Disclaimer: I don't own Fushigi Yuugi so please don't sue me. Not like
you'd get much, anyway. Hehe.
Thanks to...
chiri26: I stopped there because I am mean, cruel and heartless. Actually, because I just felt it was a good place to stop. I'm known for my cliffhangers, remember? Thanks for the review!
Metajoker: Thanks! Soi wasn't so bitchy in the anime but then, in the anime, there wasn't some little girl who took her love's attention, was there? She was mad that Yume, some slip of a girl who wasn't even of age, really, could somehow take Nakago's attention away from her. Thanks again.
VanyD: Yea, I love Byakko too. He's fun to write because he is so not what you would expect a god to be like. (Well, at least not what I would think of as a god.) Thanks for the review.
Fool Of a Took part II: If you feel the urge to hug Byakko, go for it. I won't tell if you won't. Thanks for the review.
chibichibi386: ::bows:: Thank you. He's there, don't worry.
Songwind: Yea, I couldn't resist. The bunny suit rocks. Thank you for getting why Soi was the way she was! Other people asked why she was so bitchy. I mean, I understand why they would wonder but I would also think they would get it. Oh well. I wasn't worried so much about getting it word for word, I just didn't want to mess up the order of things (my original plan for this chapter was, well, inaccurate at best). Thanks for the pep talk. Sometimes, even I need them. I do appreciate it.
Fyfangirl26: I'm guessing Soi was thinking: "Ok...bunny suit? Is this girl on opium?" But I could be wrong. It wouldn't be the first time. I'm glad you enjoyed that. And yes, I do take some joy in confusing my readers. I know, I'm mean. I can't help it.
neppy: Yes. That was the Soi scene from before but only slightly tweaked to fit my own needs. I don't feel like commenting to the rest but don't take it personally, nep. I still love ya.
Otaku Pitcher: Hey, I'm being a bad author so you can be a bad reviewer. I won't be mad at you if you aren't mad at me. Deal? Thanks for the nice comments. I like hearing them, I do.
Fyrefly: I'm glad that my stories are your favorites. I'll try to work up the urge to update Itsuka for you but it's hard. That story always has me stumped. I make no promises concerning the relations of Yume and the other characters. Sorry.
Author's Note: I humbly apologize for taking so long to get this chapter up. The truth is, I was having a lot of trouble writing it. I've had this idea in my head for a while now of where I wanted this story to go for a long time now and I guess when it actually got to the point where I'd be writing the first step towards it, I began to question it. Well, once I began to question my ideas, I hit this evil block and couldn't even begin to write anything that I thought of as good. I've been working on this chapter on and off since like a week after I posted the last one but every time I wrote something, I would look back at it and be like "OMG! What is that crap?" and start all over. Not a good way to accomplish anything so I've been at a stalemate with it since. But, I think I may have finally gotten back on track and found my true path (for now). I also went back and for a Christmas present for my friend, revised every single chapter of this story and printed it out for her. So at some point those changes will be posted. Probably not for a while, though. Anyway, I have dragged this on for a good deal so I think I'll leave it at this. A lot of you should be pleased with this chapter, I hope. Others angry at me for it. Oh well. It can't be helped.
Chapter 32: Paths to Choose
He paused in the hallway, his whole body rigid, and sniffed the air. He thought he had lost his pursuers- humans are very easy to confuse, in his opinion- but he had to be sure. Detecting no sign of the guards, his muscles loosened, but only by a hair. Even now, he wanted to turn back the way he came and go to Yume, but being the intelligent animal that he was, he knew he could do nothing on his own to rescue his mistress. And that irritated him to no end. It wasn't as if he was useless, he could definitely hold his own, it was just that they outnumbered him and Yume didn't want him to make a big mess. 'She never did like violence,' he told himself. 'She just wants to avoid it, that's all. That's why she sent me off to find the others: to evade bloodshed.' He shook himself silently and fought the urge to growl. 'I'm behaving like a bloody human child, sulking because I'm not getting my way. If I don't get moving, that little blonde will send Nakago after Yume.' He didn't like the blonde girl, she was the very image of a spoiled little kid, and if he had it his way, she would not wake up the next morning. But, if he had it his way, a lot of people would not wake up the next morning, including the one he was supposed to be searching for. He really did not like the orange-haired man Tasuki but he knew that he would help Yume and what helps Yume cannot be destroyed, no matter how much he disliked the person. It wasn't as if it was anything personal, Shiriko just hates any male who thinks they can take advantage of his Yume. Which is why a lot of people who, if he had his way, would not wake up tomorrow were male adolescents who had shown too much interest in Yume. He wasn't a violent animal, he thought, he just feels that anything or anyone who could potentially harm him Yume should be destroyed before they got the chance. That's all.
He sniffed the air again, trying to pick out Tasuki's scent from the jumble that filled the hallway. He had decided to find Tasuki because his scent was easy to follow, seeing as it was very similar to the forest and the forest is where Shiriko feels most comfortable. He found what he was looking for and trotted in the direction it went, the pads on his paws muting any sound they would have made. 'Yume will be fine,' he repeated to himself. 'She can take care of herself.' Indeed, she was almost as capable of taking care of herself as he was, especially now. Something had changed with her the day he had led the others to her in the forest, something beyond her hair and eye color. He just wasn't sure what it was yet. Shaking his head again, he concentrated on the trail Tasuki had unintentionally left him. He'll find him and he'll lead him to Yume, even if it means knocking him down and dragging him by his bloody stupid coat. Oh yes, nothing would stop him from saving his Yume. Not even his lack of posable thumbs.
~*~ Yume's POV ~*~
"What?" I asked in utter and total confusion. 'Awaken what lies within me? WTF?!'
"We don't have much time to explain the details, Yume. My priestess has the second Shinzaho. Soon, she will summon me and I will become one with her. I will no longer be able to help you. Your strength will decrease upon losing mine. We need all the help we can get," Seiryuu explained. "I cannot be held responsible for what happens when the priestess gains my power."
I didn't know what to say. Yui, with even a quarter of the power the gods grant me, is a terror I had not even considered possible. "What must I do?" I questioned gravely.
"You have to go to the Seclusion Chamber and get in touch with the spirit that resides in you," Suzaku answered. "Only then will you possibly have enough power to stop whatever horror Nakago is planning on using Yui to release into the world."
"Wait...get in touch with the spirit in me? You mean like my soul or something?"
"No, Yume. You must not speak with your own soul. I am afraid I cannot explain it adequately. The one you must contact serves as a guardian of sorts. She will be able to tell you of her job far better than I can," Seiryuu answered.
"A guardian? Of what? I don't understand," I told them.
"We...cannot tell you. That is for her to do, if she deems you worthy," he replied.
"Wait, so there's a chance I could fail? What will happen then?"
All of the gods, even Genbu, looked disturbed. "Then, we don't know what will happen. Everything could work out fine: my warriors could come through, Yui could refuse Nakago his wish, the world could be saved," Suzaku responded. "Or..."
"Or, the world could be destroyed: the warriors could all die and with his power Nakago could conquer all, enclosing the world in darkness, life as we know it could end," Byakko finished.
"Even if you succeed in convincing her, your power may not be enough. You could still fail in the end. There is no clear way to determine the future," Genbu added, for once not sounding thrilled at the idea of my demise. "You could die in the battle."
"The choice is yours, Yume. You can continue on and attempt to get more power with the knowledge that you may very well be on your way to your death and may still fail or you can try and do your best the way you are now, knowing that you did not take every option open to you," Seiryuu said. "Whatever you decide, there is no guarantee it is the right choice. The only thing we know for certain is that you must decide quickly. Time is running low, events have outpaced us more then we could have planned and as much as we wish it, they will not wait for you to make a choice."
I stood there, lost. What could I do? No matter what, it may not be enough. I forced a grin on my face and nodded. "I'll do it."
"Are you sure, Yume? You cannot back out now. There is no telling how long this could take. You may emerge from the chamber only to find that events in this world have already run their course and even with your power you cannot do anything to help. This is not to be made lightly," Suzaku asked.
"You all keep saying I don't have time to do anything. At least this way, even if it all blows up in my face, I'll be able to say I tried everything. Besides, it'll be easy. Let's see this spirit try and deny me what's in my own head," I answered with a lot more confidence than I felt. "Now, lead the way."
~*~ (Shiriko) ~*~
The dog continued to track Tasuki for a good fifteen minutes without any sign that he was making any progress whatsoever until he arrived at a doorway that was left slightly agar. Poking his nose into it, Shiriko looked around hesitantly. Inside the room, however, was not what he expected. The floor was torn apart, a huge gaping hole in the center, the walls were crumbled, and all in all, it looked like one of those nuclear bomb things Yume's parents were always talking about had gone off in it. He would have left then, except that Tasuki's scent had entered the room. Sighing to himself and making a promise that he would make Yume pay for this later, he crept into the room, choosing his steps carefully. Creeping across the partially destroyed floor, he paused to sniff every few seconds and had his ears pricked up as high as they would go. It was because of this over-awareness that he managed to detect a tiny sound: the muffled noise of someone crying and trying to cover it up. The only problem was that it was coming from the whole in the floor. 'Why does this always happen to me?' he thought with a sigh, looking down at the gap in the tile. There was another floor, he noted, and a piece of debris stretched down to it. He could use that to get down there. The piece was wide enough. He just had to be careful. 'That bloody kid better bloody be down there...' he muttered in his head, starting down the "bridge."
It didn't take him long to make it down to the next level, he had been practically trotting down the slope, and it took even less time for him to locate the source of the noise. It turns out Tasuki was down there, along with Mitsukake, (who Shiriko happened to like because he had once healed his leg), and the little boy Shiriko did not really know. Only, the boy was lying limp in between the others. Shiriko knew death when he saw it and the boy was definitely dead. 'This is not good, not good at all,' he thought, approaching the others. The humans were so complete in their grief that they did not even notice his presence until he reached them and sat down. Only then did they look at him.
"Shiriko...If he's here than Yume can't be far behind," Tasuki muttered, wiping away the last trace of a tear from his eyes.
"Katana said that she was doing something for the gods that could potentially take a while. I wonder if circumstances have changed since then," Mitsukake commented, looking thoughtfully at the dog as though he would be the one to answer his question.
Shiriko gazed into the man's gaze, meeting it levelly and, when he was sure he had established eye contact well enough, nodded. 'Yes, things have changed, healer, and not for the better,' he thought. 'Sometimes I curse my inability to communicate with these humans.'
"Whoa, did that dog just nod?" Tasuki asked.
Shiriko nodded again. 'My, aren't we the observant one. I can't believe I am entrusting Yume's safety to him.'
Mitsukake smiled. "Perhaps you underestimated this animal. He seems highly intelligent to me," he replied. "Maybe he will take us to Yume."
"What can she do? I don't think she can bring back the dead," Tasuki muttered gruffly. Shiriko growled at him.
"I think she may need our help."
'YES!'
They both looked at him suddenly and he took a step back. "Did you just hear someone yell 'yes'?" Tasuki asked, looking sideways at the dog.
"Yea..." Mitsukake answered, also looking at Shiriko, (who now appeared very, very confused), rather strangely. 'Wait, I heard the yes, too, and it wasn't my voice. Therefore, they couldn't have possibly heard my thoughts. Someone else is here.'
"DID HE JUST TALK TO US?!" Mitsukake exclaimed at the same time Tasuki yelled, "JUST HOW MUCH SAKE HAVE I HAD TODAY?"
'Bloody hell... They can understand me? That's it. I'm screwed.' He shook his head and in doing so, caught a scent. 'Seppuka. Just who I need to make my day complete.' Seppuka was yet another person on Shiriko's list, one of the few females.
"Too much if you're hearing things," a taunting voice said from the ceiling hole. A girl jumped down and Shiriko bit back a growl. "It's funny how easily you 'warriors' spook."
The silver haired girl just smiled at him. Somehow, on her face, the smile seemed more threatening than friendly. She met Shiriko's eye and nodded slightly, just the merest incline of her head. 'So it had been her who had said it. I should have known.'
"What are you doing here, Seppuka? I thought you were supposed to be assisting someone somewhere," Tasuki asked rather harshly. Apparently, he disliked her as much as Shiriko, if for different reasons.
"I am assisting someone: you," she replied, ignoring the contempt that had been in his voice. "I am to transport you to the Konan palace. You can be of no further help here." Without waiting for a reply, she waved her hand and they were absorbed in the blue light of Seiryuu and then were gone, Shiriko among them.
~*~ Yume's POV ~*~
I was led to one of the buildings, a rather small looking one to the right of the center one. "This is it, Yume," Byakko informed me. "You know, you can still turn back now. No one will think less of you."
I smiled at him and this time, it was not forced. It was so easy to smile at him. He gave off a kind of warm feeling. "No one except me. You make it sound so scary. All I have to do is go in this room and talk to someone in my head, right? How hard can that be?"
He moved towards me and pulled me into a hug. "It's ok to be scared, Yume. Don't hide behind false sincerity," he whispered into my ear. Then, he released me.
Genbu cleared his throat. "If you're done violating the general order of things, Byakko, the young girl has a job to do," he scolded, putting extra emphasis on the word "young." Byakko stuck his tongue out at him.
"Well, I guess I'll be seeing you," I said. "Seiryuu, take care. I would hate it if I came back and you were already merged with that snot Yui." And with those words and a final wave over my shoulder, I entered the building and immediately felt something pass through me. My body fell to the ground and then I lost touch with it.
Author's Note: So what'd you think? I finally let you all in on what's going on with the other seishi so you can all leave me alone about that and I also gave Shiriko a nice little part. (He's been ignored for a while now.) I hate to say it folks, but we're winding down to the end. With the new path I've chosen for this story, it may or may not come as soon as I thought but it will be coming up soon. A couple more fluff chapters thrown in here and there mixed with some last minute plot twists that will leave you with a general "WTF?" unless you've really been paying attention and still some that you won't totally get until the sequel. I hope that's enough to keep you reading. I will try to post chapters quicker. I promise. It's my New Year's resolution. Anyway, I will hopefully see you all next chapter...
Oh, I know that the quote from last chapter didn't make it into this one. Like I stated before, I changed my plans a lot from the end of last chapter to this one. I'm sorry. Maybe it'll show up somewhere but I'm not sure. Things are changing. Everything changes. ::sighs:: And I don't know if I have a quote. Let's see if I can think of something...
"Nothing in this world is free, Yume. There is always a price to pay for power."
~Smack
Thanks to...
chiri26: I stopped there because I am mean, cruel and heartless. Actually, because I just felt it was a good place to stop. I'm known for my cliffhangers, remember? Thanks for the review!
Metajoker: Thanks! Soi wasn't so bitchy in the anime but then, in the anime, there wasn't some little girl who took her love's attention, was there? She was mad that Yume, some slip of a girl who wasn't even of age, really, could somehow take Nakago's attention away from her. Thanks again.
VanyD: Yea, I love Byakko too. He's fun to write because he is so not what you would expect a god to be like. (Well, at least not what I would think of as a god.) Thanks for the review.
Fool Of a Took part II: If you feel the urge to hug Byakko, go for it. I won't tell if you won't. Thanks for the review.
chibichibi386: ::bows:: Thank you. He's there, don't worry.
Songwind: Yea, I couldn't resist. The bunny suit rocks. Thank you for getting why Soi was the way she was! Other people asked why she was so bitchy. I mean, I understand why they would wonder but I would also think they would get it. Oh well. I wasn't worried so much about getting it word for word, I just didn't want to mess up the order of things (my original plan for this chapter was, well, inaccurate at best). Thanks for the pep talk. Sometimes, even I need them. I do appreciate it.
Fyfangirl26: I'm guessing Soi was thinking: "Ok...bunny suit? Is this girl on opium?" But I could be wrong. It wouldn't be the first time. I'm glad you enjoyed that. And yes, I do take some joy in confusing my readers. I know, I'm mean. I can't help it.
neppy: Yes. That was the Soi scene from before but only slightly tweaked to fit my own needs. I don't feel like commenting to the rest but don't take it personally, nep. I still love ya.
Otaku Pitcher: Hey, I'm being a bad author so you can be a bad reviewer. I won't be mad at you if you aren't mad at me. Deal? Thanks for the nice comments. I like hearing them, I do.
Fyrefly: I'm glad that my stories are your favorites. I'll try to work up the urge to update Itsuka for you but it's hard. That story always has me stumped. I make no promises concerning the relations of Yume and the other characters. Sorry.
Author's Note: I humbly apologize for taking so long to get this chapter up. The truth is, I was having a lot of trouble writing it. I've had this idea in my head for a while now of where I wanted this story to go for a long time now and I guess when it actually got to the point where I'd be writing the first step towards it, I began to question it. Well, once I began to question my ideas, I hit this evil block and couldn't even begin to write anything that I thought of as good. I've been working on this chapter on and off since like a week after I posted the last one but every time I wrote something, I would look back at it and be like "OMG! What is that crap?" and start all over. Not a good way to accomplish anything so I've been at a stalemate with it since. But, I think I may have finally gotten back on track and found my true path (for now). I also went back and for a Christmas present for my friend, revised every single chapter of this story and printed it out for her. So at some point those changes will be posted. Probably not for a while, though. Anyway, I have dragged this on for a good deal so I think I'll leave it at this. A lot of you should be pleased with this chapter, I hope. Others angry at me for it. Oh well. It can't be helped.
Chapter 32: Paths to Choose
He paused in the hallway, his whole body rigid, and sniffed the air. He thought he had lost his pursuers- humans are very easy to confuse, in his opinion- but he had to be sure. Detecting no sign of the guards, his muscles loosened, but only by a hair. Even now, he wanted to turn back the way he came and go to Yume, but being the intelligent animal that he was, he knew he could do nothing on his own to rescue his mistress. And that irritated him to no end. It wasn't as if he was useless, he could definitely hold his own, it was just that they outnumbered him and Yume didn't want him to make a big mess. 'She never did like violence,' he told himself. 'She just wants to avoid it, that's all. That's why she sent me off to find the others: to evade bloodshed.' He shook himself silently and fought the urge to growl. 'I'm behaving like a bloody human child, sulking because I'm not getting my way. If I don't get moving, that little blonde will send Nakago after Yume.' He didn't like the blonde girl, she was the very image of a spoiled little kid, and if he had it his way, she would not wake up the next morning. But, if he had it his way, a lot of people would not wake up the next morning, including the one he was supposed to be searching for. He really did not like the orange-haired man Tasuki but he knew that he would help Yume and what helps Yume cannot be destroyed, no matter how much he disliked the person. It wasn't as if it was anything personal, Shiriko just hates any male who thinks they can take advantage of his Yume. Which is why a lot of people who, if he had his way, would not wake up tomorrow were male adolescents who had shown too much interest in Yume. He wasn't a violent animal, he thought, he just feels that anything or anyone who could potentially harm him Yume should be destroyed before they got the chance. That's all.
He sniffed the air again, trying to pick out Tasuki's scent from the jumble that filled the hallway. He had decided to find Tasuki because his scent was easy to follow, seeing as it was very similar to the forest and the forest is where Shiriko feels most comfortable. He found what he was looking for and trotted in the direction it went, the pads on his paws muting any sound they would have made. 'Yume will be fine,' he repeated to himself. 'She can take care of herself.' Indeed, she was almost as capable of taking care of herself as he was, especially now. Something had changed with her the day he had led the others to her in the forest, something beyond her hair and eye color. He just wasn't sure what it was yet. Shaking his head again, he concentrated on the trail Tasuki had unintentionally left him. He'll find him and he'll lead him to Yume, even if it means knocking him down and dragging him by his bloody stupid coat. Oh yes, nothing would stop him from saving his Yume. Not even his lack of posable thumbs.
~*~ Yume's POV ~*~
"What?" I asked in utter and total confusion. 'Awaken what lies within me? WTF?!'
"We don't have much time to explain the details, Yume. My priestess has the second Shinzaho. Soon, she will summon me and I will become one with her. I will no longer be able to help you. Your strength will decrease upon losing mine. We need all the help we can get," Seiryuu explained. "I cannot be held responsible for what happens when the priestess gains my power."
I didn't know what to say. Yui, with even a quarter of the power the gods grant me, is a terror I had not even considered possible. "What must I do?" I questioned gravely.
"You have to go to the Seclusion Chamber and get in touch with the spirit that resides in you," Suzaku answered. "Only then will you possibly have enough power to stop whatever horror Nakago is planning on using Yui to release into the world."
"Wait...get in touch with the spirit in me? You mean like my soul or something?"
"No, Yume. You must not speak with your own soul. I am afraid I cannot explain it adequately. The one you must contact serves as a guardian of sorts. She will be able to tell you of her job far better than I can," Seiryuu answered.
"A guardian? Of what? I don't understand," I told them.
"We...cannot tell you. That is for her to do, if she deems you worthy," he replied.
"Wait, so there's a chance I could fail? What will happen then?"
All of the gods, even Genbu, looked disturbed. "Then, we don't know what will happen. Everything could work out fine: my warriors could come through, Yui could refuse Nakago his wish, the world could be saved," Suzaku responded. "Or..."
"Or, the world could be destroyed: the warriors could all die and with his power Nakago could conquer all, enclosing the world in darkness, life as we know it could end," Byakko finished.
"Even if you succeed in convincing her, your power may not be enough. You could still fail in the end. There is no clear way to determine the future," Genbu added, for once not sounding thrilled at the idea of my demise. "You could die in the battle."
"The choice is yours, Yume. You can continue on and attempt to get more power with the knowledge that you may very well be on your way to your death and may still fail or you can try and do your best the way you are now, knowing that you did not take every option open to you," Seiryuu said. "Whatever you decide, there is no guarantee it is the right choice. The only thing we know for certain is that you must decide quickly. Time is running low, events have outpaced us more then we could have planned and as much as we wish it, they will not wait for you to make a choice."
I stood there, lost. What could I do? No matter what, it may not be enough. I forced a grin on my face and nodded. "I'll do it."
"Are you sure, Yume? You cannot back out now. There is no telling how long this could take. You may emerge from the chamber only to find that events in this world have already run their course and even with your power you cannot do anything to help. This is not to be made lightly," Suzaku asked.
"You all keep saying I don't have time to do anything. At least this way, even if it all blows up in my face, I'll be able to say I tried everything. Besides, it'll be easy. Let's see this spirit try and deny me what's in my own head," I answered with a lot more confidence than I felt. "Now, lead the way."
~*~ (Shiriko) ~*~
The dog continued to track Tasuki for a good fifteen minutes without any sign that he was making any progress whatsoever until he arrived at a doorway that was left slightly agar. Poking his nose into it, Shiriko looked around hesitantly. Inside the room, however, was not what he expected. The floor was torn apart, a huge gaping hole in the center, the walls were crumbled, and all in all, it looked like one of those nuclear bomb things Yume's parents were always talking about had gone off in it. He would have left then, except that Tasuki's scent had entered the room. Sighing to himself and making a promise that he would make Yume pay for this later, he crept into the room, choosing his steps carefully. Creeping across the partially destroyed floor, he paused to sniff every few seconds and had his ears pricked up as high as they would go. It was because of this over-awareness that he managed to detect a tiny sound: the muffled noise of someone crying and trying to cover it up. The only problem was that it was coming from the whole in the floor. 'Why does this always happen to me?' he thought with a sigh, looking down at the gap in the tile. There was another floor, he noted, and a piece of debris stretched down to it. He could use that to get down there. The piece was wide enough. He just had to be careful. 'That bloody kid better bloody be down there...' he muttered in his head, starting down the "bridge."
It didn't take him long to make it down to the next level, he had been practically trotting down the slope, and it took even less time for him to locate the source of the noise. It turns out Tasuki was down there, along with Mitsukake, (who Shiriko happened to like because he had once healed his leg), and the little boy Shiriko did not really know. Only, the boy was lying limp in between the others. Shiriko knew death when he saw it and the boy was definitely dead. 'This is not good, not good at all,' he thought, approaching the others. The humans were so complete in their grief that they did not even notice his presence until he reached them and sat down. Only then did they look at him.
"Shiriko...If he's here than Yume can't be far behind," Tasuki muttered, wiping away the last trace of a tear from his eyes.
"Katana said that she was doing something for the gods that could potentially take a while. I wonder if circumstances have changed since then," Mitsukake commented, looking thoughtfully at the dog as though he would be the one to answer his question.
Shiriko gazed into the man's gaze, meeting it levelly and, when he was sure he had established eye contact well enough, nodded. 'Yes, things have changed, healer, and not for the better,' he thought. 'Sometimes I curse my inability to communicate with these humans.'
"Whoa, did that dog just nod?" Tasuki asked.
Shiriko nodded again. 'My, aren't we the observant one. I can't believe I am entrusting Yume's safety to him.'
Mitsukake smiled. "Perhaps you underestimated this animal. He seems highly intelligent to me," he replied. "Maybe he will take us to Yume."
"What can she do? I don't think she can bring back the dead," Tasuki muttered gruffly. Shiriko growled at him.
"I think she may need our help."
'YES!'
They both looked at him suddenly and he took a step back. "Did you just hear someone yell 'yes'?" Tasuki asked, looking sideways at the dog.
"Yea..." Mitsukake answered, also looking at Shiriko, (who now appeared very, very confused), rather strangely. 'Wait, I heard the yes, too, and it wasn't my voice. Therefore, they couldn't have possibly heard my thoughts. Someone else is here.'
"DID HE JUST TALK TO US?!" Mitsukake exclaimed at the same time Tasuki yelled, "JUST HOW MUCH SAKE HAVE I HAD TODAY?"
'Bloody hell... They can understand me? That's it. I'm screwed.' He shook his head and in doing so, caught a scent. 'Seppuka. Just who I need to make my day complete.' Seppuka was yet another person on Shiriko's list, one of the few females.
"Too much if you're hearing things," a taunting voice said from the ceiling hole. A girl jumped down and Shiriko bit back a growl. "It's funny how easily you 'warriors' spook."
The silver haired girl just smiled at him. Somehow, on her face, the smile seemed more threatening than friendly. She met Shiriko's eye and nodded slightly, just the merest incline of her head. 'So it had been her who had said it. I should have known.'
"What are you doing here, Seppuka? I thought you were supposed to be assisting someone somewhere," Tasuki asked rather harshly. Apparently, he disliked her as much as Shiriko, if for different reasons.
"I am assisting someone: you," she replied, ignoring the contempt that had been in his voice. "I am to transport you to the Konan palace. You can be of no further help here." Without waiting for a reply, she waved her hand and they were absorbed in the blue light of Seiryuu and then were gone, Shiriko among them.
~*~ Yume's POV ~*~
I was led to one of the buildings, a rather small looking one to the right of the center one. "This is it, Yume," Byakko informed me. "You know, you can still turn back now. No one will think less of you."
I smiled at him and this time, it was not forced. It was so easy to smile at him. He gave off a kind of warm feeling. "No one except me. You make it sound so scary. All I have to do is go in this room and talk to someone in my head, right? How hard can that be?"
He moved towards me and pulled me into a hug. "It's ok to be scared, Yume. Don't hide behind false sincerity," he whispered into my ear. Then, he released me.
Genbu cleared his throat. "If you're done violating the general order of things, Byakko, the young girl has a job to do," he scolded, putting extra emphasis on the word "young." Byakko stuck his tongue out at him.
"Well, I guess I'll be seeing you," I said. "Seiryuu, take care. I would hate it if I came back and you were already merged with that snot Yui." And with those words and a final wave over my shoulder, I entered the building and immediately felt something pass through me. My body fell to the ground and then I lost touch with it.
Author's Note: So what'd you think? I finally let you all in on what's going on with the other seishi so you can all leave me alone about that and I also gave Shiriko a nice little part. (He's been ignored for a while now.) I hate to say it folks, but we're winding down to the end. With the new path I've chosen for this story, it may or may not come as soon as I thought but it will be coming up soon. A couple more fluff chapters thrown in here and there mixed with some last minute plot twists that will leave you with a general "WTF?" unless you've really been paying attention and still some that you won't totally get until the sequel. I hope that's enough to keep you reading. I will try to post chapters quicker. I promise. It's my New Year's resolution. Anyway, I will hopefully see you all next chapter...
Oh, I know that the quote from last chapter didn't make it into this one. Like I stated before, I changed my plans a lot from the end of last chapter to this one. I'm sorry. Maybe it'll show up somewhere but I'm not sure. Things are changing. Everything changes. ::sighs:: And I don't know if I have a quote. Let's see if I can think of something...
"Nothing in this world is free, Yume. There is always a price to pay for power."
~Smack