With Nuriko alive, it's going to twist the story. With Kibou already it twisted the original story, I usually always like to twist things like this, to do a little " what if " thing, but then it basically resolves the same way. So it's not exactly going to flow along with the story, because different people make different differences. (Who said that? I know someone did... some person...I don't know if I made that up, or got it from somewhere or someone and forgot who said and it came back... I don't know..)

You know what's cool? All the reveiws for this story's long! I love the long reviews; I greatly appreciate all these reveiws you guys give to me! ^^

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Chapter 16: Nuriko

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(Kibou's PoV)

We finally came to the city that was really close by, we figured out that that was Sairou, it was pretty how there, once I got off the horse I gave Chichiri his kesa back. "Thanks for letting me use it."

It was pretty hot in this city, it was the dessert..We found shade, but it only seemed to be a little bit better, but not really, it was still really hot compared to Hokkan. There was a lady who came to us and offered us a place to stay, so we accepted, I was half awake because of the heat, so I agreed too. Once we were inside, I remember one of my world's comforts, air conditioning. And they didn't have it. Air conditioning kept the house cool despite the hot weather.. I don't know how I remembered that..I wish there were something like that here. One thing that the house did have though, was something we would enjoy. The lady showed me to the basement, where there were many scrolls as a small library, but there were many small dark isles. It reminded me...Of some library that I was at one point in my life. I couldn't point out specifically where though. It was most likely in my own world.

I sat down at a desk with the candle that I brought down to the dark room. It was slightly cooler down there. I heard someone come down the stairs, it was Nuriko. He sat in a chair that was near me. "Hey Kibou."

I also noticed this, only for a little bit have I been called my seishi name, only since I met them all before and called myself Kibou. Except Hotohori, who calls me Chiriko; and Miaka, who calls me ohne-chan. But I noticed that, and Chichiri, every time I remember, I call him Chichiri, otherwise I just forget and call him Houjun. All these different names...Well just two, for other people, I just get use to one or the other, sort of..

"What ca' doin' down here?" He asked looking around and the library. I shrugged, "I dunno, right now, it's cooler down here so I came down here, I'll read later. Why'd you come down here?"

"Just a little concerned, that's all." He answered.

"Oh? About what, I'm ok."

"You seem a bit depressed."

I put my hands behind my head and tilted my chair back. "Just a little.." I said thinking back to Konan. About Namame, about my family... Every part of it was partly my fault, if not all.

"How are things with you and Chichiri?"

I fell out of my chair, shocked, and hit my head; I sat back up and rubbed my head. "What do you mean?"

"Aren't you two together? You two ARE always around each other."

"No, only reason we're around each other so much, is because we've known each other for so long, I've known him for 6 years, technically...Besides, Chichiri's a monk." I said tilting back in my chair again.

"So you two knew each other since you were kids?"

I shook my head. "No, just since I was 18."

"18? You're not 18?"

I looked at her strangely, "Yeah, how old did you think I was?"

"..17! I thought you were younger than I was! How old are you?" Nuriko asked shocked.

"24."

Nuriko's jaw dropped. "You can't be 24! You don't look a day over 17!" Nuriko yelled in disbelief.

I smiled. "I guess I do seem a bit young looking for my age. I seem to act like it too, does I? All of you guys, you too, take care of me as if I was younger than you, but the only one older than me is Chichiri."

"Then he's pretty much perfect for you." Nuriko said smiling.

I fell out of my chair again, this time I hit my knee against the table. Nuriko got up and helped me up. "Be careful, you shouldn't lean back like that."

I sat back down. "You shouldn't jump to conclusions like that, Nuriko."

"I'm not! It's obvious, Chichiri's probably too blind to see it, but I know it! You love him!"

I blushed furiously when Nuriko said that. "I..I.."

"Come on, Kibou, your turning all red. Just admit it, I won't tell anyone."

"Promise?"

Nuriko held out his pinky. "Promise."

I held my pinky out...Nuriko.. He reminded me of someone...Ellyn..He reminded me of Ellyn, I vaguely remember her, but somehow, Nuriko, reminded me of Ellyn. I stopped blushing. "..Yeah, I guess your right Nuriko. I do like Chichiri, he means the world to me...But I'm afraid that he'll never like me."

Nuriko smiled. "You two are so close! It doesn't matter that he's a monk! He already cares for you, right?"

I nodded. "Then, if he doesn't love you yet, then he's soon to! He probably does and doesn't even realize it, knowing how thick headed Chichiri can be!"

"Thanks Nuriko." Somehow, even though I haven't experienced it since I got here 6 years ago, this kind of talk made me feel more in place. I was always around guys, and Nuriko was the closest one to a friend that's like a girl. Even though Nuriko's a man, I still can't help but look at him as a girl. He was like a best friend in this world. "Is this what you came to talk to me about?"

He shook his head. "It's just what came up, I just haven't talked to you like this since you were working at Namame's shop, it's pretty refreshing to talk to another girl other than Miaka, and not other guys."

"It is pretty refreshing. Although your a man, you seem so much like a woman..I'm glad you came down here Nuriko, defiantly feel better."

Nuriko got up and headed to the base of the stairs. "Come on, I want you to try this drink."

"What's it called?"

"A Nuriko special. You might be strong enough to handle it."

I followed him upstairs and Nuriko started to make the drink, Nuriko made quite a bit of that drink. I never drank before the festival, I never the wanted to drink before that. A little drink now wouldn't hurt anyone, I don't think. He got the drink ready and made quite a bit and gave it to both Tasuki and I, also for himself. I drank it and I had a small head rush but then when I was finished, I really didn't feel much, just light headed. I felt kind of bad drinking like this; it can damage my brain. But I did feel a sense of ease when I drank. I felt so light headed and not thinking strait... I wasn't thinking at all. It was all thoughts of doing something stupid and thinking that was funny. It made me feel better, not thinking of what's happened to me for so long here, and in my world.

Nuriko made a few more of the same drink and I started to get a horrible headache. I looked at Tasuki, he was going nuts, and everything that was around him he just took and made something of it. I got up; "I'm not feeling very well, I'm going to go lay down."

"Ok!" Nuriko yelled after me.

I then remembered after I closed the door, that I had no room. I looked around for the lady who let us into her house. I found Chichiri on the way. I leaned against the wall so I wouldn't fall down in front of him. Or let him know I was half drunk "Kibou, are you all right, no da?"

I nodded slowly. "I'm just tired, and I need to rest. I just don't know where the bedrooms are."

"Um, we're sharing a room, no da...She showed them to us when we got here..Do you want me to show you to your room, no da?"

"Please.." I said as he turned around. I stayed close to the wall for support. Then I saw we had to cross the living room to get tot he stair case. "God dammit!" I yelled before I realized what I was saying.

Chichiri turned around and looked at me a bit concerned. I was leaned down so I won't completely fall over. He came over to me and gave me him shoulder to lean on. "This isn't really the time or place to get drunk, Kibou."

He knew.. I looked down, I was hard to hide it, and drinking got my train of thinking off, but it wasn't worth it...I don't think. Chichiri noticed.. I didn't want him to; I just wanted to sleep it out. I walked stumbling a bit. "...I'm sorry Houjun." I said once we got to the door.

"For what, no da?" He asked as he opened the door and helped me to my bed.

"I know I shouldn't be drinking.. I'm being immature." I said sitting down.

He took his mask off. "It's all right, no da. I understand why...Just be careful when you drink. Suzaku granted you the power of wisdom, but you shouldn't abuse it like that."

I bowed my head down. "I know...I'm..an idiot..I know. I'm not worth anything.."

Houjun patted my back. "You're not an idiot, no da.....Your the only one who can do beyond what her powers let her, you can even do my powers, you can use a sword as good as Hotohori, you fight as well as Tamahome, and then there's your wisdom, and your worth a lot to the group and because I-"

He cut off right away. I looked up to him, he was blushing and looking down. I put my legs up on the bed and laid down. "...Thanks Houjun.."

"..Um..Not at all, Kibou, no da." He said covering me with the blanket. "Get a good rest, Kibou, no da." He said his voice sounding a bit shaky, as if nervous and he quickly left the room.

I looked to my side and saw his mask and picked it up, still lying down. It had the softness of skin, but it was still hard in it's own way. It almost felt like a toy, I put it down and turned over. Nuriko might be right..

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[You know, I was thinking about ending it there...But I didn't, it would've been way too short, now we get to see what Chichiri's thinking! Yay!]

(Chichiri's PoV)

I went where no one was, which was the basement, which had the library. I realized I forgot my mask in the room, I couldn't stop blushing. I really needed my mask at that time, behind it; she wouldn't have been able to see my blushing. I felt feverish..I almost said it, after I realized it, I almost said it! I'm such an idiot! I can't imagine what mess that I've gotten myself into... I can't believe myself, I don't want her to stop talking to me... because she's freaked out of someone like me in love with her..

I heard someone come downstairs, it was Nuriko. He smiled when he saw me. "Now your the one down here, I had to come and talk to you about something."

"Um, what was that, no da?"

"First of all, don't you take your mask everywhere?" He asked sitting in a chair across from me. I looked away from him to not show that I was still slightly blushing. "Um, I left it in my room, no da."

Nuriko raised an eyebrow. "Really, why are you blushing Chichiri?"

I started to blush again when I thought about it. "You weren't peakin' on Kibou were you?"

I blushed even harder. "N-No, I wouldn't d-do that, no da!"

Nuriko smirked. "You like Kibou, don't you?"

"W-what do you mean, no da? What would make y-you think that, no da?" I said nervously.

Nuriko crossed his arms, "I see. So you say that after stuttering, and blushing, I can't believe you. Just admit it! You love Kibou!!"

"ok, ok, na no da. I do...But Nuriko, please don't tell her, no da."

He nodded. "Of course, am I the type to say such things? Besides, do I talk to Kibou often?"

"I guess so..."

"Well, I could find out what she thinks of you, and I'll try to point out how to help you, Chichiri."

"...Um, no it's ok Nuriko...Besides..I'm not sure.."

Nuriko looked at me a bit confused. "What do you mean not sure."

"I'm not sure if I like Kibou in that way or not." I said.

Nuriko looked down. "Oh, then..ok..um, where's Kibou now?"

"She's in her room sleeping. She was a bit drunk."

"Oh, that was my fault, I wanted her to try my drink, I guess it was a bit strong for her."

Nuriko got up and headed upstairs. "Um, ok, well, I think dinner's going to be going soon, so get her up if you can."

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I'm glad Nuriko didn't die for this story. ^^ Look at what he could do to munipulate people to say things like that. Heh, please reveiw! I'll try to get the next chapter when I can. ^^