He should be able to help. Come on, we can go get him and Mitsukake and can heal him."
"Oh no. I wrapped it up and it looks better now." I didn't want to have any more guys helping me. I don't need Chichiri to be added to the growing list of "guys that I control."
"Well, Mitsukake should at least take a look at it. He is a doctor, he can help," Chichiri insisted, getting up. He pulled me to my feet. No sense in arguing with him, he may get suspicious.
We arrived at my room quickly and he politely stayed at the door. "Is Mitsukake even up?" I asked. 'Shiriko is limping now. Is he even worse?'
"He gets up early but stays in his room," Chichiri responded. "Are you sure he's ok? He is limping, you know."
"It looked better this morning." We reached Mitsukake's door and knocked on it. Sure enough, he was up and opened it. Chichiri told him about Shiriko and he tried to touch his leg, but Shiriko snarled at him. "Let me do it. It's ok Shiriko, we're just going to look at it." I grabbed his leg softly and removed the bandage. It seemed the wound had gotten worse.
"I think I can help if he'll let me touch his leg," Mitsukake hinted. Shiriko understood and allowed him to put this weird old medicine on it. It must have worked because Shiriko licked Mitsukake's hand and stopped limping. "Keep it bandaged and make sure he rests it. It should be fine, though."
"Thanks a lot Mitsukake!" I gave him a quick thank you hug and Shiriko and I took off. 'Maybe I shouldn't have hugged him. It will just feed the rumors. Everything I do feeds the rumors. I don't care anymore.' As we were walking away, I heard footsteps behind me. 'Must be Chichiri. Wonder why he's following me?'
I turned around to see if it was Chichiri following me, but as far as I could tell, he hadn't left Mitsukake's room and no one else was in the hall. 'Oh great, not this again. I'm probably just hearing things.' I kept on walking eventually hearing a door close and more footsteps. Out of nowhere, Shiriko decided to test his recovering leg. "Shiriko! You heard what Mitsukake said! You have to take it easy! That means no running!" I called after him. 'I should have left him on the leash,' I thought as I ran to catch up with him.
I experienced a case of déjà vu as Shiriko stopped suddenly and began to growl as he turned the corner. "Shiriko? What's wrong? What's there?" I asked as I started to turn the corner slowly, afraid of what I might find.
Author's Note:
Tasuki: You were scared of what you might find? HA! Coward!
Yume: You'd be scared too, if you knew what I found the last time this sort of thing happened.
Tasuki: What happened last time?
Smack: She isn't allowed to tell you. ::makes Yume disappear before she can open her mouth:: Now then, what will she find when she turns that corner? What could make Shiriko go on attack mode? Anyway, here's my little hint of things to come:
"We have some questions for you, Yume. It's very important that you answer with complete honesty. Do you understand?" Hotohori asked.
Smack: That's all you get! Anymore and I'd give way too much away. Oh, you know that dream she had? That was based on a dream I had the night before I wrote the first part of this chapter. I thought it'd work pretty good in here. Do yourselves a favor and don't forget it, ok?
Smack's Special Offer:
Ok, I have four parts in the story which need filling. I haven't decided whether they will be major or minor but they will be important to the plot for a while. (And you get to boss around Miaka. Wait? Did I just say that?) One, I think, is going to my best friend, mini, but the other three and up for grabs. (And there are three of you so it works out perfectly.) All you have to do is respond in your reviews or send me mail. * grins* I love mail. Anyway, just tell me the name you want for your character, physical description, age (optional), and personality (basic. . .I can develop it if you want). One more thing, it would work better if they were girls but it don't matter. That's what you guys get for being such faithful reviewers!