Okay! I am sorry for making this story go a little fast. Please don't send any armies after me! But now, it's going to come to a screeching halt! ::laughs evilly:: Okay anyways! I've been watching too much Excel Saga! Lol. On with the story now! ((PS: This title doesn't really fit but oh well!..))
Chapter 8-Impostor
Rae groaned, flashes of color seeped through her slightly open eyes, making her head throb more. She lifted her hand to shield the light, but winced as the pain coursed through her veins. She suddenly remembered what all had happened the day before. A door creaked open and Rae turned to look at it, her vision blurry.
"Who's there?" Rae was surprised at her voice. It was hoarse from the yelling, making it painful to talk.
"Genrô. Here drink this," The fire-haired man lifted her head slightly and put a cup of cool water to her lips. Rae drank greedily, closing her eyes at the feel of the water going down her sore throat. "You've been out fer four days, I was beginning ta think ya wasn't gonna wake up. You was pretty beat up, I got a doc to look at ya, said you'd be fine in a few days. Care to tell me what happened?"
Rae groaned at the memories of the beating, not really wanting to retell the gory event. She wanted to find Kia, needed to find her and make sure she wasn't going through this also. Rae studied the man, his fiery red hair and green eyes that seemed to draw her in. Rae felt her heart flutter and blushed, looking away.
"It's nothing, um, may I ask where I am?" Rae shuddered to think she was back inside the gates of Kutô.
"Yer in the bandit's lair on Mt. Reikakuzan," Genrô smiled at Rae's shocked look. "but don't worry, we won't sell ya off er anything. Now ya need t' get yer rest so I'll be going."
Rae watched as Genrô walked out the door and closed it, silent as a wolf. Rae's eyes grew too heavy to stay open, so she gave in to the sleep that was calling her.
~*~
"Kia, we have someone you need to meet." Chichiri kneeled on one knee before Kia.
Kia blinked and ushered for him to stand up, "I've told you not to bow, it makes me feel…weird. Is it that person who is going to help me with my journey?"
Kia smiled hopefully and looked out at the rain, silently following Chichiri to the shrine of Suzaku.
'It's been raining for four days…and I haven't slept very well, is it because I heard Rae? What's going on!?'
Chichiri stopped, making Kia bump into him. "Oh, I'm sorry Chichiri! I was lost in thought."
"It's okay, no da." Chichiri opened the shrine doors, revealing Hotohori and Tamahome standing there.
"Tamahome!" Kia smiled brightly at him and waved, then she waved to Hotohori, who walked over and embraced her causing Kia to stiffen, "Um, Hotohori, I thought I was going to be talking to this person alone."
Hotohori smiled down at Kia, not noticing her side glance towards Tamahome, "You are, we are just finishing the preparations is all. We will leave you now."
Chichiri and Hotohori walked out, Tamahome lagged behind.
"Hey, I haven't seen you in two days. Where have you been?" Kia crossed her arms loosely around her stomach, the wind making her ponytail hit the side of her face.
"I've been out working." Tamahome replied in short, looking at the ground.
Kia sighed, she had been spending a lot of time with Chichiri lately, but it was because he was helping her to move on and because he was the only one who knew of what happened. Kia hadn't thought it would bother Tamahome, that he would understand.
"I need to talk-" They started at the same time.
"You go first." Kia looked up at Tamahome, her green eyes a pale jade.
"No, you go first." Tamahome sheepishly scratched his arm.
"How about I go first!?"
Kia and Tamahome screamed, looking towards the big fire in the front of the statue of Suzaku. There in the fire sat and old woman, who wasn't even three feet high, and was really wrinkly. Tamahome eyes widened.
"SO YOU'RE THE OLD GEEZER WHO KIA HAS TO TALK TO!" Tamahome pointed at her.
"WATCH YOUR MOUTH! And yes, I am Tai Itsukun, Priestess of Suzaku. Leave us, Tamahome."
Tamahome looked back at Kia and bowed, walking out and closing the doors behind him. Kia fidgeted for a few minutes, not really knowing what to do.
"Sit down." Tai Itsukun said.
Kia sat down quickly, looking up at Tai Itsukun, "What is it you need to tell me?"
"A lot of things, so listen. Chichiri has already explained what you must do to be the Priestess of Suzaku, but he didn't tell you this. You must be pure, untouched by a man. If you aren't a virgin, Suzaku will not be summoned, so do not cross that line with your warriors. I know you love Tamahome, but you must abandon it now before it get too strong."
Kia gasped. True, she loved Tamahome ,but she hadn't really told anybody. Only Chichiri knew. Kia blinked a few times, opening her mouth to ask a burning question.
"Yes, your friend is here. I know you are worried about her because your coloring is paler than usual and your eyes are even pale. You need to concentrate on finding the warriors, that means keeping your health up, then you might be able to find your friend." Tai Itsukun smiled at her foreshadowing. She had faith Kia would summon Suzaku with ease, if she kept her mind and body focused on the mission. "So take care of yourself and we will talk again sometime. And Kia, do not get close to Tamahome."
Kia started to speak again but Tai Itsukun disappeared, leaving Kia to smile with the happiness of knowing Rae was all right. But her smile quickly faded when she thought of Tamahome. Kia stood and began the walk to her room, her arms loosely crossed in front of her.
'What am I going to do? I trust Tamahome and…I love him…but now what can I do? I'm torn between happiness and sadness. Don't worry though Rae, I'll find you…'
Kia stopped when she passed Tamahome's room, she leaned against the door quietly. She had to tell him about what Tai Itsukun said and about how she really feels. Kia straightened up and knocked on his door, waiting for him to answer.
"Come in."
Kia slid open the door to find Tamahome sitting crossed legged counting money. She raised an eyebrow, "What are you doing Tamahome?"
Tamahome looked up at Kia and smiled, patting the floor next to him. Kia sat down next to him, smoothing her school skirt down. She had finally been able to wear it since the ceremonies had calmed down. She looked back over to Tamahome who was counting and figuring.
"I am counting my money that I have saved up." Tamahome poured the money back into the clay vase and slide it back under his bed. Kia smiled at this.
"I have to talk to you Tama-" Kia was cut off when a cloaked figure burst into the room, sending shards of wood everywhere.
"Stop him, no da! He's from Kutô." Chichiri ran in front of the door, prayer beads in hand and muttering a spell.
Tamahome took a fighting stance in front of Kia, who was pressed against the wall. She stared at the cloaked man who was staring right at her. Kia got a bad feeling and looked at the now four warriors, ready to fight. The man ran forward, Kia screamed.
~*~
Rae opened her eyes to a dark room, she sat up despite the pain that ensued. She heard laughing and dancing downstairs. The door slid open and Genrô stepped in with a plate of food. When he looked at Rae he turned around. Rae blinked, looking down at her bandaged chest and stomach. Tugging the blanket up she looked back at Genrô.
"It's okay, I'm bandaged and I have the blanket covering me now. You can turn around." Rae put her hand on her throat, wincing at the pain that appeared after she talked.
Genrô turned around, smiling, he sat the plate of food beside Rae bed. "Glad to see you're awake and sitting up, yer tougher than I thought. I bet yer hungry, not having eaten anything fer four days."
As if on cue Rae's stomach growled loudly, causing Rae to blush, "Yes, I think I am kind of hungry."
Genrô smiled wider, Rae noted his slightly point teeth giving him the appearance of a fangs. She reached over to pick up the chopsticks but was stopped by Genrô.
"Here, lemme help."
Rae smiled but shook her head, "I can feed myself. You go back down stairs and enjoy your party."
Genrô blinked, this girl was in pain with her every move and still didn't want any help. "Whadda woman…"
Rae stopped eating and looked up at Genrô, "What did you say? I didn't hear it."
Genrô looked away, his bangs hiding his blush, "Nuttin, you eat and I'll come back up to check on ya later."
Rae nodded as Genrô left as quietly as he had come, smiling to herself.
'I think…he likes me…even in as bad of shape as I am in…'
~*~
I want to thank a friend of mine to remind me to get this chapter to my beta reader and nudge her until she read it and everything! Thankies Kagome! Anyways I hope you guys liked this chapter, but from the lack of reviews I don't think you like my story at all. Well… Do you want me to delete it? Yes or no you tell me! I gotta go now! See you in the next chapter!
-Ta
-Eru