Disclaimer: Please see chapters one through nine. Thank you.
Thanks to. . .
Renee: Thanks! That should cover it, right?
Otaku Pitcher: I guess it wasn't that long of a wait. Oh, thanks again for reviewing my new story. I thanked you in the chapter, too, but wanted to thank you here. It is nice when Tasuki has his sweet moments, isn't it? He has a couple but look for them on a regular basis. Wouldn't want to ruin his bad boy bandit image, would I?
RyogazGal: Wow! Thanks! I'm glad this is your favorite OC fic. Smack feels special. ( Um. . .I understand that you can't keep up with the story all the time. I'm glad you don't run your life around my story (I'd feel a little bit weird if ya did.) It would make a funny show, wouldn't it? I think I'd watch it too. Anyway, thanks again!
Goku-chan: No need to be sorry. I should be. I was in a bad mood when I was doing the thank yous and forgot that Shiriko wasn't in that chapter much. And I'm sorry for going off on you like that. It was mean and immature. I'm sorry. . .
AquaRose: You have a fic with a Yume too? Huh, what are the odds of that? I don't think I swear too much. I don't mean to. In the later chapters that aren't up yet, maybe but not in these ones. Well, thank you for joining my happy family of reviewers. (Ok, now that just sounded gay.) Anyway, thanks for reviewing!
Author's Note: Well now, here's the lovely chapter 16. Well, it's not really lovely but whatever. Hey, if you guys notice a repeated element of non-monk explanations, pay attention to it. It might just be important. With, that, I will start the new chapter. . .
'. . .' represent the thoughts of Yume. . .
Chapter 16: Not Again! (Can't you ever get a straight answer from a monk?)
Shiriko seemed to be taken care of properly and was quite happy to see me. I did miss him and it made me happy to know that he did the same for me. As I sat there and pet him, I thought about what Nuriko had said before, about how Tasuki was worried about me. 'Why would Tasuki worry about me? I don't understand.' I pondered the odds of him caring about me, even as a friend. 'A zillion to one. Nuriko must have been joking. There's no way that he was worried about me anyway but what he said,' I decided. 'Then why'd he hurry away so fast when Nuriko got there? He did admit that he was a little worried,' my mind chimed in. 'I hate it when it does that. At least it isn't that voice I was hearing before. . .' I thought. 'So he wouldn't be made fun of. He probably figured that Nuriko would stop telling me about "how worried" he was if he left,' I answered. But part of me wanted to believe that he was worried about me, that someone actually cared about me for once. 'That's because you like him,' my mind said. 'No, I don't!' "Ugh! I need to get my thoughts straight before I really do go insane! Sorry, Shiriko, I got to go," I said to Shiriko.
I got to my room only to find it not peaceful enough. The walls kept making noises. I don't know. Perhaps I was just hearing things. I decided to go to the secluded spot where I had sat before I encountered Tasuki and "fell" overboard. It was right near the end of the ship and the cool sea breeze felt really good. I sat down cross-legged (a.k.a. Indian style) and touched my pointer fingers to my thumbs. I laid my hands on my knees, took a deep breath, and closed my eyes. I tried to clear my mind of any and all thoughts, concentrating only on the sound of my heartbeat and the crash of the waves as they hit the side of the ship. I attempted to let my mind slip away to let my spirit leave my body. I was doing an relaxation technique that I had preformed since I was little. Whenever life got too hard, when the constant arguing of my parents got too much, I'd slip away into my room or any other safe spot and leave it all. I'd remove all my problems from my mind and just sit. It was so peaceful, almost like I really was leaving my body and going into my own little world, where no one could follow unless I wanted them to. It gave me a sense of control in an otherwise uncontrollable world. And I always felt so clear headed afterwards. It was like everything I wanted to do became apparent. Today, however, it was not working.
'I'm thinking too much, that's why.' I cleared my head and tried once more, this time successfully. It was completely safe, unless you were interrupted. Then you had to be careful. I felt my spirit soar through my own world and leave my problems behind. I heard, saw, or felt nothing but was in my world. 'That's why this is so dangerous. You loose connection with your physical self and form.' Once I felt I had reached my point of oneness, I let myself slip back into my body. I was reluctant to open my eyes and shred the last string that kept me in my world but did so slowly. I saw that I had been sitting there for quite sometime: the sun had already begun its descent from the heavens. I didn't care because my mind was cleared and finally what I had to do and my feelings were clear to me.
I got up slowly and turned to find Chichiri, Chiriko, and Tasuki standing there, watching me. "So you are ok. You've been sitting there for a long time. We were getting worried, you know," Chichiri said.
"I had some things to sort out. I'm just glad you didn't disturb me while I was doing it," I replied. 'They're looking at me weird again. Like I'm some sort of freak,' I noticed.
"What exactly were you doing?" Chiriko asked.
"To put it simply, I was mediating. If you interrupted me, you could have really messed me up," I answered.
"Mediating, eh? I don't know of any kind of meditation that makes you-" Tasuki started but was stopped by a glance and jab from Chichiri.
"Ok, now I know something is up. What's so weird about mediating that you guys have to act all covert and stuff?" I asked glancing at them suspiciously.
"Remember what we talked about the day before we got on the boat? When it's time for you to know, you will, you know?" Chichiri replied. 'Those fortune cookies were right! Things people say really do come back to haunt you!'
"You guys are never helpful! I'm going back to my room before you ruin my inner peace and oneness and I'll have to mediate all over again!" I exclaimed, storming away. Before I left earshot, I heard Tasuki ask Chichiri why they can't just tell me. 'Where's the fun in that?' I asked myself sarcastically. 'They'd rather have we wander around confused all the time so everyone can laugh at me. Damn unhelpful foreigners.'
"Hey Yume. Can I talk to you for a minute?" I heard Chiriko's little voice asked.
"Sure. What's on your mind, little guy?" I responded. I kind of liked the kid; he was shy but he seemed nice enough.
He blushed a little. Why, I didn't know. "I was wondering if you could tell me a little bit about your world," he said hesitantly.
"All right. I suppose I can do that. What do you want to know about it? It's nothing like this, I'll tell you that much. Well, some parts are similar but where I come from is a totally different place." He looked a little confused. "Tell you what, I have some of my school books with me. If you want, you can look at them."
He looked interested, much more interested than the average kid when you ask them that, anyway, and I led him back to my room. I pulled out my global book (it has the most pictures) and showed him it. "What kind of writing is this?" he asked, glancing at the typed words as though they were some sort of alien code.
"English. Oh yea, you probably can't read it. Umm. . .I could read it to you but it's kind of boring. Just look at the pictures for now. It'll give you an idea about what my world looks like. I can read the captions for you, if you want," I offered.
"Can you write in English?" He looked more interested in the writing than the book. I nodded.
"Want me to show you?" He nodded excitedly and I pulled out a piece of paper and a pen. "Here. I'll write my name first." He looked mesmerized as the pen glided across the paper, spelling out my name in clear, big letters. "There. All done. 'Yume Miller.' That's my name. Want me to write yours?"
He looked at the writing, then at the pen, then at me. "Can you show me how to write my own name?" he asked. He sounded like a little child. I couldn't help but smile.
"I suppose. Here, hold the pen like this." I placed the pen in his hand and had him hold it. I guided his hand carefully and wrote "Chiriko." "There ya go. 'Chiriko.' That's your name. I just hope I spelt it right."
For the next hour, I went over how to use the pen and the ABCs. Then I taught him some basic words and how to write other names. "All right, Chiriko. I'm getting tired. You can keep the pen and I'll give you some more paper. Go practice in your room but now I need sleep," I said, getting him some fresh paper. He looked overjoyed.
"Thanks a lot, Yume. I can see why Tasuki likes you." He took the supplies and skipped away happily. I sweat dropped. 'He doesn't like me!!!' I roared (in my head anyway).
"Oh well. I've seen a kid so excited to be learning. Mitsukake is going to be pissed at me in the morning. Hehe. I should probably go check on Shiriko one last time before I call it a night,' I decided. As I was walking, I realized I hadn't run into any of the other warriors yet. I haven't even seen Miaka and she shares my room! This puzzled me. 'Maybe they've all just been busy.' Shiriko seemed fine other than the fact that he was completely bored out of his mind. 'I wonder who took care of him the whole time.' "Sorry buddy. You got to stay here for now. We should be there soon." I bid him goodnight and headed back to my room where I changed into my pajamas and got ready for bed. 'If what Tasuki says is true, then I'll need all the rest I can get.'
"Hi Yume. Glad to see you up and about. But are you tired already?" Miaka's cheerful screech she calls a voice asked. 'Oh well. All good things must come to an end, I suppose.'
"No, not really. I was just going to update the little journal that I've been keeping," I answered. Writing in my journal sounded like a good idea and maybe, just maybe, she wouldn't be able to read it. I got out the notebook that I had been using and a pen. I wrote the date (day 5, night), and started to write what had been happening starting with getting on the boat.
Miaka came over and watched me as I wrote about the first day on the boat and how Tasuki chased me (day 3). I included my talk with Miaka on day 4 and other little stuff that had happened before and after that. "It's not polite to read someone else's journal, you know," I said. I couldn't write about what I had "discovered" while mediating or any really juicy stuff with her reading over my shoulder.
"Oh, I can't read it. We haven't gotten that far in my English class," she replied. 'Well than what language are we speaking?' I asked myself. Thankfully, I didn't answer me, (for once). "You do realize that Tasuki was worried sick about you. Everybody was. Even Mitsukake couldn't help you."
I resisted the urge to turn around, look her in the face and tell her to shut the fuck up (for now) and decided to take the more. . .diplomatic approach. "So I hear," I responded. "What makes you think Tasuki was so worried?" I continued writing in my journal, hoping to write all the important stuff before I exploded at her.
"Well, he practically moved in here and he even took care of Shiriko, though the dog hates him," she answered. "He stayed in here the whole time, almost, waiting for you to wake up."
I chose not to respond to that. It wasn't wroth the argument. I was tired and didn't feel like putting forth the effort it would take to fully win the argument. And I wasn't sure I could win this one. Miaka is pigheaded and always seems to believe whatever she wants, regardless of the facts. 'Perhaps he was actually worried about me. As a friend anyway. But I'm not. I'm their enemy and I can't forget that. When the time comes that they find out the truth about me, it'd be better for me not to be attached.' I kept on writing like what she had said had had no effect on me. "Well, I'm almost done and I'm tired so goodnight," I said firmly as I ended the final sentence.
She looked a little shocked that I didn't want to continue our fun little girl bonding time but didn't say anymore about it. "Fine, goodnight," she replied, getting up to her bed. "Can I use your flashlight to get my pajamas out?"
"Sure." I handed her the flashlight and put my notebook away. I rolled towards the wall, closed my eyes and waited for the relaxing hand of sleep to end this cursed day and allow me my first breath of peace.
Author's Note:
Smack: So how was it? It may not have been the longest chapter in the history of this fic but I think it was good in it's own special way. I wanted to give Chiriko a little part in this fic because I think Mitsukake's cat gets more publicity than him and he's a cool little kid in his own way.
Tasuki: I was not worried about her!
Smack: ::narrows eyes::
Tasuki: I wasn't!
Smack: ::gives him her famous "all-knowing" look:: I'll just give you the quote for the next chapter.
"Up early again I see. What? Don't people in your world sleep?" I heard Nuriko's voice ask.
"We sleep but I just woke up early for some reason," I answered.
Kim: ::pops out of nowhere and points at Smack:: You gave them a crappy quote!
Smack: So? I couldn't give them the others. It'd be too long. What are you doing here, anyway?
Kim: I'm your muse!
Smack: Oh Suzaku, have mercy on me. Make it go away. Make. It. Go. Away.
Kim: ::grins evilly:: Byebye folks! 'Til next time! Weeeeeeeeee!
Thanks to. . .
Renee: Thanks! That should cover it, right?
Otaku Pitcher: I guess it wasn't that long of a wait. Oh, thanks again for reviewing my new story. I thanked you in the chapter, too, but wanted to thank you here. It is nice when Tasuki has his sweet moments, isn't it? He has a couple but look for them on a regular basis. Wouldn't want to ruin his bad boy bandit image, would I?
RyogazGal: Wow! Thanks! I'm glad this is your favorite OC fic. Smack feels special. ( Um. . .I understand that you can't keep up with the story all the time. I'm glad you don't run your life around my story (I'd feel a little bit weird if ya did.) It would make a funny show, wouldn't it? I think I'd watch it too. Anyway, thanks again!
Goku-chan: No need to be sorry. I should be. I was in a bad mood when I was doing the thank yous and forgot that Shiriko wasn't in that chapter much. And I'm sorry for going off on you like that. It was mean and immature. I'm sorry. . .
AquaRose: You have a fic with a Yume too? Huh, what are the odds of that? I don't think I swear too much. I don't mean to. In the later chapters that aren't up yet, maybe but not in these ones. Well, thank you for joining my happy family of reviewers. (Ok, now that just sounded gay.) Anyway, thanks for reviewing!
Author's Note: Well now, here's the lovely chapter 16. Well, it's not really lovely but whatever. Hey, if you guys notice a repeated element of non-monk explanations, pay attention to it. It might just be important. With, that, I will start the new chapter. . .
'. . .' represent the thoughts of Yume. . .
Chapter 16: Not Again! (Can't you ever get a straight answer from a monk?)
Shiriko seemed to be taken care of properly and was quite happy to see me. I did miss him and it made me happy to know that he did the same for me. As I sat there and pet him, I thought about what Nuriko had said before, about how Tasuki was worried about me. 'Why would Tasuki worry about me? I don't understand.' I pondered the odds of him caring about me, even as a friend. 'A zillion to one. Nuriko must have been joking. There's no way that he was worried about me anyway but what he said,' I decided. 'Then why'd he hurry away so fast when Nuriko got there? He did admit that he was a little worried,' my mind chimed in. 'I hate it when it does that. At least it isn't that voice I was hearing before. . .' I thought. 'So he wouldn't be made fun of. He probably figured that Nuriko would stop telling me about "how worried" he was if he left,' I answered. But part of me wanted to believe that he was worried about me, that someone actually cared about me for once. 'That's because you like him,' my mind said. 'No, I don't!' "Ugh! I need to get my thoughts straight before I really do go insane! Sorry, Shiriko, I got to go," I said to Shiriko.
I got to my room only to find it not peaceful enough. The walls kept making noises. I don't know. Perhaps I was just hearing things. I decided to go to the secluded spot where I had sat before I encountered Tasuki and "fell" overboard. It was right near the end of the ship and the cool sea breeze felt really good. I sat down cross-legged (a.k.a. Indian style) and touched my pointer fingers to my thumbs. I laid my hands on my knees, took a deep breath, and closed my eyes. I tried to clear my mind of any and all thoughts, concentrating only on the sound of my heartbeat and the crash of the waves as they hit the side of the ship. I attempted to let my mind slip away to let my spirit leave my body. I was doing an relaxation technique that I had preformed since I was little. Whenever life got too hard, when the constant arguing of my parents got too much, I'd slip away into my room or any other safe spot and leave it all. I'd remove all my problems from my mind and just sit. It was so peaceful, almost like I really was leaving my body and going into my own little world, where no one could follow unless I wanted them to. It gave me a sense of control in an otherwise uncontrollable world. And I always felt so clear headed afterwards. It was like everything I wanted to do became apparent. Today, however, it was not working.
'I'm thinking too much, that's why.' I cleared my head and tried once more, this time successfully. It was completely safe, unless you were interrupted. Then you had to be careful. I felt my spirit soar through my own world and leave my problems behind. I heard, saw, or felt nothing but was in my world. 'That's why this is so dangerous. You loose connection with your physical self and form.' Once I felt I had reached my point of oneness, I let myself slip back into my body. I was reluctant to open my eyes and shred the last string that kept me in my world but did so slowly. I saw that I had been sitting there for quite sometime: the sun had already begun its descent from the heavens. I didn't care because my mind was cleared and finally what I had to do and my feelings were clear to me.
I got up slowly and turned to find Chichiri, Chiriko, and Tasuki standing there, watching me. "So you are ok. You've been sitting there for a long time. We were getting worried, you know," Chichiri said.
"I had some things to sort out. I'm just glad you didn't disturb me while I was doing it," I replied. 'They're looking at me weird again. Like I'm some sort of freak,' I noticed.
"What exactly were you doing?" Chiriko asked.
"To put it simply, I was mediating. If you interrupted me, you could have really messed me up," I answered.
"Mediating, eh? I don't know of any kind of meditation that makes you-" Tasuki started but was stopped by a glance and jab from Chichiri.
"Ok, now I know something is up. What's so weird about mediating that you guys have to act all covert and stuff?" I asked glancing at them suspiciously.
"Remember what we talked about the day before we got on the boat? When it's time for you to know, you will, you know?" Chichiri replied. 'Those fortune cookies were right! Things people say really do come back to haunt you!'
"You guys are never helpful! I'm going back to my room before you ruin my inner peace and oneness and I'll have to mediate all over again!" I exclaimed, storming away. Before I left earshot, I heard Tasuki ask Chichiri why they can't just tell me. 'Where's the fun in that?' I asked myself sarcastically. 'They'd rather have we wander around confused all the time so everyone can laugh at me. Damn unhelpful foreigners.'
"Hey Yume. Can I talk to you for a minute?" I heard Chiriko's little voice asked.
"Sure. What's on your mind, little guy?" I responded. I kind of liked the kid; he was shy but he seemed nice enough.
He blushed a little. Why, I didn't know. "I was wondering if you could tell me a little bit about your world," he said hesitantly.
"All right. I suppose I can do that. What do you want to know about it? It's nothing like this, I'll tell you that much. Well, some parts are similar but where I come from is a totally different place." He looked a little confused. "Tell you what, I have some of my school books with me. If you want, you can look at them."
He looked interested, much more interested than the average kid when you ask them that, anyway, and I led him back to my room. I pulled out my global book (it has the most pictures) and showed him it. "What kind of writing is this?" he asked, glancing at the typed words as though they were some sort of alien code.
"English. Oh yea, you probably can't read it. Umm. . .I could read it to you but it's kind of boring. Just look at the pictures for now. It'll give you an idea about what my world looks like. I can read the captions for you, if you want," I offered.
"Can you write in English?" He looked more interested in the writing than the book. I nodded.
"Want me to show you?" He nodded excitedly and I pulled out a piece of paper and a pen. "Here. I'll write my name first." He looked mesmerized as the pen glided across the paper, spelling out my name in clear, big letters. "There. All done. 'Yume Miller.' That's my name. Want me to write yours?"
He looked at the writing, then at the pen, then at me. "Can you show me how to write my own name?" he asked. He sounded like a little child. I couldn't help but smile.
"I suppose. Here, hold the pen like this." I placed the pen in his hand and had him hold it. I guided his hand carefully and wrote "Chiriko." "There ya go. 'Chiriko.' That's your name. I just hope I spelt it right."
For the next hour, I went over how to use the pen and the ABCs. Then I taught him some basic words and how to write other names. "All right, Chiriko. I'm getting tired. You can keep the pen and I'll give you some more paper. Go practice in your room but now I need sleep," I said, getting him some fresh paper. He looked overjoyed.
"Thanks a lot, Yume. I can see why Tasuki likes you." He took the supplies and skipped away happily. I sweat dropped. 'He doesn't like me!!!' I roared (in my head anyway).
"Oh well. I've seen a kid so excited to be learning. Mitsukake is going to be pissed at me in the morning. Hehe. I should probably go check on Shiriko one last time before I call it a night,' I decided. As I was walking, I realized I hadn't run into any of the other warriors yet. I haven't even seen Miaka and she shares my room! This puzzled me. 'Maybe they've all just been busy.' Shiriko seemed fine other than the fact that he was completely bored out of his mind. 'I wonder who took care of him the whole time.' "Sorry buddy. You got to stay here for now. We should be there soon." I bid him goodnight and headed back to my room where I changed into my pajamas and got ready for bed. 'If what Tasuki says is true, then I'll need all the rest I can get.'
"Hi Yume. Glad to see you up and about. But are you tired already?" Miaka's cheerful screech she calls a voice asked. 'Oh well. All good things must come to an end, I suppose.'
"No, not really. I was just going to update the little journal that I've been keeping," I answered. Writing in my journal sounded like a good idea and maybe, just maybe, she wouldn't be able to read it. I got out the notebook that I had been using and a pen. I wrote the date (day 5, night), and started to write what had been happening starting with getting on the boat.
Miaka came over and watched me as I wrote about the first day on the boat and how Tasuki chased me (day 3). I included my talk with Miaka on day 4 and other little stuff that had happened before and after that. "It's not polite to read someone else's journal, you know," I said. I couldn't write about what I had "discovered" while mediating or any really juicy stuff with her reading over my shoulder.
"Oh, I can't read it. We haven't gotten that far in my English class," she replied. 'Well than what language are we speaking?' I asked myself. Thankfully, I didn't answer me, (for once). "You do realize that Tasuki was worried sick about you. Everybody was. Even Mitsukake couldn't help you."
I resisted the urge to turn around, look her in the face and tell her to shut the fuck up (for now) and decided to take the more. . .diplomatic approach. "So I hear," I responded. "What makes you think Tasuki was so worried?" I continued writing in my journal, hoping to write all the important stuff before I exploded at her.
"Well, he practically moved in here and he even took care of Shiriko, though the dog hates him," she answered. "He stayed in here the whole time, almost, waiting for you to wake up."
I chose not to respond to that. It wasn't wroth the argument. I was tired and didn't feel like putting forth the effort it would take to fully win the argument. And I wasn't sure I could win this one. Miaka is pigheaded and always seems to believe whatever she wants, regardless of the facts. 'Perhaps he was actually worried about me. As a friend anyway. But I'm not. I'm their enemy and I can't forget that. When the time comes that they find out the truth about me, it'd be better for me not to be attached.' I kept on writing like what she had said had had no effect on me. "Well, I'm almost done and I'm tired so goodnight," I said firmly as I ended the final sentence.
She looked a little shocked that I didn't want to continue our fun little girl bonding time but didn't say anymore about it. "Fine, goodnight," she replied, getting up to her bed. "Can I use your flashlight to get my pajamas out?"
"Sure." I handed her the flashlight and put my notebook away. I rolled towards the wall, closed my eyes and waited for the relaxing hand of sleep to end this cursed day and allow me my first breath of peace.
Author's Note:
Smack: So how was it? It may not have been the longest chapter in the history of this fic but I think it was good in it's own special way. I wanted to give Chiriko a little part in this fic because I think Mitsukake's cat gets more publicity than him and he's a cool little kid in his own way.
Tasuki: I was not worried about her!
Smack: ::narrows eyes::
Tasuki: I wasn't!
Smack: ::gives him her famous "all-knowing" look:: I'll just give you the quote for the next chapter.
"Up early again I see. What? Don't people in your world sleep?" I heard Nuriko's voice ask.
"We sleep but I just woke up early for some reason," I answered.
Kim: ::pops out of nowhere and points at Smack:: You gave them a crappy quote!
Smack: So? I couldn't give them the others. It'd be too long. What are you doing here, anyway?
Kim: I'm your muse!
Smack: Oh Suzaku, have mercy on me. Make it go away. Make. It. Go. Away.
Kim: ::grins evilly:: Byebye folks! 'Til next time! Weeeeeeeeee!