Bishonen Beware

Chapter Twelve

AN: Hello all! ^_^ Lana Panther here, back with another chapter.

Faia: It's about time you lazy freak.

Lana: -_-; Anyway, got some new additions to my muse roster, in case you're interested! Xellos Metallium from Dragon Slayers, Thatz from Dragon Knights, and Shippo from Inu-Yasha!!!

Xellos: *grins and hugs Lana from behind* ^_^ Hello!

Thatz: Let's get on with the chapter! Riina's going crazy! *jabs thumb at Co-Authoress, being held back by her muses*

Shippo: ^_^ Read on people! Riina can't stand much more!!!

Disclaimer: If we actually owned, do you think Nuriko and the others would have died? Personally, I would have let Tamahome go to the mountain, then have Nuriko get together with Miaka, but that's just me, and I don't own it!! So stop wasting your time here and keep on reading!!!!

Words of Wisdom: Silence is golden.... but shouting is fun!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

As the four travelers stepped out of Chichiri's magical cloak, Riina and Lana looked around in wonder.

"Wow," Lana breathed, "It's even better than I imagined!"

"Seeing the real thing is much better than watching it on the screen!" Riina agreed with a grin, wishing she had her camera with her.

"Hello there." a voice suddenly greeted, a withered face appearing right in front of Lana's.

Lana clamped her hands over her mouth to stop herself from screaming in surprise, and noticed Tasuki wince beside her when Tai-Itsukun popped up. Lana tried taking a few deep breaths, and when she felt sufficiently calmed down, set upon trying to throttle the old woman.

"WHY DO YOU DO THAT EVERYTIME?! ARE YOU TRYING TO GIVE PEOPLE HEART ATTACKS?!" Lana exclaimed, abruptly being hit upside the head by Riina and Tai-Itsukun both.

"Lana! Have some manners!" Riina hissed at her before turning towards the hermit and bowing with a warm smile. "It's an honor to meet you, Tai-Itsukun-san. Please excuse my little friend here, she has a tendency to lash out irrationally when startled." she explained, wincing at the last part.

"I noticed," Tai-Itsukun replied dryly. "Now, I have a good idea of why you came here, so why don't we go home and discuss it there?"

"Hai." Tasuki and Chichiri both agreed quickly, and they all got back on Chichiri's cloak, floating after Tai-Itsukun as she lead them back to her palace.

"So," Lana started, trying to be more polite after her outburst since she still had the painful lump on her head, "How much do you know about us being here?"

"I know that the attempt to summon Miaka and Tamahome was failed, and resulted in the two of you being summoned here. I also know you are Suzaku's newest seishi's, among other things." she replied.

Lana grimaced, and stated, "I see. Well, that's about all WE know, so do you have any ideas to help us?"

"You of course need to gather all of Tamahome's memory gems, and seeing as how neither of you is a miko, I may have a few things that would help you out. Provided, of course, that you're more lady-like in the future." Tai-Itsukun said, snorting at the last part as if she didn't believe it possible.

"We're in trouble." Tasuki stated flatly, promptly being hit by Lana for that comment, while Riina snickered from aside.

"What was that, Tasuki-chan?" she said, sickeningly sweet, but still holding her fist threateningly in his face.

"Calm down, kittling. Besides, we're here." Riina sighed, jerking her off the cloak and holding her shoulder firmly as they walked into the palace.

"What do you have that could help us, no da?" Chichiri asked, hooking his cloak back around him.

"Nyan nyan!" Tai-Itsukun called, and several pink balls floated into the room, then burst to reveal several green haired identical little girls wearing braided pigtails.

"Here you go Tai-Itsukun!" one said cheerfully, handing her two bundles wrapped in red cloth, while the others handed Chichiri, Tasuki, Riina and Lana something to snack on.

"Sit down, all of you." Tai-Itsukun ordered, and the seishi all sat down on some large cushions that were littered about the palace.

"Are we getting gifts like all the other seishi?" Lana asked with a grin, looking up at Tai-Itsukun from where she was lying upside down on her back, feet swinging back and forth.

"Kittling, you have no patience." Riina sighed, 'Nor manners...' she added, shaking her head noticing how the rest of them were sitting cross-legged.

"Comes with the territory." Lana chuckled, then smiled, flipping over to sit in an attentive position. "Okay, I'm listening."

Tai-Itsukun nodded, then began to explain. "As I'm sure Suzaku-seikun has already told you, you are now both his seishi and Mikos. A bond formed between the two worlds. Since you have just received your powers, it will take a while for them to reach their full potential. To be honest, we're depending on you very much, and you don't have much time to solve all of these problems. A man named Tenkou is wreaking havoc on the Universe of the Four Gods, he's trying to change the story! You have to stop him as quickly as possible."

All of the seishi looked at Tai-Itsukun solemnly, then Riina sighed. "This is gonna be hard." she stated seriously, a small frown on her face.

The woman nodded, then held her hand out, making the bundles float up. "But I'll give you a little help. I believe these will be useful on your quest." Riina and Lana both caught the objects as they flew to them, and unwrapped them, Lana looking like she trying to hold herself back from tearing open a Christmas present.

"Huh?" Riina said, blinking as she pulled what looked like a black leather collar that had a single simple Suzaku ornament attached to it, from the cloth.

"It will help you with controlling your new powers and focusing them, though Chichiri will still need to train you for a while." she explained, and turned her head when Lana let out an indignant squawk.

"Is this some kind of a joke?!" Lana exclaimed, looking at Tai-Itsukun like she was crazy.

"What is it?" Tasuki asked, leaning over to get a better look at what she was holding.

Riina and Chichiri both sweat dropped when Lana held up a crimson egg the size of a basketball with a note attached that said, 'Hatch it'.

*CAN: *rolls on the floor with uncontrollable hilarious laughter*
Chichiri: *shoulders shaking with held up laughter, trying to decide whether to hide in his kasa or not*
Tasuki: *is laughing his head off*
Vash: *tries to decide, whether to feel sympathy for Lana or to join Tasuki* *joins Tasuki*

"Why would it be a joke?" Tai-Itsukun said, raising an eyebrow, and giving Lana a look.

"What's in it?" Riina asked curiously, leaning over and poking it with her fingertip, noticing how warm it felt.

"It depends. Keep it with you at all times, keep it warm and in a safe place, then you will see when it hatches." Tai-Itsukun said calmly, not even blinking when Lana fell over backwards, one hand holding the egg up in the air so it wouldn't be damaged.

"You're kidding me!!!" Lana yelled, jumping back up and holding the egg at arms length in front of her. "Everyone else gets these awesome weapons, and I get an egg?! How long will it take to freakin' hatch this thing anyway!?"

"The more negative energy you radiate, the longer it'll take." she was informed, and shut her mouth so fast her teeth clicked.

".........You're punishing me for screaming, aren't you?" Lana finally accused, looking defeated.

Riina cracked up into a hearty laughter at this, as she was about to put on the collar around her neck. She looked up to Chichiri suddenly, smiling to him.

"*er* Would you?.... " She gestured to the collar and turned around, pulling her hair away, so that Chichiri could put it on.

"*uh* S-sure no da." Chichiri took the collar and quickly locked it.

Tai-Itsukun just chuckled, and gestured for a Nyan Nyan to hand Lana a sturdy, fleece-lined backpack. "As I said, you'll need to keep it with you at all times, and be patient. Don't let it out of your sight for a second." Lana wore an expression of pain on her face as she set the egg in the backpack and tied it shut, and Riina snickered.

"With your patience, it is a punishment from hell kitten." she grinned to Lana, who shot at her a dirty look. Riina only smirked wider at this and winking stuck her tongue out slightly in a small teasing 'nyah'.

"Will it be very helpful no da, Tai-Itsukun?" Chichiri asked cheerfully, being slightly doubtful of how an egg could ever help the little hothead. On the other hand, maybe it'd help about her short temper.....

The hermit just gave a mysterious smile, and said, "It depends. By the way, it also helps if you talk to it, Lana."

"T-T-Talk to it?!" Lana sputtered, and Tasuki burst out laughing again.

"Is there something wrong?" Tai-Itsukun asked calmly, and Lana gritted her teeth, muttering out a 'No'. "Good, then I think there's someone who'd like to be reacquainted with you two." she stated, directing the words towards Tasuki and Chichiri.

"Nani, no da?" Chichiri asked, blinking. Lana and Riina looked at each other in excitement, realizing they were about to meet the rest of the seishi.

"Chichiri, have you forgotten us so fast?" a soft voice scolded good-naturedly, and the four seishi turned around to see Hotohori and the rest of the Suzaku shichiseishi standing there smiling.

"Ooh, that's so cold of you!" Nuriko mock complained with a teasing grin.

"Tasuki! It's been so long!" Chiriko exclaimed happily, barely holding himself from greeting the bandit with a hug.

"It seems like old times. Have you been well?" Mitsukake calmly nodded and smiled.

"Nuriko! Chiriko! Mitsukake! Hotohori!" Tasuki yelled with a grin. "Long time no see guys!"

"Nurikooo!" Lana exclaimed, starry eyed, and clasped her hands together.

"I could die happily now." Riina said in Finnish, grinning like a maniac and also eyeing Nuriko ~To glomp or not to glomp. There's the question of millennia.~ she sent an amused thought to Lana.

"So you two are the new Suzaku warriors?" Chiriko asked, looking at the two of them closely.

"Yep! And you have no idea how cool this is!" Lana stated, grabbing Riina's hands and jumping up and down, yelling, "It's them! It's them!" in excitement.

"Gah, calm down kittling. You're embarrassing." Lana's older sister said, blushing at the stares they were receiving.

Lana grinned and started to go towards the seishi to glomp at least one of them, and thus ending Riina's dilemma. When she was just about to hug Nuriko, her hands only met air and she fell straight through the purple haired seishi to her face to the ground.

" *aw* Didn't you know that we're dead?" Nuriko asked looking at Lana on the ground with slightly embarrassed smile. "I'd offer you a hand sweetie, but…" he spread his hands.

"That's right. They haven't been able to incarnate because Tenkou is interfering with their reincarnation process." Tai-Itsukun explained as Lana climbed up.

"I had forgotten that..." Lana muttered embarrassedly, dusting her clothes.

"She's weird." Chiriko said quietly, looking worriedly at his new fellow seishi, but Lana's new sharp ears heard more than well and she glanced at the boy. "In a good way." Chiriko added.

"You aren't hurt, are you?" Mitsukake stepped closer to check Lana.

"*Eh* I'm fine, thanks. What would kill the evil?" Lana chuckled for the concerned healer, just hoping that the earth would open and swallow her.

"Ah! That reminds me!" Tai-Itsukun suddenly said, and held out her hand. A light violet crystal ball appeared in her palm and she held it out towards Riina and Lana. "Here is Chichiri's memory jewel. You need to collect them from all of the seishi as quickly as possible."

"Right!" the two girls replied, and Lana grinned, nudging her friend.

"I think you should take this one sis." she said with a fanged grin. Riina blushed and nodded, gently taking the ball from Tai-Itsukun's outstretched hand. Immediately it burst into tiny shining bubbles that were absorbed into her body as Tasuki's had done to Lana, and she was assaulted with flashing memories of Tamahome's encounters with Chichiri. Seeing his real face for the first time in Seiryuu's temple, traveling with him on the way to collect the shinzahoes, and his smiling face looking at her. When she finally came around she was a little breathless.

"That's not something that happens everyday." she said, giving the concerned looking Chichiri a reassuring smile. 'What? Did he think that I'd jump out of my skin and run around screaming when I'd get to know some more of him? Honestly sweetie....' she inwardly smiled amusedly and turned to Tai-Itsukun. "Would you mind of telling us of this Tenkou?"

"He is an demon." Tai-Itsukun said, looking seriously at each of them "It is an evil submerged deep within peoples' hearts. People has awaken it and make it grow.."

"Pretty soon, it leads into conflicts no da" Chichiri said quietly.

"It does this by making people to believe that they'll achieve happiness by bending to his way. He's trying to break the seal which the four gods has placed on him by absorbing Tamahome's jewels of memory to boost the powers he already has. If he succeeds on that, Tamahome will disappear Tenkou shall drive the two worlds into darkness and destruction." Tai-Itsukun finished "Well, now that that's over, you should-" Tai-Itsukun started to order, but was suddenly interrupted as the ground began to shake and violet light started tear the mountains around them appart.

"The hell?!" Tasuki yelled, looking around and trying to find his footing on the shifting ground as everyone was being thrown about.

"It's an earthquake!" Chiriko shouted, clinging to Hotohoris' arm to keep his balance.

"Here?! Impossible!" Hotohori said when the huge mountains started to crumble around them "Mt. Taikyoku is falling apart!"

Tai-Itsukun! What's happening?!" Nuriko asked as he tried to avoid the biggest falling rocks.

"It's Tenkou! No. That, that… Ren guy on the other side!" Riina exclaimed, trying to help Lana up after she had fallen without much success. ~Everybody take cover!~ she sent a frantic thought to everybody as she fell her knees.

"This can't be… Has he gathered this much of power already?!…" Tai-Itsukun said with mix of anger and amazement when she disappeared to the middle of the flames that had cracked the ground and were destroying the mountain.

"LANA!!!" Tasuki shouted and lunged towards the redhead, using his speed.

'Time to put those powers to the test. Let's just hope that Chiri's teachings weren't in vain.' Riina though as she narrowed her eyes and clenched her fists. Her character suddenly appeared to the corner of her eye and started blazing like a fire when she spread her arms and was surrounded with fire like red chi. It darted towards Lana and Tasuki and entwining the two in their flames. In a wink of eye they were gone.

'Done! Don't worry kiddo. Always gonna protect ya.' Riina smiled and slumped to the ground, suddenly feeling as weak as kitten.

A pair of hands lifted her into a sitting position and Riina felt a soft fabric being pulled over her when the hands wrapped around her shoulders.

"I think I might have over done it again." she muttered and leaned to the person behind of her.

"Yes, you did no da." Chichiri calmly agreed as they disappeared into his cloak.

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

Lana and Tasuki opened their eyes slowly. Lana shot Tasuki a grin and said, "Gee, didn't know ya cared fang boy." Tasuki was about to tell her shut up, when Lana look down and let out a scream. They were currently floating in mid air over a small lake.

"OH SH-!!!!!" Tasuki yelled as they plummeted down. They hit the water with a large splash that left both seishis stunned. Unluckily Lana had been under Tasuki when they fell and she took the most of the impact when they hit the water, which knocked her out.

Tasuki looked around the water, trying to figure which way was up when he noticed unconscious Lana, who was slowly pulled to the bottom by the heavy egg on her bag. Tasuki barely managed to snatch her by her sleeve in nick of time and pulled her closer, starting to kick his way towards the calling sunshine above them.

"GAHH!!" Tasuki gasped and coughed for the air when he finally surfaced. The cool air had never tasted as sweet as it did now. Tasuki pulled Lana to the surface and helped her to hold her head up.

"Lana! That was a close call. Are ya okay?." He asked worriedly as he pulled Lana behind him towards the shore, cursing the heavy egg on his mind. Tasuki frowned as the worry turned into a fear when he roughly lifted Lana from the water and saw her face. He didn't want to loose another friend. 'She's not breathing… Must 'a swallowed too much 'o water…'

"H-hold on here! Lana! Wake up!" he shouted, his fear evident on his voice as he carefully shook her shoulders. "Wake up Lana!!" Suddenly he remembered something that Mitsukake had mentioned once, when he had pulled him back to the ship, half drowned after he had fell overboard. Whit out a second though, only afraid that he might loose the redhead, no matter how annoying she could sometimes be, Tasuki leaned forward and pressed his lips against Lanas' cold lips. He slowly breathed to her mouth and then pressed her chest, trying to pump the water from her lungs and help her to breathe herself. After a few moments Lana coughed, throwing up water and gasping for air.

"All right. You didn't swallow too much of water." Tasuki said softly and smiled in relief as he leaned back to watch Lana. Her eyes were still closed and she was as pale as snow, though the color was already returning to her face. Tasuki touched his lips unconsciously as he looked at her pale face. He could still feel the softness of her lips against his. The memory and the emotions it awoke raised a light blush to his cheeks. He gently touched Lana's cold cheek, looking at her softly. All he wanted was to hold the wet, shivering girl on his arms and tell her that everything would turn out fine.

'Why do ah feel like this? She's mah fella seishi. I dun even like girls much.' he wondered absent mindedly.

Unfortunately, his train of thoughts was interrupt when somebody put a hand over his hand that was resting on Lanas' cheek.

"Daaaaah!" That somebody sighed happily and Tasuki suddenly stared at blushing chibi Chichiri front of his face.

"YAAAAAARGHHH!!!" Tasuki screamed as he back pedaled, falling back to the lake. "Dammit Chichiri!! Don't 'cha fucking go scarin' me like that!" He complained for the monk when he came to the surface. 'I'm gona kill that darn monk some o' these days… Or he's gona kill me with a heart attack…' he growled to himself for the millionth time.

Chichiri just looked at him calmly, his mask smiling cheerfully, as he held Lana on his arms. Tasuki wasn't quite sure if he was laughing or looking disappointedly at him behind that unreadable mask of his.

Lana sniffled and looked up "Chichiri? What happened?" she asked, resting her head against his chest. 'This is so comfortable. He smells nice.' she thought with a tiny smile 'I could get used to this'.

"It was Tenkou no da. He attacked to the mountain. But we're safe no da." Chichiri replied, letting Lana to rest against him.

"Where are the others?" Lana suddenly asked, looking around. She noticed Riina leaning into a tree close, her clothes looking like she had tumbled through bushes and her hands crossed over her chest with that quiet, neutral look on her face, which was in her way as unreadable as Chichiris' mask. She gave a small smile when she saw that Lana had noticed her.

"They are scattered around a bit, but okay no da. Tai-Itsukun used her holy power to fly the others out of there, after Riina had just about chi-blasted you two over here na no da." Chichiri said amusedly.

"Riina?!" Lana blinked and stood up to see her sister. "And you're still standing? Are you okay?!" she was about to fuss over her.

Riina just slightly waved her hand and shook her head. ~I'm fine, just little tired. This thing helps.~ she tapped the collar around her neck.

"Mt. Taikyoku's covered by dark clouds and looks terribly different now no da." Chichiri said sadly, his mask turned into a worried frown as he looked to the direction where the mountain had been.

"So where are we?" Lana asked, though she had a pretty good idea of where they would head next, if her memory served her right. She took the bag from her back to check her egg while she waited for Chichiris' reply. 'Is it just me, or is this thing getting heavier?...' She thought as she dried the egg with her sleeve. Then she remembered something Tai-Itsukun had said to her and hugged the egg. "Don't worry little one. You're safe now." she said quietly for the egg.

"Lake Taichi in Konan. It's pretty near the palace no da" Chichiri said, looking weirdly at Lana but wisely deciding to keep his mouth shut about it, though Lana could heard quiet snickering from Riinas' direction.

Lana shot a glare towards the older girl from corner of her eye. 'MY egg, MY business!' she send a snappy thought for her. "Well, why don't we go to there then?" Lana asked out loud, trying to save her pride "We have to find those jewels soon to save Tama, don't we? We can't let some low life demon just beat us!" she smirked challengingly to them. 'Not to mention of course that I'd LOVE a long, hot bath..' she added on her mind. Riina gave a small smile and nodded as if he had read her mind.

"Well said! You're right no da." Chichiri agreed and looked around "Tasuki!"

"*huh?* Right, leave this to me!" chibi Tasuki thrusted his fist to the air from the lake "We won't solve anything by just standing aroun' here." He gave a fanged grin.

"Um… Tasuki?… Since when have you been able to swim na no da?! " Chichiri calmly asked, staring at his friend on the water, who seemed to realize for the first time where he was.

"……!! *gah*" Was all he managed to say before the reality check hit him and he started to sink. Chichiri, Lana and Riina stared where he had disappeared with huge sweat drops hanging on the back of their heads.

"He's really something…" Lana muttered, trying to decide whether to laugh or cry about of it.

"One of the kind no da." Chichiri sighed as he took his prayer beads between his thumb and forefinger and started to concentrate into fishing Tasuki from the lake.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

DF: *looks around* Hey guys... Where's Tasuki? Have you seen him anywhere?... oO??
Vash: *also looks around* Dunno... Haven't seen him since you finished writing.
Chichiri: I think he's over here no da. *kneels in front of very large bed* He's back on the far corner no da.
DF: *also kneels with Vash to peak under the bed* Tasuki? What are ya doing there? Why don't 'cha come out.
Tasuki: *from under the bed* Not in this "&/(#* life time. *hugs a Chichiri plushie like his dear life* After that last part, Lana's gonna strangle me to death!
DF: It's called affection... -_-() Now come out of there, and I promise to keep you safe from Lana.
Tasuki: *turns chibi, hugging the Chichiri plushie even tighter and shakes his head* No!! Over my dead body!!
Vash: That can be arranged... *smiles and pulls out his gun*
Chichiri: *AAHH!!* WAIT!! Don't... *tries to catch Vashs' hand*
*from under the bed* LEKKA SHINÉN!!!!
*me, Chichiri and Vash are being promptly flamed*

paws-bells – Hello hello!! ^^ *bows* I'm glad that you liked of it! ^^ We're now working on the next chapter, so this might take some time… *turns chibi and waves hands frantically* I'm trying, I'm trying to work on Suzaku's fire, but the chap 2, is being a bloody b**** on me!! *sobbs* But thanks for kicking my ass to work on it! ^^
Chichiri: *pats shoulder and huggs* There there, we'll start working on that chapter ASAP no da. I promise na no da. *gives a Look for Vash & Tasuki*
Vash: *sighs and looks around* Okay okay… Where's that laptop? And I need donuts and beer.... -.-.
Tasuki: *looks at my mile long things-to-do-for-school list* What about these!? Half o' these are late, like, almost a half of year. -_-;;;
*cries even more* T.T
Chichiri: *huggs comfortingly and reaches to bonk Tasuki with his shajukou* Baka no da! .#*

Opaaru Tsuki – Hi yah!! ^^Yeah, and I've increased my MP3 collection since then. ^~ *turns chibi with cat ears and flattens them ashamedly at the scolding* I know, I know. That site has not been active for a year, and I think that it'll be taken down soon. To be honest, I don't have any time nor energy to keep up anything that massive anymore. -_- I mean the school I'm taking is about as rough as the universities in US. But hey, if you have yahoo, or hotmail address do mail me and I can send you tons of MP3s via msn! ^^ *snatches the news paper* Hey, I was reading that! ;p No need to smack yerself, we're both in the same boat. ^~

Songwind – Hii!! ^^ *heh heh* But still, that would be darn funny if Tasuki would do something like that! ;p
Tasuki: *glares* Dream on…. *fingers his tessen*
You like my writing? *blushes* Why, thank you.=^^= But it wouldn't be as half as good without Lana. Hey, that musing scenery was a great suggestion! Would you mind if I'd use it in the fic? I'd give you the credit for it. ^~ And of the wishes, think that three wishes in TOTAL would be the most logical decision. Think about it. There's only one summoning, and Riina and Lana are both miko and seishi as one…

Rhapsody: Daughter of the Sky – Hola!! ^^ *laughs* better late than never, ne? ^~ Sorry to hear that your comp. has been taken away. That's mean. But hey, I do the same in the school all the time, when ever we're having lessons in the comp. class.
Vash: *looks up from his donut box* Like you wouldn't have time for that after the classes? ^~.
*elbows Vash* Shush,  blondie… ^^ But I hope that you'll get your comp back soon! ^^ And thank you for that info of the Kitsunes. I actually didn't know of that color difference thing. Wait, white one is for bad luck?!.... Lanaaaaa…. We need to taaaaalk. *blinks and looks thoughtful* No, wait, I actually could turn that into our advantage…. *grins and hugs Rhapsody* Thanks for the good idea!! ^__^ *storms off to write down idea for the future chapters*

Atomic-Witch – *sweeps a bow and grins* I'm glad that you liked of it! ^^ Perhaps I'm a weirdo or sumthing, but for me it's easy write stuff like that. ^~ Sorry of the messiness of this chapter…