Disclaimer: I do not own Fushigi Yuugi or any of the characters that I did
not create on my own.
Thanks to. . .
shadow priestess: Yea, the next few chapters aren't going to be all that dark though you do get to find out a bit more about the ever mysterious Nephiro. (Kim: Ok Smack. That just sounded gay.) (Smack: Shut up Kim.) Anyway. I'm glad you still like it!
Otaku Pitcher: You might like this better than Wishful? Yea, I might too so don't feel bad. This one is more fun to write. Evil characters are fun to work with. And I'm glad that you can't tell where this is going. I like to keep an element of surprise in my fics. I just hope I haven't completely lost that part in Wishful. Thanks again!
Author's Note: Well, here's chapter three. It took a little while longer to get up than I would have liked but I was busy. Plus, I haven't felt like putting it up. It's been ready for days now but I just haven't wanted to put it up. Bad Smack. Lazy Smack. This chapter is definitely not all that dark so if you were expecting dark I'm sorry. The whole story isn't going to be dark so I hope I don't ruin anyone's expectations or whatever. Anyway, I'll shut up now.
'. . .' are Nephiro's thoughts.
Chapter 3: You Really Suck
I woke up on my own at sunrise. I figured that Genrou would still be asleep and warped myself somewhere where I could take a bath in peace. I ended up at an isolated natural hot spring hidden away deep in the mountains. I gazed down into the mirror-like water and for the first time since I got this body, saw my reflection. I had shoulder length dark red hair that was such a deep red it seemed almost black. It was really dark and seemed to give off a red shimmer in the light. My eyes were a deep indigo. Over all I'd have to say that my appearance did not match my voice in the slightest bit. I didn't mind, however. This body was one of the best I've had so far. My real self was much better though.
I rinsed off, "dried" my hair, got dressed, and warped back to my room just in time to hear Genrou knock on my door. "Hey Nephiro! Would you get up already? We have to get going soon!" he called through the closed door. 'At least he didn't barge in. It would have been hard to explain how I magically appeared in my room like that.'
"I'm already up! I'll be out in a second!" I replied, trying my best not to sound angry. Honestly, who was he to tell me to hurry up?
I opened my door and was face to face with a cross-armed Genrou. "We should arrive at Mt. Leikaku sometime in the afternoon," he told me.
"That's good." What else could be said?
With that, we went downstairs to get a quick breakfast. 'Soon, I'll get to the mountain and then I can earn Genrou's trust by helping him overthrow that other loser. Then he'll have no choice but to let me join the bandits! I'm such a genius!' I thought while we were eating. We left the inn and continued onward towards the mountain. I even allowed Genrou to talk to me. I had to get on his good side and I was too happy to give him an extreme amount of sarcasm.
Before I left my old "home," (more like prison), I had checked on Suzaku's priestess and predicted that she shouldn't go looking for Genrou for quite a while. "Well, Nephiro. We're almost there. Are you nervous yet?" Genrou asked, smirking.
"Not really. Should I be?" I answered.
"I would be if I were you. Like I said before, they don't just let anyone become a bandit," he said.
I couldn't resist the urge. The whole "Let's be nice to Genrou" game was starting to loose my interest. I had to say something! "Well, they let you become a bandit so it should be easy for me," I replied, smirking back at him.
"You better not be so cocky. Even if they do allow you to try and become a bandit, you'll still only be doing the low work. Probably cooking since you're a girl and can't handle the heavier work. The only other girl we have is old and cooks so you'll probably start out with her."
"Well, then you'd think that they'd want me around if there aren't any real women around."
"I'm not so sure. I could care less about having girls around the hideout. They just get in the way."
"You don't like girls much do you?" I asked.
"No, not really. You're annoying and useless," he responded, completely oblivious to the huge insult he just gave me. 'I can think of a use for us.'
"Gee, thanks Genrou. I love you too."
"I meant girls in general. You're not that annoying though you have a crappy attitude."
"Once again, thanks. It's not like you have the best personality yourself, buddy." We continued on in silence for a while after that. I could tell we were getting close because more and more people seemed to know Genrou. "We're going to stop here for a while, Nephiro," he declared.
"Why? We're so close," I asked.
"I have to pick something up," he "answered."
I decided to go against searching for a real answer in his mind. I wanted to use as little of my powers as possible. The gods may not have noticed that I'm gone yet and I don't want to draw more attention to myself. The gods are pretty slow in the brain department. They're normally out doing things they shouldn't be, (like seducing random women), or messing up other entities lives (like they did to me) but they do actually check up on their warriors from time to time. They normally don't pay me any visits, (it might have something to do with the fact that I wish death upon Suzaku every time they do), but occasionally they send Byakko down to see if I'm still alive. Like I can die. Please. They're so dumb. I think they send Byakko to continue to taunt me. Either that or maybe they realized they made a mistake when they put me down here and that's their way of apologizing without actually apologizing. Nah, I think I'll go with the first one. I like it better. It makes more sense.
I waited "patiently" while Genrou went off to get whatever it was that he had to get. He came back and threw something at me. "Here, I got you something. You'll need it to keep you warm whether or not you get into the bandits."
"Thanks." I unfolded it carefully and looked at it. It was a black cloak with deep maroon lining. It was beautiful. Why would he get me such a wonderful thing?
"Aren't you going to try it on?" he asked. It was then that I saw the glint in his eye. He had an angle for doing this. Perhaps he was testing me. Wait. . .is he that smart? I better not take any chances. Maybe he has a brain.
"Of course. I just wanted to see what it was first." I put it on. "Nice color. The lining matches my hair, almost." I twirled around admiring how the fabric flowed and shined in the sun. Now I was the one watching him. Did I pass or fail? Or was he merely buying me stuff? I decided to find out. "I guess now I really owe you," I said.
I saw him stare at me for a second but I couldn't tell whether I passed his test or not. I knew for sure that my response wasn't what he had expected. I had a huge urge to search his mind for any hidden motives but stopped myself. "No, that was a present. You don't owe me for it. We should get going now. I'm sure Eiken is aware of us." He turned around and started walking without another word. I sighed and followed. Humans. . .they're so confusing.
"Who's Eiken?" I asked, playing the innocent card again.
"The guy who took over the bandits while I was gone," he replied. I could tell he didn't want to talk about it. It didn't matter to me either way. I already knew the details. "We're not going straight to the hideout."
"We're not?" 'Damn him! He keeps delaying my plans!!!'
"No."
"Why?"
"I've got some things to take care of first. I'll bring you somewhere where you can stay while I do what I have to do."
"Uh. . .ok? Is there anything I can help you with?" I asked.
"I don't think so." 'Stupid bandits and their stupid secrets! I bet he wants to go off and defeat Eiken by himself! Yea, like that's ever going to happen.'
We continued on, entering the forest just below Mt. Leikaku. I knew before this day would be over that I would have to think of someway that I could be of use to him. The forest swirled by in a haze as we passed through it. After some amount of walking, (I didn't feel like keeping track), we arrived at some cave. I was guessing it was near the center of the forest and it was also probably Genrou's secret place. "Remind me why you lead we here in the middle of nowhere?" I asked him. "You aren't going to rape me are you?"
"I wouldn't want to rape you. Besides, you can't rape the willing," he replied. "I lead you here so you'll be safe and out of the way while I do what I have to do."
I ignored the "rape the willing remark." I had seen that one coming. It was the "keep you safe" comment that annoyed me. "What makes you think that I need your protecting?"
"The fact that you can't even keep your mouth shut long enough to sneak up on someone."
"I resent that remark and the one about raping the willing. I wouldn't be willing."
"I don't care and yes you would be."
"You really suck and no I wouldn't be."
"No I think you do and know you would be."
"How would you know about either one?"
"Just a guess made from observations of your award winning personality."
"Go away. I hate you."
"It's my cave. You leave."
"Don't you have somewhere to be?"
"Not 'til dark. Until then, I'm staying here." He moved off to a couch-like structure and stretched out as if to emphasize the fact that he isn't leaving.
"Whoop-di-doo."
"You might want to be nicer to me. I could be your only way into the bandits." He smirked at me from his position on the couch. I narrowed my eyes for a brief moment before regaining my control over my facial expressions.
"Is that so?" I raised an eyebrow. "How nice?" I walked towards him until I was standing right above him, looking down at his not so relaxed (anymore) body. 'It's always fun to mess with human emotions. Humans are so easily manipulated and broken. Like glass dolls.' "Or is my personal. . .charm enough to get me in?" Somehow, I managed to make my innocent sounding voice sound not so innocent. 'I owe it all to years of practice.'
I don't think he knew what to say to that. He just sat there, completely blank and expressionless. It took him a while but he regained his usual edge. "What charm?"
"You tell me."
"Humph. Never mind. It's not worth it. I hate girls anyway. I have to get ready for tonight. Just try and stay out of my way, ok?"
So I sat around the cave. Alone. Alone and bored. Bored bored bored. And when I'm bored, I begin to plot. I'll think of a way to help out Genrou and a way to get him back for dismissing me like that. No one dismisses me. Plotting other people's destruction is what I'm best at, after all.
Author's Note: Well that was chapter three. How was it? I felt like adding a little of my own twisted humor into this chapter. The next few are full of it, too. Nephiro and Genrou sure don't seem to be hitting it off too well. I wonder what she could possibly plan next? And what is her real plan? Will we ever know?
Here's a quote:
'I am not supposed to experience emotions like this yet! Damn humanity! It's so over-rated!'
~Smack
Thanks to. . .
shadow priestess: Yea, the next few chapters aren't going to be all that dark though you do get to find out a bit more about the ever mysterious Nephiro. (Kim: Ok Smack. That just sounded gay.) (Smack: Shut up Kim.) Anyway. I'm glad you still like it!
Otaku Pitcher: You might like this better than Wishful? Yea, I might too so don't feel bad. This one is more fun to write. Evil characters are fun to work with. And I'm glad that you can't tell where this is going. I like to keep an element of surprise in my fics. I just hope I haven't completely lost that part in Wishful. Thanks again!
Author's Note: Well, here's chapter three. It took a little while longer to get up than I would have liked but I was busy. Plus, I haven't felt like putting it up. It's been ready for days now but I just haven't wanted to put it up. Bad Smack. Lazy Smack. This chapter is definitely not all that dark so if you were expecting dark I'm sorry. The whole story isn't going to be dark so I hope I don't ruin anyone's expectations or whatever. Anyway, I'll shut up now.
'. . .' are Nephiro's thoughts.
Chapter 3: You Really Suck
I woke up on my own at sunrise. I figured that Genrou would still be asleep and warped myself somewhere where I could take a bath in peace. I ended up at an isolated natural hot spring hidden away deep in the mountains. I gazed down into the mirror-like water and for the first time since I got this body, saw my reflection. I had shoulder length dark red hair that was such a deep red it seemed almost black. It was really dark and seemed to give off a red shimmer in the light. My eyes were a deep indigo. Over all I'd have to say that my appearance did not match my voice in the slightest bit. I didn't mind, however. This body was one of the best I've had so far. My real self was much better though.
I rinsed off, "dried" my hair, got dressed, and warped back to my room just in time to hear Genrou knock on my door. "Hey Nephiro! Would you get up already? We have to get going soon!" he called through the closed door. 'At least he didn't barge in. It would have been hard to explain how I magically appeared in my room like that.'
"I'm already up! I'll be out in a second!" I replied, trying my best not to sound angry. Honestly, who was he to tell me to hurry up?
I opened my door and was face to face with a cross-armed Genrou. "We should arrive at Mt. Leikaku sometime in the afternoon," he told me.
"That's good." What else could be said?
With that, we went downstairs to get a quick breakfast. 'Soon, I'll get to the mountain and then I can earn Genrou's trust by helping him overthrow that other loser. Then he'll have no choice but to let me join the bandits! I'm such a genius!' I thought while we were eating. We left the inn and continued onward towards the mountain. I even allowed Genrou to talk to me. I had to get on his good side and I was too happy to give him an extreme amount of sarcasm.
Before I left my old "home," (more like prison), I had checked on Suzaku's priestess and predicted that she shouldn't go looking for Genrou for quite a while. "Well, Nephiro. We're almost there. Are you nervous yet?" Genrou asked, smirking.
"Not really. Should I be?" I answered.
"I would be if I were you. Like I said before, they don't just let anyone become a bandit," he said.
I couldn't resist the urge. The whole "Let's be nice to Genrou" game was starting to loose my interest. I had to say something! "Well, they let you become a bandit so it should be easy for me," I replied, smirking back at him.
"You better not be so cocky. Even if they do allow you to try and become a bandit, you'll still only be doing the low work. Probably cooking since you're a girl and can't handle the heavier work. The only other girl we have is old and cooks so you'll probably start out with her."
"Well, then you'd think that they'd want me around if there aren't any real women around."
"I'm not so sure. I could care less about having girls around the hideout. They just get in the way."
"You don't like girls much do you?" I asked.
"No, not really. You're annoying and useless," he responded, completely oblivious to the huge insult he just gave me. 'I can think of a use for us.'
"Gee, thanks Genrou. I love you too."
"I meant girls in general. You're not that annoying though you have a crappy attitude."
"Once again, thanks. It's not like you have the best personality yourself, buddy." We continued on in silence for a while after that. I could tell we were getting close because more and more people seemed to know Genrou. "We're going to stop here for a while, Nephiro," he declared.
"Why? We're so close," I asked.
"I have to pick something up," he "answered."
I decided to go against searching for a real answer in his mind. I wanted to use as little of my powers as possible. The gods may not have noticed that I'm gone yet and I don't want to draw more attention to myself. The gods are pretty slow in the brain department. They're normally out doing things they shouldn't be, (like seducing random women), or messing up other entities lives (like they did to me) but they do actually check up on their warriors from time to time. They normally don't pay me any visits, (it might have something to do with the fact that I wish death upon Suzaku every time they do), but occasionally they send Byakko down to see if I'm still alive. Like I can die. Please. They're so dumb. I think they send Byakko to continue to taunt me. Either that or maybe they realized they made a mistake when they put me down here and that's their way of apologizing without actually apologizing. Nah, I think I'll go with the first one. I like it better. It makes more sense.
I waited "patiently" while Genrou went off to get whatever it was that he had to get. He came back and threw something at me. "Here, I got you something. You'll need it to keep you warm whether or not you get into the bandits."
"Thanks." I unfolded it carefully and looked at it. It was a black cloak with deep maroon lining. It was beautiful. Why would he get me such a wonderful thing?
"Aren't you going to try it on?" he asked. It was then that I saw the glint in his eye. He had an angle for doing this. Perhaps he was testing me. Wait. . .is he that smart? I better not take any chances. Maybe he has a brain.
"Of course. I just wanted to see what it was first." I put it on. "Nice color. The lining matches my hair, almost." I twirled around admiring how the fabric flowed and shined in the sun. Now I was the one watching him. Did I pass or fail? Or was he merely buying me stuff? I decided to find out. "I guess now I really owe you," I said.
I saw him stare at me for a second but I couldn't tell whether I passed his test or not. I knew for sure that my response wasn't what he had expected. I had a huge urge to search his mind for any hidden motives but stopped myself. "No, that was a present. You don't owe me for it. We should get going now. I'm sure Eiken is aware of us." He turned around and started walking without another word. I sighed and followed. Humans. . .they're so confusing.
"Who's Eiken?" I asked, playing the innocent card again.
"The guy who took over the bandits while I was gone," he replied. I could tell he didn't want to talk about it. It didn't matter to me either way. I already knew the details. "We're not going straight to the hideout."
"We're not?" 'Damn him! He keeps delaying my plans!!!'
"No."
"Why?"
"I've got some things to take care of first. I'll bring you somewhere where you can stay while I do what I have to do."
"Uh. . .ok? Is there anything I can help you with?" I asked.
"I don't think so." 'Stupid bandits and their stupid secrets! I bet he wants to go off and defeat Eiken by himself! Yea, like that's ever going to happen.'
We continued on, entering the forest just below Mt. Leikaku. I knew before this day would be over that I would have to think of someway that I could be of use to him. The forest swirled by in a haze as we passed through it. After some amount of walking, (I didn't feel like keeping track), we arrived at some cave. I was guessing it was near the center of the forest and it was also probably Genrou's secret place. "Remind me why you lead we here in the middle of nowhere?" I asked him. "You aren't going to rape me are you?"
"I wouldn't want to rape you. Besides, you can't rape the willing," he replied. "I lead you here so you'll be safe and out of the way while I do what I have to do."
I ignored the "rape the willing remark." I had seen that one coming. It was the "keep you safe" comment that annoyed me. "What makes you think that I need your protecting?"
"The fact that you can't even keep your mouth shut long enough to sneak up on someone."
"I resent that remark and the one about raping the willing. I wouldn't be willing."
"I don't care and yes you would be."
"You really suck and no I wouldn't be."
"No I think you do and know you would be."
"How would you know about either one?"
"Just a guess made from observations of your award winning personality."
"Go away. I hate you."
"It's my cave. You leave."
"Don't you have somewhere to be?"
"Not 'til dark. Until then, I'm staying here." He moved off to a couch-like structure and stretched out as if to emphasize the fact that he isn't leaving.
"Whoop-di-doo."
"You might want to be nicer to me. I could be your only way into the bandits." He smirked at me from his position on the couch. I narrowed my eyes for a brief moment before regaining my control over my facial expressions.
"Is that so?" I raised an eyebrow. "How nice?" I walked towards him until I was standing right above him, looking down at his not so relaxed (anymore) body. 'It's always fun to mess with human emotions. Humans are so easily manipulated and broken. Like glass dolls.' "Or is my personal. . .charm enough to get me in?" Somehow, I managed to make my innocent sounding voice sound not so innocent. 'I owe it all to years of practice.'
I don't think he knew what to say to that. He just sat there, completely blank and expressionless. It took him a while but he regained his usual edge. "What charm?"
"You tell me."
"Humph. Never mind. It's not worth it. I hate girls anyway. I have to get ready for tonight. Just try and stay out of my way, ok?"
So I sat around the cave. Alone. Alone and bored. Bored bored bored. And when I'm bored, I begin to plot. I'll think of a way to help out Genrou and a way to get him back for dismissing me like that. No one dismisses me. Plotting other people's destruction is what I'm best at, after all.
Author's Note: Well that was chapter three. How was it? I felt like adding a little of my own twisted humor into this chapter. The next few are full of it, too. Nephiro and Genrou sure don't seem to be hitting it off too well. I wonder what she could possibly plan next? And what is her real plan? Will we ever know?
Here's a quote:
'I am not supposed to experience emotions like this yet! Damn humanity! It's so over-rated!'
~Smack