Disclaimer: I do not claim to own Fushigi Yuugi. I DO claim to own Nephiro
and any other characters or concepts, thoughts, and ideas, that I have
created in the process of writing this fic.
Thanks to. . .
shadow priestess: I wrote out Nephiro's original plan a long time ago, back when I first started this story. I'm thinking about putting it as an extra but probably won't do that until the end so you can see if she ended up following it or not. Actually. . .it has very little to do with Genrou. He is but a pawn in her evil scheme, not the main player.
Otaku Pitcher: Really? IS her personality taking shape? That's surprising seeing how she has two. . .but you wouldn't know that. Shh. . .I didn't say nothing. She'd get mad if she found out I told you. I'm glad you liked the way she handled Eiken, I thought it was rather amusing and so did neppy, my "guinea pig." And as far as I'm concerned, everyone should love Xelloss because he's the best. (
Author's Note: Sorry this chapter took a little longer to get up. I honestly just didn't have time to type it. My teachers all went really slow the first two quarters and now are like assigning us a ton of homework to make up for it. So, I've been busy. Uhh. . .this chapter has some elements that aren't exactly explained in it. That's just a fact of life in this fic. Not everything will be explained (just wait until chapters eight and nine, then you'll understand what I'm talking about). Usually when that happens, it means I accidentally went into the prequel's domain. I can't help it. Sometimes I have to in order to improve this story. Just put it in the back of your memory so when (and if) you read the prequel, you can be like "Hey! I remember that happening!" and feel smart. Yea. . .onto the chapter.
In case you forgot, thoughts will be represented like this '. . .'
Chapter 6: I Have to do What?
I have been sitting in this room for about an hour now. I know Genrou had been "away from home" for a while but this was getting ridiculous! I have things to do, too, you know, and I tend to think that destroying the world is more important than chatting with your friends. After all, once I destroy this world, there will be no one for him to talk to because they will all be dead. Hehe. I think he just went to go get drunk with his friends and forgot about me. Whatever. Damn bandits. I'm pretty sure that they'll let me in, though. I did save them today.
"We've decided, Nephiro," I heard Genrou say from the doorway.
"And?" I asked, turning around.
"We'll let the mountain decide," he answered. I nearly sweat dropped.
"What do you mean 'let the mountain decide?' It's an inanimate object! It's not capable of rational thoughts!" I exclaimed, losing my patience with this simple-minded bandit.
"This is new for us. We've never had a girl want to become a bandit that could actually stand a chance before you came along. We're doing it the traditional way. This mountain is a holy place. We serve as protectors. It will decide whether or not you are worthy," he explained.
"How?" I had a feeling where he was going with this but needed to be sure.
"We're going to leave you on the mountain alone. If you survive the night and make it back here by morning, then you're in. If not. . ." He let the sentence hang, unable to finish it.
"Then I'm dead," I continued bluntly, finishing it for him.
"Pretty much."
"Ok then, when do we start?"
"Sunset tomorrow is when the test begins but we'll have to leave before then to lead you to where the test takes place. It's too late to start now. It would be nearly sunrise by the time we left you. We're allowing you to stay until then. If you're hungry, you can eat. If not, then I'll take you to a room you can stay in," he answered.
"Well, I guess I could use something to eat. I am sort of hungry," I admitted. It wasn't that I was really hungry. I just wanted to get myself out with the bandits. "Can I change first? I don't want to be too big of a distraction. . ."
"Uh. . .sure. I was wonderin' about that. I thought you said that you didn't have any other clothes?" he replied, eyeing me suspiciously.
"I found some at the inn," I lied. "The people must have pitied me and left me some. Nice people, those innkeepers."
"Yea. . .nice people. I'll leave you to get changed, then." He left the room, shutting the door behind him. I "changed" back into the dress I had been wearing before, although I did like the other one better. It was more me.
I walked out of the room once I was done and Genrou led me towards what I could only guess was the main dining hall. I wasn't sure about the type of comments I'd get from a room full of bandits. Especially since I didn't know what Genrou had said about me. "What exactly did you tell them about me?" I asked him.
"Just that you wanted to become a bandit and that you helped me reclaim my place here. Kouji said that you have the right attitude and everyone who saw your little talk with Eiken when you first got here backed him up," he answered. "You're like a celebrity to them."
"So you didn't say anything about who I was or where I come from?" I questioned, a little surprised.
"Nope. You told me pretty clearly that it was your business, not mine so I left it out," he responded. "Though they did want to know your age but I didn't know so I couldn't give them an answer."
"I'm seventeen," I told him. He wasn't asking but I figured I'd tell him. And I was seventeen. . .seventeen for all of eternity. How fun. "Thanks for not telling them everything."
"I can't tell them what I don't know and I wouldn't be thanking me yet. Nevertheless, you're welcome and we're here," he said. 'Great. . .'
We walked into the dining hall and received drunken cheers. Genrou did, anyway. I just got the drunken whistles that I was accustomed to. I wasn't sure where to sit so I looked to Genrou for a hint. "Here, Nephiro. Take the seat between me and Kouji," he directed, as though he could read me mind.
"I shoulda known ya was workin' with Genrou. No one like ya would just appear outta nowhere like ya did," I heard Kouji say from the left of me.
"Hello to you, too, Kouji," I replied, smiling.
"How'd ya do it, anyway?" he asked.
I turned my head to the side, pointed my finger and gave him a closed eye smile. "Sore wa himitsu desu," I answered, waving the finger in his face. I always wanted to do that to someone. Someone I met while traveling to the different worlds did that to me once. I smirked remembering the priest. 'Well, Xelloss, I hate to break it to you but nothing is a secret from me. If I really wanted to know, I would and you wouldn't be able to keep me from learning it.'
"I'm not sure what that means," Kouji said, scratching his head in a confused manner.
"It means that that is a secret," I told him.
"Shoulda seen that one comin'. Ah well. . .whatever ya did worked so I salute you."
"Let's just hope that you have that much luck tomorrow night," Genrou said.
"It wasn't luck: it was skill," I commented, smirking again, this time at the intrigued bandit. I let that be the end of the "conversation." I came here to eat, not to discuss my special "knack" at getting whatever I want, when I want it. Besides, who can explain an "evil eye demon death glare" accurately? I don't think it can be done. Anyone who has seen it would never wish to speak of it again. It seems to have that sort of effect on people.
The rest of dinner passed smoothly enough. I was ignored from most of the conversation as Genrou shared his traveling stories with the rest. Not that I cared. Who wants to talk to a bunch of drunken bandits? It wasn't as though I had expected anything else. I was the outsider after all. I knew should be (or at least act) worried about tomorrow night but I wasn't, well, not really. I was sure that no natural thing would harm or bother me during my little "test." Even when I was traveling with Genrou I noticed that animals kept their distance from me. Horses shied, dogs backed off or sometimes even cowered and birds flew away. No amount of human disguise could fool them: they could tell I was more than a mere human. I wasn't a natural resident of this world. I wasn't a resident of any world. I was like the immortal vagabond of the universe, without a place to ever call my own. So I had nothing to fear from natural things. What almost concerned me was what Genrou had said about the mountain being holy. If it was holy, the gods may notice something as out of place as me. 'Or worse. . .Ryo could show up. . .' I thought. "Hey Nep! You done eatin' or what?" I heard a rather intoxicated Genrou ask.
I looked over to him but wasn't sure if he was talking to me or not. "What did you call me?"
"Nep. I got sick of sayin' yer name. If ya do get in, I gotta give ya a new name," he answered.
"What do you mean? Why do I have to get a new name?" I questioned, confused for once. 'Well now, this is weird.'
"Everybody gets a new name once they join. My name's not really Genrou. The former leader gave me that when I first became a bandit," he explained.
"Umm. . .ok. I think I'm going to go to bed now. Can you show me to my room?" I asked.
"How come Genrou gets the girl?" a bandit asked. The others laughed and said their respective "awws" at that while Kouji patted Genrou on the back saying something about how his little boy was all grown up now. I rolled my eyes. That was exactly why I didn't feel like hanging around the group. Being with a bunch of drunken bandits when you're the only girl is not exactly what I felt like doing at the moment.
"Sure. Right dis way." He led me through the complex and into a room. "'Ere ya go. You got de 'ole room to yerself. Goodnight, Nep."
"Night Genrou." He left and I laid down on the small bed to go to sleep.
Author's Note: There ya go! This one was a bit longer, eh? I do try my best. The part about her being the "immortal vagabond of the universe" along with Ryo are two of the things I was talking about before that I said will never be completely explained. But look at it this way; it gives you a reason to read the prequel. Nephiro is an interesting character. I haven't even completely begun to understand all that there is about her. (I think of my characters as real people, with personalities that develop over time. I haven't finished forming Nephiro, although I did write a little look into her personality along with the basics of her past. She's had a sad life.) I think I'll call it a day with this chapter. I'll hopefully have the next one up soon. Oh, Otaku Pitcher? Wishful's next chapter will be up over the weekend hopefully, just in case you were wondering.
~Smack
Thanks to. . .
shadow priestess: I wrote out Nephiro's original plan a long time ago, back when I first started this story. I'm thinking about putting it as an extra but probably won't do that until the end so you can see if she ended up following it or not. Actually. . .it has very little to do with Genrou. He is but a pawn in her evil scheme, not the main player.
Otaku Pitcher: Really? IS her personality taking shape? That's surprising seeing how she has two. . .but you wouldn't know that. Shh. . .I didn't say nothing. She'd get mad if she found out I told you. I'm glad you liked the way she handled Eiken, I thought it was rather amusing and so did neppy, my "guinea pig." And as far as I'm concerned, everyone should love Xelloss because he's the best. (
Author's Note: Sorry this chapter took a little longer to get up. I honestly just didn't have time to type it. My teachers all went really slow the first two quarters and now are like assigning us a ton of homework to make up for it. So, I've been busy. Uhh. . .this chapter has some elements that aren't exactly explained in it. That's just a fact of life in this fic. Not everything will be explained (just wait until chapters eight and nine, then you'll understand what I'm talking about). Usually when that happens, it means I accidentally went into the prequel's domain. I can't help it. Sometimes I have to in order to improve this story. Just put it in the back of your memory so when (and if) you read the prequel, you can be like "Hey! I remember that happening!" and feel smart. Yea. . .onto the chapter.
In case you forgot, thoughts will be represented like this '. . .'
Chapter 6: I Have to do What?
I have been sitting in this room for about an hour now. I know Genrou had been "away from home" for a while but this was getting ridiculous! I have things to do, too, you know, and I tend to think that destroying the world is more important than chatting with your friends. After all, once I destroy this world, there will be no one for him to talk to because they will all be dead. Hehe. I think he just went to go get drunk with his friends and forgot about me. Whatever. Damn bandits. I'm pretty sure that they'll let me in, though. I did save them today.
"We've decided, Nephiro," I heard Genrou say from the doorway.
"And?" I asked, turning around.
"We'll let the mountain decide," he answered. I nearly sweat dropped.
"What do you mean 'let the mountain decide?' It's an inanimate object! It's not capable of rational thoughts!" I exclaimed, losing my patience with this simple-minded bandit.
"This is new for us. We've never had a girl want to become a bandit that could actually stand a chance before you came along. We're doing it the traditional way. This mountain is a holy place. We serve as protectors. It will decide whether or not you are worthy," he explained.
"How?" I had a feeling where he was going with this but needed to be sure.
"We're going to leave you on the mountain alone. If you survive the night and make it back here by morning, then you're in. If not. . ." He let the sentence hang, unable to finish it.
"Then I'm dead," I continued bluntly, finishing it for him.
"Pretty much."
"Ok then, when do we start?"
"Sunset tomorrow is when the test begins but we'll have to leave before then to lead you to where the test takes place. It's too late to start now. It would be nearly sunrise by the time we left you. We're allowing you to stay until then. If you're hungry, you can eat. If not, then I'll take you to a room you can stay in," he answered.
"Well, I guess I could use something to eat. I am sort of hungry," I admitted. It wasn't that I was really hungry. I just wanted to get myself out with the bandits. "Can I change first? I don't want to be too big of a distraction. . ."
"Uh. . .sure. I was wonderin' about that. I thought you said that you didn't have any other clothes?" he replied, eyeing me suspiciously.
"I found some at the inn," I lied. "The people must have pitied me and left me some. Nice people, those innkeepers."
"Yea. . .nice people. I'll leave you to get changed, then." He left the room, shutting the door behind him. I "changed" back into the dress I had been wearing before, although I did like the other one better. It was more me.
I walked out of the room once I was done and Genrou led me towards what I could only guess was the main dining hall. I wasn't sure about the type of comments I'd get from a room full of bandits. Especially since I didn't know what Genrou had said about me. "What exactly did you tell them about me?" I asked him.
"Just that you wanted to become a bandit and that you helped me reclaim my place here. Kouji said that you have the right attitude and everyone who saw your little talk with Eiken when you first got here backed him up," he answered. "You're like a celebrity to them."
"So you didn't say anything about who I was or where I come from?" I questioned, a little surprised.
"Nope. You told me pretty clearly that it was your business, not mine so I left it out," he responded. "Though they did want to know your age but I didn't know so I couldn't give them an answer."
"I'm seventeen," I told him. He wasn't asking but I figured I'd tell him. And I was seventeen. . .seventeen for all of eternity. How fun. "Thanks for not telling them everything."
"I can't tell them what I don't know and I wouldn't be thanking me yet. Nevertheless, you're welcome and we're here," he said. 'Great. . .'
We walked into the dining hall and received drunken cheers. Genrou did, anyway. I just got the drunken whistles that I was accustomed to. I wasn't sure where to sit so I looked to Genrou for a hint. "Here, Nephiro. Take the seat between me and Kouji," he directed, as though he could read me mind.
"I shoulda known ya was workin' with Genrou. No one like ya would just appear outta nowhere like ya did," I heard Kouji say from the left of me.
"Hello to you, too, Kouji," I replied, smiling.
"How'd ya do it, anyway?" he asked.
I turned my head to the side, pointed my finger and gave him a closed eye smile. "Sore wa himitsu desu," I answered, waving the finger in his face. I always wanted to do that to someone. Someone I met while traveling to the different worlds did that to me once. I smirked remembering the priest. 'Well, Xelloss, I hate to break it to you but nothing is a secret from me. If I really wanted to know, I would and you wouldn't be able to keep me from learning it.'
"I'm not sure what that means," Kouji said, scratching his head in a confused manner.
"It means that that is a secret," I told him.
"Shoulda seen that one comin'. Ah well. . .whatever ya did worked so I salute you."
"Let's just hope that you have that much luck tomorrow night," Genrou said.
"It wasn't luck: it was skill," I commented, smirking again, this time at the intrigued bandit. I let that be the end of the "conversation." I came here to eat, not to discuss my special "knack" at getting whatever I want, when I want it. Besides, who can explain an "evil eye demon death glare" accurately? I don't think it can be done. Anyone who has seen it would never wish to speak of it again. It seems to have that sort of effect on people.
The rest of dinner passed smoothly enough. I was ignored from most of the conversation as Genrou shared his traveling stories with the rest. Not that I cared. Who wants to talk to a bunch of drunken bandits? It wasn't as though I had expected anything else. I was the outsider after all. I knew should be (or at least act) worried about tomorrow night but I wasn't, well, not really. I was sure that no natural thing would harm or bother me during my little "test." Even when I was traveling with Genrou I noticed that animals kept their distance from me. Horses shied, dogs backed off or sometimes even cowered and birds flew away. No amount of human disguise could fool them: they could tell I was more than a mere human. I wasn't a natural resident of this world. I wasn't a resident of any world. I was like the immortal vagabond of the universe, without a place to ever call my own. So I had nothing to fear from natural things. What almost concerned me was what Genrou had said about the mountain being holy. If it was holy, the gods may notice something as out of place as me. 'Or worse. . .Ryo could show up. . .' I thought. "Hey Nep! You done eatin' or what?" I heard a rather intoxicated Genrou ask.
I looked over to him but wasn't sure if he was talking to me or not. "What did you call me?"
"Nep. I got sick of sayin' yer name. If ya do get in, I gotta give ya a new name," he answered.
"What do you mean? Why do I have to get a new name?" I questioned, confused for once. 'Well now, this is weird.'
"Everybody gets a new name once they join. My name's not really Genrou. The former leader gave me that when I first became a bandit," he explained.
"Umm. . .ok. I think I'm going to go to bed now. Can you show me to my room?" I asked.
"How come Genrou gets the girl?" a bandit asked. The others laughed and said their respective "awws" at that while Kouji patted Genrou on the back saying something about how his little boy was all grown up now. I rolled my eyes. That was exactly why I didn't feel like hanging around the group. Being with a bunch of drunken bandits when you're the only girl is not exactly what I felt like doing at the moment.
"Sure. Right dis way." He led me through the complex and into a room. "'Ere ya go. You got de 'ole room to yerself. Goodnight, Nep."
"Night Genrou." He left and I laid down on the small bed to go to sleep.
Author's Note: There ya go! This one was a bit longer, eh? I do try my best. The part about her being the "immortal vagabond of the universe" along with Ryo are two of the things I was talking about before that I said will never be completely explained. But look at it this way; it gives you a reason to read the prequel. Nephiro is an interesting character. I haven't even completely begun to understand all that there is about her. (I think of my characters as real people, with personalities that develop over time. I haven't finished forming Nephiro, although I did write a little look into her personality along with the basics of her past. She's had a sad life.) I think I'll call it a day with this chapter. I'll hopefully have the next one up soon. Oh, Otaku Pitcher? Wishful's next chapter will be up over the weekend hopefully, just in case you were wondering.
~Smack