Disclaimer: I don't own Fushigi Yuugi or any characters minus my own that
are found in this fic.
Thanks to. . .
Otaku Pitcher: I guess you could call it a night alone. But are you ever really alone? That's pretty much all I have to say on your review.
shadow priestess: That should be in the next chapter (the test thing). And probably the one after that, too.
Author's Note: Yea. Bad Smack. I know it took a while for this chapter but I have my reasons. I got mad at this fic (again) because I can't decide what I want to do in chapter nine. I know that doesn't affect you since it's a couple of chapters away but it annoys the hell out of me. I don't know why. . .I'm just weird like that. I like to know where I'm going with things. So in protest against my own stupidity, I stopped working on this story for a little while. But I saw the error in my ways and put this chapter up for you. It is a short one, though, I tried my best to lengthen it.
'. . .' represent thoughts
Chapter 7: Morning, Sunshine
I woke up early as usual and decided to warp off somewhere to bathe (hygiene is very important to me, what can I say). I managed to arrive back in my room before the first bandit even thought of waking up. 'Damn drunk bandits. It always takes them forever to wake up. Why'd they have to go and pass out last night?' I was bored. It's never a good idea to allow me to become bored. I do evil yet ever-so-fun things when I'm bored to death. Fortunately for the world, I had things on my mind other than destroying and/or taking it over. (Well, earlier than I had planned to. I'm still going to destroy it, just not at this very moment.) A more powerful force was controlling me at this time: my stomach. I wandered around the fortress in search of the kitchen. It didn't take me much time to find it, thank God. . .oh wait, scratch that, thank MYSELF. It was even empty when I got there! Luck was on my side so far. I wasn't that bad of a chef so I decided to cook my own breakfast rather than wait for the cook to show up. You never know when that could happen. I wasn't planning on making anything to difficult, probably just rice cakes. "So you're Genrou's girl, eh? I didn't think he'd ever bring one home," I heard an old lady voice state from the entryway. 'Exit good luck, enter old hag.'
"Nope, you must have me mistaken for someone else. I'm nobody's girl," I replied. 'Haven't been anyone's in a very long time. . .just about a hundred years. But there's no need to open up that old wound, especially now that I'm so close to my absolute revenge. Emotions weaken the soul.'
"Well, that won't last very long here, you can be sure of that. There are too many men here who are more than likely determined to end that. But why are you here if you aren't with anyone?" she asked.
"I want to become a bandit," I answered. 'Lucky me. I get to be part of the old lady inquisition,' I thought bitterly, continuing to cook my food.
"Now I'm really confused. Why would a smart, good looking young girl like you want to give up all chances at getting a good husband and a family to join the bandits? You aren't going to find a reliable husband to start a family with here. Trust me, I've watched these boys grow older, never grow up, just older."
I turned around. She was starting to annoy me (which is also never a good idea). Her wrinkled face was watching me intently. "Maybe I don't want a husband or a family! Maybe I actually want to become a bandit! Did you ever think of that?"
The old hag cracked a crooked grin. "Let's just hope you keep your spirit. Being the only young girl in a group of bandits can be tough. Trust me, I know. At one point, I was the only young girl here. ('No shit, Sherlock.') You have to keep your pride and make sure they know you aren't going to be a pushover or easy. Good luck to you. You'll need it tonight." She began to prepare the breakfast for the other bandits and I left with my food. 'What could an old hag like her know about me, anyway?' I devoured my fine culinary achievement and left the dining area, just in time to miss the awakening of the bandits.
Once consuming my food, I drifted through the halls of the fortress, lost in my own little world, reliving the past. I missed the way things were before I was imprisoned. I was almost. . .happy back then. The old woman made me remember those times, over a century ago, back when I was with him. . . Until. . .NO! I will not think of that! I refuse to allow myself to remember his betrayal. I have put it behind me! No more dwelling on memories of past lives! All that matters now is my revenge. "Hey, Nep! Where ya goin'? Don't ya want some breakfast?" I heard Genrou's voice inquire from behind me. I didn't even bother turning around to respond.
"I already ate," I said simply.
"All right then. Suit yourself." I listened to the sound of his retreating footsteps. Suddenly, they stopped. 'Now what?' "You aren't. . .worried are you?"
I rolled my eyes. "What's the use in worrying. 'What will be, will be.' If this mountain is as holy as you say it is and I'm meant to be here, I'll survive. If not then. . .it was knowing you," I replied, annoyed. 'How dare he accuse me of such a thing! I'm never worried about anything!'
I heard him chuckle quietly. "Yea, nice knowing you too Nep. See ya around." He left, probably to go back to breakfast and I continued my pointless wanderings.
I walked around the complex with no specific goal in mind. I have no idea exactly how long I wandered or even where I intended on going. I was just. . .wandering. 'The story of my life. All I ever do is wander.' After some not-so-large amount of time, I found my way to the outside of the fortress and sat down on a rock in the sun. "So dats where ya've been!" Kouji's voice called from behind me. 'Ugh! Every time I find a spot for myself, somebody intrudes! What could Kouji want, anyway?'
"No, I just got here," I corrected, trying to be polite. "Were you looking for me?"
"Not exactly. The guys and I were just wonderin' where ya were durin' breakfast, that's all," he replied.
"Didn't Genrou tell you? I had already eaten," I called back. 'Ah the joys of being the only decent looking female. Once they meet you, they can't go a single breakfast without you. I do lead a charmed existence, don't I?'
"He told us dat. We just didn't know where ya was." He sat down next to me. "Are ya worried about tonight?"
I forced back a sigh. 'Bandits, they're all the same.' "I'll tell you what I told Genrou: if this mountain is as holy as you say it is, then there's no need to worry because there is nothing I can do. If I'm meant to be here, I'll live. If not it was nice meeting you." 'Now go away.'
"Ya have a point there, Nep. I hope ya get in, though. We need someone like you to keep Genrou on his toes." I chose not to comment on that and smiled at him instead.
I leaned back on the rock and looked up at the sky. Kouji leaned back as well. We remained like that for a couple of minutes: neither one of us speaking, just sitting there and enjoying each other's company. It was kind of. . .nice just relaxing there in the sun. Why Kouji hadn't left yet I didn't know but I could honestly say that I didn't care, either. I had been in solitude for such a long time it felt good to have some company for a change. Even if it was just Kouji.
I heard a quiet rush of wind and saw a quick flash out of the corner of my eye. "What was that?" I asked Kouji.
"What was what?" he asked back, confused.
"I thought I saw something," I answered, taking another look around.
"You were probably just seein' things," he replied, looking around as well.
"Maybe. . ." I didn't think so, though. I don't hallucinate. It's not like me to make mistakes like that.
"Hey, you two!" Genrou called, appearing in front of us, startling Kouji. "Oh, I'm sorry. Am I interrupting something?" He smirked and looked from Kouji, who was sitting pretty close to me, to me, who was leaning back lazily in the sun.
"Ah no way, boss! We was just talkin', that's all!" Kouji answered nervously. He put his hand behind his head and grinned uncomfortably under Genrou's gaze. I put my hand on my forehead. He is such a moron!
"You interrupted a nice conversation if that's what you mean," I said coolly. "But I know it's not."
Genrou's smirk grew. "I do hope you get in, Nep. You'd make a nice addition to our happy family," he stated.
"Thanks. I'll have to remember that."
Nothing really interesting happened after that. Genrou and Kouji started talking about stupid things that I had no interest in so I got bored again and left. I didn't want to destroy the world at this moment either so I set off in search of a new place to relax. It's strange, though. Ever since I got this body, all I've wanted to do was lounge about. It was definitely weird for me to actually not do something for once. All my actions usually serve a purpose in some elaborate scheme yet lately. . .I've been doing things for no reason except to just do them. I managed to find a "new" remote spot for myself to sit in. Once I found one, (it was a nice one too, it had a stream), I stayed there until around noon when I decided to return to the fortress to eat lunch with the bandits. I was hungry, what can I say? During that time, I was hit on by at least ten different people and asked questions concerning my "relationship" (if you can even call it that), with Genrou by those same ten and another five. A little after lunch, I packed my supper and Genrou, Kouji, and I began our "hike" to the location that my test was supposed to take place. Yay. What a fun day.
Author's Note: I know that probably wasn't the most exciting chapter but I had to have a nice little filler to lead up to the test (which will be more than one chapter long). That was a nice little moment with Kouji, at least, compared to Nephiro's moments with Genrou. Hehe. But would she have been referring to after her encounter with the old cooking lady? Hmm. . .I can honestly say that in a couple chapters, I will explain that scene. Well, Nephiro will. (Double) hehe. Yea, updates will probably be infrequent for a little while, until I get back into the flow of this story. I guess that's it for this particular author's note. Except for the quote. . .
"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't just kill you now."
Who could she be talking to? I guarantee it's not who you're thinking but try and guess anyway, if you want.
~Smack
Thanks to. . .
Otaku Pitcher: I guess you could call it a night alone. But are you ever really alone? That's pretty much all I have to say on your review.
shadow priestess: That should be in the next chapter (the test thing). And probably the one after that, too.
Author's Note: Yea. Bad Smack. I know it took a while for this chapter but I have my reasons. I got mad at this fic (again) because I can't decide what I want to do in chapter nine. I know that doesn't affect you since it's a couple of chapters away but it annoys the hell out of me. I don't know why. . .I'm just weird like that. I like to know where I'm going with things. So in protest against my own stupidity, I stopped working on this story for a little while. But I saw the error in my ways and put this chapter up for you. It is a short one, though, I tried my best to lengthen it.
'. . .' represent thoughts
Chapter 7: Morning, Sunshine
I woke up early as usual and decided to warp off somewhere to bathe (hygiene is very important to me, what can I say). I managed to arrive back in my room before the first bandit even thought of waking up. 'Damn drunk bandits. It always takes them forever to wake up. Why'd they have to go and pass out last night?' I was bored. It's never a good idea to allow me to become bored. I do evil yet ever-so-fun things when I'm bored to death. Fortunately for the world, I had things on my mind other than destroying and/or taking it over. (Well, earlier than I had planned to. I'm still going to destroy it, just not at this very moment.) A more powerful force was controlling me at this time: my stomach. I wandered around the fortress in search of the kitchen. It didn't take me much time to find it, thank God. . .oh wait, scratch that, thank MYSELF. It was even empty when I got there! Luck was on my side so far. I wasn't that bad of a chef so I decided to cook my own breakfast rather than wait for the cook to show up. You never know when that could happen. I wasn't planning on making anything to difficult, probably just rice cakes. "So you're Genrou's girl, eh? I didn't think he'd ever bring one home," I heard an old lady voice state from the entryway. 'Exit good luck, enter old hag.'
"Nope, you must have me mistaken for someone else. I'm nobody's girl," I replied. 'Haven't been anyone's in a very long time. . .just about a hundred years. But there's no need to open up that old wound, especially now that I'm so close to my absolute revenge. Emotions weaken the soul.'
"Well, that won't last very long here, you can be sure of that. There are too many men here who are more than likely determined to end that. But why are you here if you aren't with anyone?" she asked.
"I want to become a bandit," I answered. 'Lucky me. I get to be part of the old lady inquisition,' I thought bitterly, continuing to cook my food.
"Now I'm really confused. Why would a smart, good looking young girl like you want to give up all chances at getting a good husband and a family to join the bandits? You aren't going to find a reliable husband to start a family with here. Trust me, I've watched these boys grow older, never grow up, just older."
I turned around. She was starting to annoy me (which is also never a good idea). Her wrinkled face was watching me intently. "Maybe I don't want a husband or a family! Maybe I actually want to become a bandit! Did you ever think of that?"
The old hag cracked a crooked grin. "Let's just hope you keep your spirit. Being the only young girl in a group of bandits can be tough. Trust me, I know. At one point, I was the only young girl here. ('No shit, Sherlock.') You have to keep your pride and make sure they know you aren't going to be a pushover or easy. Good luck to you. You'll need it tonight." She began to prepare the breakfast for the other bandits and I left with my food. 'What could an old hag like her know about me, anyway?' I devoured my fine culinary achievement and left the dining area, just in time to miss the awakening of the bandits.
Once consuming my food, I drifted through the halls of the fortress, lost in my own little world, reliving the past. I missed the way things were before I was imprisoned. I was almost. . .happy back then. The old woman made me remember those times, over a century ago, back when I was with him. . . Until. . .NO! I will not think of that! I refuse to allow myself to remember his betrayal. I have put it behind me! No more dwelling on memories of past lives! All that matters now is my revenge. "Hey, Nep! Where ya goin'? Don't ya want some breakfast?" I heard Genrou's voice inquire from behind me. I didn't even bother turning around to respond.
"I already ate," I said simply.
"All right then. Suit yourself." I listened to the sound of his retreating footsteps. Suddenly, they stopped. 'Now what?' "You aren't. . .worried are you?"
I rolled my eyes. "What's the use in worrying. 'What will be, will be.' If this mountain is as holy as you say it is and I'm meant to be here, I'll survive. If not then. . .it was knowing you," I replied, annoyed. 'How dare he accuse me of such a thing! I'm never worried about anything!'
I heard him chuckle quietly. "Yea, nice knowing you too Nep. See ya around." He left, probably to go back to breakfast and I continued my pointless wanderings.
I walked around the complex with no specific goal in mind. I have no idea exactly how long I wandered or even where I intended on going. I was just. . .wandering. 'The story of my life. All I ever do is wander.' After some not-so-large amount of time, I found my way to the outside of the fortress and sat down on a rock in the sun. "So dats where ya've been!" Kouji's voice called from behind me. 'Ugh! Every time I find a spot for myself, somebody intrudes! What could Kouji want, anyway?'
"No, I just got here," I corrected, trying to be polite. "Were you looking for me?"
"Not exactly. The guys and I were just wonderin' where ya were durin' breakfast, that's all," he replied.
"Didn't Genrou tell you? I had already eaten," I called back. 'Ah the joys of being the only decent looking female. Once they meet you, they can't go a single breakfast without you. I do lead a charmed existence, don't I?'
"He told us dat. We just didn't know where ya was." He sat down next to me. "Are ya worried about tonight?"
I forced back a sigh. 'Bandits, they're all the same.' "I'll tell you what I told Genrou: if this mountain is as holy as you say it is, then there's no need to worry because there is nothing I can do. If I'm meant to be here, I'll live. If not it was nice meeting you." 'Now go away.'
"Ya have a point there, Nep. I hope ya get in, though. We need someone like you to keep Genrou on his toes." I chose not to comment on that and smiled at him instead.
I leaned back on the rock and looked up at the sky. Kouji leaned back as well. We remained like that for a couple of minutes: neither one of us speaking, just sitting there and enjoying each other's company. It was kind of. . .nice just relaxing there in the sun. Why Kouji hadn't left yet I didn't know but I could honestly say that I didn't care, either. I had been in solitude for such a long time it felt good to have some company for a change. Even if it was just Kouji.
I heard a quiet rush of wind and saw a quick flash out of the corner of my eye. "What was that?" I asked Kouji.
"What was what?" he asked back, confused.
"I thought I saw something," I answered, taking another look around.
"You were probably just seein' things," he replied, looking around as well.
"Maybe. . ." I didn't think so, though. I don't hallucinate. It's not like me to make mistakes like that.
"Hey, you two!" Genrou called, appearing in front of us, startling Kouji. "Oh, I'm sorry. Am I interrupting something?" He smirked and looked from Kouji, who was sitting pretty close to me, to me, who was leaning back lazily in the sun.
"Ah no way, boss! We was just talkin', that's all!" Kouji answered nervously. He put his hand behind his head and grinned uncomfortably under Genrou's gaze. I put my hand on my forehead. He is such a moron!
"You interrupted a nice conversation if that's what you mean," I said coolly. "But I know it's not."
Genrou's smirk grew. "I do hope you get in, Nep. You'd make a nice addition to our happy family," he stated.
"Thanks. I'll have to remember that."
Nothing really interesting happened after that. Genrou and Kouji started talking about stupid things that I had no interest in so I got bored again and left. I didn't want to destroy the world at this moment either so I set off in search of a new place to relax. It's strange, though. Ever since I got this body, all I've wanted to do was lounge about. It was definitely weird for me to actually not do something for once. All my actions usually serve a purpose in some elaborate scheme yet lately. . .I've been doing things for no reason except to just do them. I managed to find a "new" remote spot for myself to sit in. Once I found one, (it was a nice one too, it had a stream), I stayed there until around noon when I decided to return to the fortress to eat lunch with the bandits. I was hungry, what can I say? During that time, I was hit on by at least ten different people and asked questions concerning my "relationship" (if you can even call it that), with Genrou by those same ten and another five. A little after lunch, I packed my supper and Genrou, Kouji, and I began our "hike" to the location that my test was supposed to take place. Yay. What a fun day.
Author's Note: I know that probably wasn't the most exciting chapter but I had to have a nice little filler to lead up to the test (which will be more than one chapter long). That was a nice little moment with Kouji, at least, compared to Nephiro's moments with Genrou. Hehe. But would she have been referring to after her encounter with the old cooking lady? Hmm. . .I can honestly say that in a couple chapters, I will explain that scene. Well, Nephiro will. (Double) hehe. Yea, updates will probably be infrequent for a little while, until I get back into the flow of this story. I guess that's it for this particular author's note. Except for the quote. . .
"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't just kill you now."
Who could she be talking to? I guarantee it's not who you're thinking but try and guess anyway, if you want.
~Smack