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Chapter 14: Life's not fair
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(Kibou's PoV)
"Yuiren! I'm home!" I yelled. "Chuei! Shunkei! Gyokuran!!!"
I reached the door first; something didn't feel right though. I froze at the door. "Yuiren?"
There was no answer. I opened the door, it was dark in there, I looked around, Tamahome's father...he..I tried to sense his life force but I couldn't get anything, no sign of living, I looked around, the children they were all sprawled across the floor.
"Sissy.. Big brother.." I heard a faint whisper. Tamahome pushed me out of the way. "Yuiren!" He picked her up and I came to his side. "Welcome home Sissy..big brother....and you too big sister." She said looking to Miaka.
"...Please..Don't leave again big brother..sissy.."
With one arm I held Yuiren with Tamahome. "Don't worry, big brother won't leave again!"
I stayed silent, I couldn't speak..Tears filled my eyes as I watched whom I felt as a little sister die..I got up; "I won't let her die..I won't!"
I concentrated and tried to find Mitsukake, I found him soon and I teleported myself to him. "Mitsukake! Please, come with me, my sister, she's..she's, please come with me!" I yelled grabbing his arm.
"Take me to her." Mitsukake said seeing my teary face. I instantly teleported back to the house in front of Tamahome. He was crying even harder than before. "Yuiren.."
I fell to my knees. "Yuiren?" I felt her face, it was cold. "Yuiren!" I tried to feel for her life force but I could feel nothing. "No..Not you too...Yuiren!!"
I heard a flute start to play...I've heard that before...I got up and walked outside, I heard him say that he was the one who did this. I looked up to the person who said it. Amiboshi...That's right, Amiboshi said he had a twin, Suboshi...He must've come to avenge his brother..They probably thought that we killed him...But he still.. He still killed them.. I drew the sword that Seiryu was on and walked to him..
"So you were the one.." Tamahome started calmly but in a cold tone. "You killed them!" There was a burst of wind that swirled around him, Suboshi swung something towards him but Tamahome blocked, shocked, and I could only watch what was happening. A serge of power suddenly came into Tamahome and a strong red glow surrounded him, he started to beat the crap out of Suboshi. I back away; Tamahome's gone crazy...I kept going until I ran into Mitsukake. I turned to face him, "I'm sorry I dragged you into this."
"You were only trying to save her." He said in a soothing tone. Another seiryu presence, I felt another Seiryu presence, I looked around and a blue flash of light struck Tamahome and Suboshi disappeared. Another Seiryu Seishi introduced herself, Soi..Nuriko went and calmed Tamahome down. Miaka was shaking, afraid of what Tamahome turned into. I went back inside, Tamahome followed me. They were actually gone..They were all gone. I can't believe this, it couldn't be true. I turned around and came to Yuiren's body, I picked her up. It was as if she was still alive. Her soft hair, her sweet cuteness when she slept, her smile...They were all there. She looked as if she was asleep. But I could feel her body's coldness, she wasn't warm anymore.. Just like when Toroki or Namame died, they were cold. Yuiren seemed so fragile. Tears streamed down my face when I looked at her..she looked so alive..Why did this have to happen, what is Chiriko trying to do to me. He might've saved my life from my world, but what about here?..I guess there are a few important things that are keeping me alive here.
I heard someone come in, I looked over and saw Mitsukake. I stood up with Yuiren still in my arms. "I couldn't save her, any of them, I couldn't save the ones I love ..I could never save the ones I love."
Mitsukake put his hand on my shoulder. "It wasn't your fault."
Tamahome came out with his head down. "..I have to..bury..them.."
I wiped the tears away from my eyes. "..I'll help you."
We carried the bodies to a certain point. We made them all graves, but I couldn't bury them, innocent children, not even involved in any of this. And the father, they didn't deserve to die like this.. None of them did. I watched Tamahome bury his family, I turned and cried into Mitsukake's chest. "It's not fair.." I whispered. "Those poor children...It just isn't right.."
Mitsukake patted my back. "There was nothing you could've done."
I sniffled. "But there was..If I came to check up on them sooner, Namame and Tamahome's family both..I could've saved them if I was there sooner."
I turned back to Tamahome and saw him burying the gifts that he bought for them too. I let go of Mitsukake and ran off. I couldn't bear this, I saw Miaka walking towards Tamahome. I ran past her and came to where Nuriko was, I ran past him as well, but stopped at the tree he was at, I fell to the ground and buried my head in my knees. The past two days that were filled with death that I could've stopped.. I was always off time. I was always too late, there was always nothing that I could do. I got up again, "I'm just going to head back." I said with my head down to Nuriko.
I started to run again, and I ran as fast as I could into the city and to the palace. Everyone around me, they were starting to close they're shops, they took a glance at me and went back to their work. I ran into the palace and I tried to find my room as fast I could, I climbed into my bed and started to rock myself. They were my family, they treated me as if I was their own, the father, he was like my father..that's why I called him that..He treated me like I was his daughter when I was home.. It was my home, the family that I never had, the family that I found but wasn't mine, but became mine.
Now I only have my little brother left, Tamahome..Of course there is my real family, but they're still a blur... Tamahome and Miaka, my two little siblings. There was a knock at my door. "Kibou, are you ok, no da?"
I didn't speak, I only looked down as more tears streamed down. "Can I come in, no da."
"Yes.." I said quietly, but he seemed to hear so he opened the door. I stopped rocking myself but kept hugging my knees.
(Chichiri's PoV)
I slowly approached her and sat next to her. She kept hugging her knees then started to rock herself. I was afraid to ask her what happened, it seemed that she was would break if I did. She looked at me and her gentle arms clenched me around my neck. She felt fragile and light, as if she would actually break. I held her in my arms as well. I felt her tears at the back of my neck and I felt them soak in my hair. "It's not fair, those poor children...it just isn't fair!"
Now I understand, something happened to Tamahome's family, they must've been killed... I patted her back and tried to comfort her. "They..They died.." she muttered. I tried not to ask, I couldn't, it would make her cry more..I really didn't want that, I didn't even want to see her crying. It was painful, every time, it was because someone died, she would just break then...Those were really the only times...But there was so much death in her life, she's become for fragile it seems. Her emotions are so thin. Now it seems she's afraid to get attached to anyone. The suzaku seishi, she doesn't talk too much with them. It only seems to be me, she doesn't seem to like to talk to anyone else..
"Everyone I get close to..they die....."
She pulled away from me and looked away. "I don't want to be around you to much now Houjun, I'm afraid for you."
"Don't be, remember, I promised I'd stay alive and protect you."
"I could've saved them, if only I came earlier." She said looking down. "I could've.."
"...What happened..?" I asked but it slipped out, curiosity took me over and I couldn't help it. She turned back to me. Her eyes were red and swollen and her breathing had quickened. I never liked to see that, it pained me.. I just made it worse by asking her what happened.
"..Amiboshi's twin brother..He thought we killed Amiboshi...and he ki-ki..."
I embraced her gently in my arms. "That's enough, you don't have to say anymore." She coughed a few times but she didn't hug back this time, she laid her head down on my lap, her breathing pace slowed down and her sniffled started to stop. She just laid there and didn't move, my arm was hanging off her side so my hand was in front of her. She touched the ring that was on that hand, it sparkled against the setting sun. She pushed my hand with the ring and I my hand dangle there and let her do that. Her hand dropped and after a few minutes I heard her snoring softly. I picked her up and gently set her down under the covers.
I had a rough past...but she has a rough past and present..She went through my past, and now she's going through a rough present, we all are, but her especially. Everything that's happened to her, I feel sorry for her. People she cared deeply about died in the past two days, by the same person, Nakago. But of course, he didn't care what was going on, who was dying, because he was the one sending them out. Miaka's friend, she would never order this.. It's not like her, but Nakago, he would defiantly start all this, just to push people to their limit.
We were setting out to Hokkan tomorrow, Seiryu is going for the same thing we are, there's going to be a fight and not all of us will survive. Both Suzaku and Seiryu have powers..But I don't know how it may turn out. I can't die though, I had been with her constantly for 3 years and to leave her after all this, it wouldn't be right. I could see that it would crush her. If any of the Suzaku seishi died, it would crush her. I just hope she's up to go to Hokkan..but then again, she wouldn't want to stay behind. She would hate to be left behind, Hotohori would be th only one left here, and she doesn't really know him at all, I doubt that she plans to either.
I got up and went to my room, the last few days have been a mess, and I guess she's trying her best..She always tries to force herself to cheer up and forget whats happened, she's alot like Miaka, she likes to not think about the stress she feels. She's experiance so many people's deaths in this world, she either saw them die or was about there when they died. In this world at least, in her world, I can't imagine the mess there is for her waiting if she returns.
~*~*~
I came to check up on Kibou in the morning. I knocked, but there was no answer, she was probably still asleep. I opened the door slowly and saw her bed made and her room completely empty. "Kibou?"
"Yes?"
I jumped at the sudden voice behind me that I didn't even hear. I turned around and Kibou was standing there, smiling. "Good morning, Chichiri!" she said brightly.
"Good morning, no da." I replied.
"Come on, we're leaving today! are you ready?" She asked starting to head towards the ship. "Yeah, no da."
We came to the ship and Miaka, Tamahome, Mitsukake, and Nuriko came back. They explained what happened to Tamahome's family, and we were off. We set out and I watched Kibou look over the edge. "Wow, this is pretty cool!" she said looking into the water.
Tasuki snuck up behind her and pushed her to the side. "Don't fall!!"
She screamed slightly and fell to her side. She frowned and kicked Tasuki in the shin. "Don't do that, what if I fell over?"
"Then you would! Ya think I'd save ya?"
Her frown deepened. "I'd pull you down with me!"
She was back to normal, or it seemed, I could only determine her feelings on the outside..I could never see how she really feels, she hides all of it, and does a good job of it. I could never tell her mood, her real mood at least, at the Star Festival she was cheerful for the most part, then when she was off on her own, I find her in a Pub, crying. She's so mysterious that way. Kibou got up and dusted off her skirt. She looked around and looked at me. "It's the first time I've been on a boat, how 'bout you Chichiri?"
"My first time too, na no da." I said coming to where she was. "I happy to see your feeling better today, no da."
She smiled and nodded. "Very much so, thanks!"
She looked to the sky, the sky seemed to get grayer. "That's not normal, something's wrong. I didn't see any clouds coming in that direction before.."
"I..can't seem to use my powers, no da." I said as I saw the clouds thicken. "A seiryu seishi." Kibou assumed.
Soon enough, seems she was right. A seiryu seishi appeared, Kibou said her name under ner breath, Soi. She drew the sword with Seiryu on it. But before we could do anything, we were all frozen in our place and the only one left was Miaka. She drew the sword that Hotohori left with her. There was a large lightning blast that Soi called forth, it hit Miaka directly, but in the end, she was able to hold it off, and all the power was sent into the sword. Miaka held onto that tightly and sent to Soi. Soi then disappeared and we were all free. Everyone was confused by what happened and wasn't sure. "It's a holy sword." I answered. I how it can absorb lightning. Lucky Miaka had that. It seemed the after the battle, a passageway to Hokkan seemed to open up, making our passage there, alot shorter
We went throughout the town near by to find out about the Shinzaho, and they gave us a city. It was quite a large city, so we split up into two groups. We all came to a restaurant where we ate. "Hey there cutie!" Some guys yelled to the girls.
"Hey Nuriko, they probably talkin' to you too." Tasuki teased. "Since you look like a girl!"
"You know what, that's it!" He drew the sword from my waist held his braid and then cut it off. We all looked at him in shock. He just cut his hair.. "It's a bother anyway. I can't protect Miaka with all that hair flying all over the place."
Our tab came and Kibou was the first to grab it, she got out the money and went to pay. "How much is it?" Tamahome asked.
"None of your concern, because your not paying." she said going to the counter. I watched her pay the man and then come back, she went past a table with many perverted men, one of whom slap her on the behind. She frowned, turned around and kicked him in the face. He went flying out of his chair and Kibou came and sat down. "Stupid, perverted Jack asses." she muttered.
Miaka smiled. "Your still the same Ohne-chan."
"Well, we'll need to split up." said Kibou as people came to clean up our table. "This is a pretty big city, so..ok."
She had a small bag of stuff that she brought with her. She brought out two flares. "Ok, light one of these things off once you find out something of the shinzaho. So light them off if you find something, we'll come find you, or the other way around... Ok, we should hurry, we don't have much time. How should we split the group? We have seven people so.. Wait, we'll discuss this outside."
We came outside the restaurant and Kibou handed Miaka a flare. "You, Nuriko, and Tamahome look over this this side of town, and I'll go with the rest and try to find what's going on in the rest of the town." And we were off.
(Kibou's PoV)
We walked around our side of town for a bit, not having any kind of luck at all. Tasuki was riding the horse since he started to complain and I was starting to get tired. This was tiring, walking around a foreign town for hours! I started to shiver as I saw that it was starting to get darker.
"Look at you." said Tasuki. "Your shivering! Your freakin crazy, going around in just THAT! I knew you'd want a coat sooner or later."
I frowned. "Shut up! The coats they wear here are too thick! I can't seem to do anything with them on! And it'll cover my swords!"
I felt something as a blanket being wrapped around my shoulders. I looked at it, it was Chichiri's kesa. "We don't want you to get sick, no da."
"Yeah, if you get sick and Mitsukake has to heal you, and something important comes up and we need Mitsukake's healing, then, it's going to be your fault because you don't have a coat!" Tasuki said getting off the horse.
"Thanks Chichiri." I whispered under my breath.
"We should find a place to rest tonight." said Mitsukake looking around for some kind of inn. We walked around the place for about thirty minutes and finally found an inn. We got two separate rooms. So we ate and tried to decide on who goes to what room.
"I feel so alone..I'm the only girl.." I said slumping my shoulders. "Ok..Um, I am defiantly NOT sharing a room with Tasuki." I said in a rude yet teasing way.
"Ah, who needs you?!" Tasuki yelled. "Ok, then share a room with Mitsukake."
"Why Mitsukake?" I asked, since I was so use to always being stuck with Chichiri...since I knew him really well and all..
"Why not?" Tasuki asked.
I shook my head. "Nothing, I'm just asking a simple question, ok, we'll need to get some rest."
"I'm gonna stay down at the bar for a while." said Tasuki as we all got up.
I smirked. "Don't drink too much, you might lose the last few remaining brain cells that you have."
"Shut up!" he yelled as we went to our rooms. I opened the door and Mitsukake followed behind me. I let a few candles and walked to the window. It started to snow, the white snowflakes were bluish because of the night's lighting. Being in Konan for so long, I've never seen snow fall this much before. It looked really peaceful, and there wasn't too much lighting. I remember 6 years ago, this looked strange, but I wasn't sure why. Now I can't really imagine a world different. I walked back to my bed and something dropped. I looked down, Chichiri's kesa, I forgot that I still had that on. Chichiri..was so nice to let me use it.. I always seem to be happy if he does something small for me like that..
"You should get to sleep Kibou, who knows what might be going on tommorow." said Mitsukake who was already in bed.
I took my swords off and took my flute out and set it down on the table where the candle was burning. I sat layed down on my bed. "..Mitsukake, how did Miaka find you?"
I stared at the ceiling, he was silent for a bit but answered soon. "After you left, I still stayed the same, then, they said something about Shouka coming back to life."
"Shouka..Your fiance` that died of that plague?" I asked, just to be certain.
"Yes...That's when I decided to help. They came to me because Miaka had been too close to Shouka and gave her the plague. Shouka had the plague demon in her, so she made everyone sick...In the end, I had..to.."
He didn't finish, I already knew why. "At least she's resting in peace now. It's a shame, such a sad end for her..."
I felt a slight jump on my bed and I looked down and saw Tama cuddling up next to me. "Are you feeling better from what happened?"
"Yeah..I've been feeling better, though it's like I lost my family, since I never had one, that I've seen since I came to this world when I was 18." I closed my eyes. "Quite a bit of my memories have actually returned to me."
"So you had a bit of amnesia then, it's too bad." He said.
I saw the candle go out when Mitsukake blew out. "Ok, go to sleep."
I closed my eyes and turned to my side. Mitsukake keeps up a coversation alot better than Mitsukake. I can't believe that I never really noticed, maybe I should try to talk to the seishi more often. Other than the ones I have, like Tamahome and Nuriko, but I always stayed around Chichiri. I'm not sure why.. I just felt better around him, of course I couldn't deny myself, but I know that I'm starting to fall in love with Chichiri. I just want to be around him...Probably why I wanted to be sharing a room with Chichiri. Though I don't regret sharing a room with Mistukake, I need to get to know the seishi more...but the people I know too well...They all seem to... die.. I shouldn't think I'm jinxed like that, Chiriko said it himself, that it wasn't my fault.
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Ok, there, done! please reveiw!
~*CosmicMoon
Chapter 14: Life's not fair
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(Kibou's PoV)
"Yuiren! I'm home!" I yelled. "Chuei! Shunkei! Gyokuran!!!"
I reached the door first; something didn't feel right though. I froze at the door. "Yuiren?"
There was no answer. I opened the door, it was dark in there, I looked around, Tamahome's father...he..I tried to sense his life force but I couldn't get anything, no sign of living, I looked around, the children they were all sprawled across the floor.
"Sissy.. Big brother.." I heard a faint whisper. Tamahome pushed me out of the way. "Yuiren!" He picked her up and I came to his side. "Welcome home Sissy..big brother....and you too big sister." She said looking to Miaka.
"...Please..Don't leave again big brother..sissy.."
With one arm I held Yuiren with Tamahome. "Don't worry, big brother won't leave again!"
I stayed silent, I couldn't speak..Tears filled my eyes as I watched whom I felt as a little sister die..I got up; "I won't let her die..I won't!"
I concentrated and tried to find Mitsukake, I found him soon and I teleported myself to him. "Mitsukake! Please, come with me, my sister, she's..she's, please come with me!" I yelled grabbing his arm.
"Take me to her." Mitsukake said seeing my teary face. I instantly teleported back to the house in front of Tamahome. He was crying even harder than before. "Yuiren.."
I fell to my knees. "Yuiren?" I felt her face, it was cold. "Yuiren!" I tried to feel for her life force but I could feel nothing. "No..Not you too...Yuiren!!"
I heard a flute start to play...I've heard that before...I got up and walked outside, I heard him say that he was the one who did this. I looked up to the person who said it. Amiboshi...That's right, Amiboshi said he had a twin, Suboshi...He must've come to avenge his brother..They probably thought that we killed him...But he still.. He still killed them.. I drew the sword that Seiryu was on and walked to him..
"So you were the one.." Tamahome started calmly but in a cold tone. "You killed them!" There was a burst of wind that swirled around him, Suboshi swung something towards him but Tamahome blocked, shocked, and I could only watch what was happening. A serge of power suddenly came into Tamahome and a strong red glow surrounded him, he started to beat the crap out of Suboshi. I back away; Tamahome's gone crazy...I kept going until I ran into Mitsukake. I turned to face him, "I'm sorry I dragged you into this."
"You were only trying to save her." He said in a soothing tone. Another seiryu presence, I felt another Seiryu presence, I looked around and a blue flash of light struck Tamahome and Suboshi disappeared. Another Seiryu Seishi introduced herself, Soi..Nuriko went and calmed Tamahome down. Miaka was shaking, afraid of what Tamahome turned into. I went back inside, Tamahome followed me. They were actually gone..They were all gone. I can't believe this, it couldn't be true. I turned around and came to Yuiren's body, I picked her up. It was as if she was still alive. Her soft hair, her sweet cuteness when she slept, her smile...They were all there. She looked as if she was asleep. But I could feel her body's coldness, she wasn't warm anymore.. Just like when Toroki or Namame died, they were cold. Yuiren seemed so fragile. Tears streamed down my face when I looked at her..she looked so alive..Why did this have to happen, what is Chiriko trying to do to me. He might've saved my life from my world, but what about here?..I guess there are a few important things that are keeping me alive here.
I heard someone come in, I looked over and saw Mitsukake. I stood up with Yuiren still in my arms. "I couldn't save her, any of them, I couldn't save the ones I love ..I could never save the ones I love."
Mitsukake put his hand on my shoulder. "It wasn't your fault."
Tamahome came out with his head down. "..I have to..bury..them.."
I wiped the tears away from my eyes. "..I'll help you."
We carried the bodies to a certain point. We made them all graves, but I couldn't bury them, innocent children, not even involved in any of this. And the father, they didn't deserve to die like this.. None of them did. I watched Tamahome bury his family, I turned and cried into Mitsukake's chest. "It's not fair.." I whispered. "Those poor children...It just isn't right.."
Mitsukake patted my back. "There was nothing you could've done."
I sniffled. "But there was..If I came to check up on them sooner, Namame and Tamahome's family both..I could've saved them if I was there sooner."
I turned back to Tamahome and saw him burying the gifts that he bought for them too. I let go of Mitsukake and ran off. I couldn't bear this, I saw Miaka walking towards Tamahome. I ran past her and came to where Nuriko was, I ran past him as well, but stopped at the tree he was at, I fell to the ground and buried my head in my knees. The past two days that were filled with death that I could've stopped.. I was always off time. I was always too late, there was always nothing that I could do. I got up again, "I'm just going to head back." I said with my head down to Nuriko.
I started to run again, and I ran as fast as I could into the city and to the palace. Everyone around me, they were starting to close they're shops, they took a glance at me and went back to their work. I ran into the palace and I tried to find my room as fast I could, I climbed into my bed and started to rock myself. They were my family, they treated me as if I was their own, the father, he was like my father..that's why I called him that..He treated me like I was his daughter when I was home.. It was my home, the family that I never had, the family that I found but wasn't mine, but became mine.
Now I only have my little brother left, Tamahome..Of course there is my real family, but they're still a blur... Tamahome and Miaka, my two little siblings. There was a knock at my door. "Kibou, are you ok, no da?"
I didn't speak, I only looked down as more tears streamed down. "Can I come in, no da."
"Yes.." I said quietly, but he seemed to hear so he opened the door. I stopped rocking myself but kept hugging my knees.
(Chichiri's PoV)
I slowly approached her and sat next to her. She kept hugging her knees then started to rock herself. I was afraid to ask her what happened, it seemed that she was would break if I did. She looked at me and her gentle arms clenched me around my neck. She felt fragile and light, as if she would actually break. I held her in my arms as well. I felt her tears at the back of my neck and I felt them soak in my hair. "It's not fair, those poor children...it just isn't fair!"
Now I understand, something happened to Tamahome's family, they must've been killed... I patted her back and tried to comfort her. "They..They died.." she muttered. I tried not to ask, I couldn't, it would make her cry more..I really didn't want that, I didn't even want to see her crying. It was painful, every time, it was because someone died, she would just break then...Those were really the only times...But there was so much death in her life, she's become for fragile it seems. Her emotions are so thin. Now it seems she's afraid to get attached to anyone. The suzaku seishi, she doesn't talk too much with them. It only seems to be me, she doesn't seem to like to talk to anyone else..
"Everyone I get close to..they die....."
She pulled away from me and looked away. "I don't want to be around you to much now Houjun, I'm afraid for you."
"Don't be, remember, I promised I'd stay alive and protect you."
"I could've saved them, if only I came earlier." She said looking down. "I could've.."
"...What happened..?" I asked but it slipped out, curiosity took me over and I couldn't help it. She turned back to me. Her eyes were red and swollen and her breathing had quickened. I never liked to see that, it pained me.. I just made it worse by asking her what happened.
"..Amiboshi's twin brother..He thought we killed Amiboshi...and he ki-ki..."
I embraced her gently in my arms. "That's enough, you don't have to say anymore." She coughed a few times but she didn't hug back this time, she laid her head down on my lap, her breathing pace slowed down and her sniffled started to stop. She just laid there and didn't move, my arm was hanging off her side so my hand was in front of her. She touched the ring that was on that hand, it sparkled against the setting sun. She pushed my hand with the ring and I my hand dangle there and let her do that. Her hand dropped and after a few minutes I heard her snoring softly. I picked her up and gently set her down under the covers.
I had a rough past...but she has a rough past and present..She went through my past, and now she's going through a rough present, we all are, but her especially. Everything that's happened to her, I feel sorry for her. People she cared deeply about died in the past two days, by the same person, Nakago. But of course, he didn't care what was going on, who was dying, because he was the one sending them out. Miaka's friend, she would never order this.. It's not like her, but Nakago, he would defiantly start all this, just to push people to their limit.
We were setting out to Hokkan tomorrow, Seiryu is going for the same thing we are, there's going to be a fight and not all of us will survive. Both Suzaku and Seiryu have powers..But I don't know how it may turn out. I can't die though, I had been with her constantly for 3 years and to leave her after all this, it wouldn't be right. I could see that it would crush her. If any of the Suzaku seishi died, it would crush her. I just hope she's up to go to Hokkan..but then again, she wouldn't want to stay behind. She would hate to be left behind, Hotohori would be th only one left here, and she doesn't really know him at all, I doubt that she plans to either.
I got up and went to my room, the last few days have been a mess, and I guess she's trying her best..She always tries to force herself to cheer up and forget whats happened, she's alot like Miaka, she likes to not think about the stress she feels. She's experiance so many people's deaths in this world, she either saw them die or was about there when they died. In this world at least, in her world, I can't imagine the mess there is for her waiting if she returns.
~*~*~
I came to check up on Kibou in the morning. I knocked, but there was no answer, she was probably still asleep. I opened the door slowly and saw her bed made and her room completely empty. "Kibou?"
"Yes?"
I jumped at the sudden voice behind me that I didn't even hear. I turned around and Kibou was standing there, smiling. "Good morning, Chichiri!" she said brightly.
"Good morning, no da." I replied.
"Come on, we're leaving today! are you ready?" She asked starting to head towards the ship. "Yeah, no da."
We came to the ship and Miaka, Tamahome, Mitsukake, and Nuriko came back. They explained what happened to Tamahome's family, and we were off. We set out and I watched Kibou look over the edge. "Wow, this is pretty cool!" she said looking into the water.
Tasuki snuck up behind her and pushed her to the side. "Don't fall!!"
She screamed slightly and fell to her side. She frowned and kicked Tasuki in the shin. "Don't do that, what if I fell over?"
"Then you would! Ya think I'd save ya?"
Her frown deepened. "I'd pull you down with me!"
She was back to normal, or it seemed, I could only determine her feelings on the outside..I could never see how she really feels, she hides all of it, and does a good job of it. I could never tell her mood, her real mood at least, at the Star Festival she was cheerful for the most part, then when she was off on her own, I find her in a Pub, crying. She's so mysterious that way. Kibou got up and dusted off her skirt. She looked around and looked at me. "It's the first time I've been on a boat, how 'bout you Chichiri?"
"My first time too, na no da." I said coming to where she was. "I happy to see your feeling better today, no da."
She smiled and nodded. "Very much so, thanks!"
She looked to the sky, the sky seemed to get grayer. "That's not normal, something's wrong. I didn't see any clouds coming in that direction before.."
"I..can't seem to use my powers, no da." I said as I saw the clouds thicken. "A seiryu seishi." Kibou assumed.
Soon enough, seems she was right. A seiryu seishi appeared, Kibou said her name under ner breath, Soi. She drew the sword with Seiryu on it. But before we could do anything, we were all frozen in our place and the only one left was Miaka. She drew the sword that Hotohori left with her. There was a large lightning blast that Soi called forth, it hit Miaka directly, but in the end, she was able to hold it off, and all the power was sent into the sword. Miaka held onto that tightly and sent to Soi. Soi then disappeared and we were all free. Everyone was confused by what happened and wasn't sure. "It's a holy sword." I answered. I how it can absorb lightning. Lucky Miaka had that. It seemed the after the battle, a passageway to Hokkan seemed to open up, making our passage there, alot shorter
We went throughout the town near by to find out about the Shinzaho, and they gave us a city. It was quite a large city, so we split up into two groups. We all came to a restaurant where we ate. "Hey there cutie!" Some guys yelled to the girls.
"Hey Nuriko, they probably talkin' to you too." Tasuki teased. "Since you look like a girl!"
"You know what, that's it!" He drew the sword from my waist held his braid and then cut it off. We all looked at him in shock. He just cut his hair.. "It's a bother anyway. I can't protect Miaka with all that hair flying all over the place."
Our tab came and Kibou was the first to grab it, she got out the money and went to pay. "How much is it?" Tamahome asked.
"None of your concern, because your not paying." she said going to the counter. I watched her pay the man and then come back, she went past a table with many perverted men, one of whom slap her on the behind. She frowned, turned around and kicked him in the face. He went flying out of his chair and Kibou came and sat down. "Stupid, perverted Jack asses." she muttered.
Miaka smiled. "Your still the same Ohne-chan."
"Well, we'll need to split up." said Kibou as people came to clean up our table. "This is a pretty big city, so..ok."
She had a small bag of stuff that she brought with her. She brought out two flares. "Ok, light one of these things off once you find out something of the shinzaho. So light them off if you find something, we'll come find you, or the other way around... Ok, we should hurry, we don't have much time. How should we split the group? We have seven people so.. Wait, we'll discuss this outside."
We came outside the restaurant and Kibou handed Miaka a flare. "You, Nuriko, and Tamahome look over this this side of town, and I'll go with the rest and try to find what's going on in the rest of the town." And we were off.
(Kibou's PoV)
We walked around our side of town for a bit, not having any kind of luck at all. Tasuki was riding the horse since he started to complain and I was starting to get tired. This was tiring, walking around a foreign town for hours! I started to shiver as I saw that it was starting to get darker.
"Look at you." said Tasuki. "Your shivering! Your freakin crazy, going around in just THAT! I knew you'd want a coat sooner or later."
I frowned. "Shut up! The coats they wear here are too thick! I can't seem to do anything with them on! And it'll cover my swords!"
I felt something as a blanket being wrapped around my shoulders. I looked at it, it was Chichiri's kesa. "We don't want you to get sick, no da."
"Yeah, if you get sick and Mitsukake has to heal you, and something important comes up and we need Mitsukake's healing, then, it's going to be your fault because you don't have a coat!" Tasuki said getting off the horse.
"Thanks Chichiri." I whispered under my breath.
"We should find a place to rest tonight." said Mitsukake looking around for some kind of inn. We walked around the place for about thirty minutes and finally found an inn. We got two separate rooms. So we ate and tried to decide on who goes to what room.
"I feel so alone..I'm the only girl.." I said slumping my shoulders. "Ok..Um, I am defiantly NOT sharing a room with Tasuki." I said in a rude yet teasing way.
"Ah, who needs you?!" Tasuki yelled. "Ok, then share a room with Mitsukake."
"Why Mitsukake?" I asked, since I was so use to always being stuck with Chichiri...since I knew him really well and all..
"Why not?" Tasuki asked.
I shook my head. "Nothing, I'm just asking a simple question, ok, we'll need to get some rest."
"I'm gonna stay down at the bar for a while." said Tasuki as we all got up.
I smirked. "Don't drink too much, you might lose the last few remaining brain cells that you have."
"Shut up!" he yelled as we went to our rooms. I opened the door and Mitsukake followed behind me. I let a few candles and walked to the window. It started to snow, the white snowflakes were bluish because of the night's lighting. Being in Konan for so long, I've never seen snow fall this much before. It looked really peaceful, and there wasn't too much lighting. I remember 6 years ago, this looked strange, but I wasn't sure why. Now I can't really imagine a world different. I walked back to my bed and something dropped. I looked down, Chichiri's kesa, I forgot that I still had that on. Chichiri..was so nice to let me use it.. I always seem to be happy if he does something small for me like that..
"You should get to sleep Kibou, who knows what might be going on tommorow." said Mitsukake who was already in bed.
I took my swords off and took my flute out and set it down on the table where the candle was burning. I sat layed down on my bed. "..Mitsukake, how did Miaka find you?"
I stared at the ceiling, he was silent for a bit but answered soon. "After you left, I still stayed the same, then, they said something about Shouka coming back to life."
"Shouka..Your fiance` that died of that plague?" I asked, just to be certain.
"Yes...That's when I decided to help. They came to me because Miaka had been too close to Shouka and gave her the plague. Shouka had the plague demon in her, so she made everyone sick...In the end, I had..to.."
He didn't finish, I already knew why. "At least she's resting in peace now. It's a shame, such a sad end for her..."
I felt a slight jump on my bed and I looked down and saw Tama cuddling up next to me. "Are you feeling better from what happened?"
"Yeah..I've been feeling better, though it's like I lost my family, since I never had one, that I've seen since I came to this world when I was 18." I closed my eyes. "Quite a bit of my memories have actually returned to me."
"So you had a bit of amnesia then, it's too bad." He said.
I saw the candle go out when Mitsukake blew out. "Ok, go to sleep."
I closed my eyes and turned to my side. Mitsukake keeps up a coversation alot better than Mitsukake. I can't believe that I never really noticed, maybe I should try to talk to the seishi more often. Other than the ones I have, like Tamahome and Nuriko, but I always stayed around Chichiri. I'm not sure why.. I just felt better around him, of course I couldn't deny myself, but I know that I'm starting to fall in love with Chichiri. I just want to be around him...Probably why I wanted to be sharing a room with Chichiri. Though I don't regret sharing a room with Mistukake, I need to get to know the seishi more...but the people I know too well...They all seem to... die.. I shouldn't think I'm jinxed like that, Chiriko said it himself, that it wasn't my fault.
~*~*~*~*~
Ok, there, done! please reveiw!
~*CosmicMoon