Hey kiddos! I'm back! To bring you another fabulous chapter of everyone's favorite story! (Just kidding.) Seriously, I am happy that people like this story. I mean, I know it's going slowly, but don't worry, all in good time my friends, all in good time. Thanks for the support!
Disclaimer: I don't own Fushigi Yugi.
Warnings: Angst. Bandits! Bandits everywhere!
Somewhere Out There
Chapter Ten
"Hey, you're back!" Miaka exclaimed as I came back into the world of Konan. I felt a little guilty as those sleeping pills weren't meant to be taken for something like this. But then I figured that if my psychiatrist was so insistent about me taking them, then I was going to take them.
But we weren't in the woods; we were hiding behind some shrubs in front of a large building. I could only guess it was the bandits' hideout. Kouji and Genrou were speaking to each other in low voices.
"How did you get back here so fast?" Saihitei asked me, a slightly concerned look on his face. "You only come here when you're asleep."
"What are you guys talking about?" Genrou asked us, eyeing me suspiciously. "You, are you human?"
"Of course I'm human!" I protested loudly and got shushed by several people. "I'm from another world, that's all."
"Another world?" Genrou and Kouji's eyes bugged out.
"Yeah, another world." I wondered how long the pills would last. Saihitei was still looking at me and I knew I would have to make something up. "I just woke up for a few minutes because I was thirsty. So then I went back to bed. That's all."
"Oh." Saihitei didn't believe me at all, it didn't take a mind-reader to see it.
"We're glad you're here Kourin." Kishuku gave me a grin and then jabbed a thumb in the direction of the two bandits. "These guys are idiots."
"Ha, you wouldn't be saying that if I had my tessen." Genrou bared his teeth and I noted his fangs. "I'd fucking fry you."
"I'd like to see you try." Kishuku had a challenging look on his face.
"Okay, if you boys can't play nice, then I'm going to separate you two." I told them in a voice that sounded very like my own mother's. "Now, what's the plan?"
"Eiken's probably drunk by now. We bust in, grab the tessen, and then declare Genrou as leader." Kouji told us as though this was the best plan we could possibly come up with.
"Is there anyway to sneak in and be inconspicuous?" I asked slowly.
"There's only bandits and serving women in there." Genrou supplied.
"That's it!" I snapped my fingers. "I can be a serving woman and try and distract the bandits and then you guys can sneak in."
"I don't know if you should be put in that sort of danger." Saihitei didn't seem to like this plan. "Those bandits…I can't even imagine…"
"Hmm…" I tried to think of a good compromise because I knew I was on to something with this plan.
"The emperor's fucking pretty enough, dress him up like a girl and he can go with you." Genrou suggested. Saihitei raised an eyebrow at him and I giggled.
"That's not a bad idea…" Kishuku was rubbing his chin and then caught a glare from Saihitei. "Well, that way you can be with Kourin in case anything goes wrong."
"Yeah, yeah." I nodded my head. Then I started giggling again as I pictured Saihitei dressed up like a girl. "Come on Saihitei, it's a good plan."
"I'd go instead but…" Miaka looked hesitant.
"Where will Miaka be?" I questioned.
"With me." Kishuku answered quickly. Then he turned towards Genrou and Kouji. "You're going to help protect her. We'll go get this tessen while Saihitei and Kourin go distract the bandits."
"They'll have to be sure to be distracting Eiken. That way we can get to the tessen." Kouji reminded us. "In fact, they don't know I'm in league with Genrou."
"Why didn't you mention that before?" I asked him incredulously.
"I didn't think of it." Kouji admitted sheepishly. "So I can go with you, and take you two directly to Eiken." He saw the dark look pass between me and Saihitei. "Don't worry, just pour him sake and stuff, he's pretty stupid."
"That leaves just you and me to guard Miaka." Kishuku looked at Genrou like he'd much rather be doing anything else.
"I can come after I go with Kourin and Saihitei." Kouji volunteered. "So, first, we need some girl clothes for the emperor."
"That shouldn't be too hard." Kouji answered. "I'll be right back." And so we waited behind the shrubs for Kouji to come back. I looked at Saihitei with an apologetic look.
It'll be okay. It's just a diversion.
"Kourin…" Saihitei frowned and pulled me away from the others so that we could have a private conversation. I noticed Miaka trying to listen in.
"Yeah?" I couldn't imagine what he wanted to talk about right here.
"Do you…?" He trailed off as though he was embarrassed. My heart began to thump. What did he want to talk about privately? What was it that he couldn't ask in front of the others? My mind was racing to a million conclusions at once. "Do you really think I would make a good girl?" I started laughing from the look on his face. Like this whole thing was really bothering him.
"I'm sorry Saihitei." I wiped tears of mirth from my eyes. "It's just that you looked so serious! You're very good-looking and…" I blushed. "And you've got some feminine features…"
"Well I am very beautiful…" Saihitei agreed with a surprisingly serious look on his face. I couldn't really figure Saihitei out. "I suppose I'm nervous."
"Don't be." I told him. "Not a big deal really."
Yeah, cross-dressing wouldn't be for you.
Shut up mind.
You can't make me.
That's what you think.
I stopped the argument as Kouji did come back with the clothes. (I have no idea how he got them.) Saihitei found somewhere to get changed and when he came back, I was talking to Miaka about what Saihitei would look like.
"Okay, I'm ready." Saihitei announced and I turned to look at him. He looked…just like a really pretty girl! I was completely stunned. "Let's go Kourin."
"You two should probably use your seishi names." Kishuku suggested. "And the same goes for me." I began humming the Mission: Impossible theme which just got me a bunch of weird looks because of course no one knew what the hell I was humming.
Its okay Ryuuen, I totally got it.
Thanks mind.
Kouji took us into the building. Saihitei really did look like a young woman. I kept glancing at him, but trying not to openly stare. Should I really be that amazed? I mean, in my present situation, we weren't really that different.
First we stopped at the kitchen and got trays with sake on them. Then we were lead down several hallways until we got to a huge room, full of rowdy bandits. We both looked at Kouji with pleading looks for help.
"Eiken's not in here." Kouji commented. "He must be in his rooms! Great…I don't know how we're supposed to sneak in there like this."
"Let's give it our best shot!" I cheered. Of course, we had attracted the attention of a couple of the bandits. One of them suddenly was hugging Saihitei tightly around the waist.
"Hey baby, come drink with us." Saihitei looked somewhat horrified at the bandit who was looking rather starry-eyed. Saihitei looked at me helplessly.
"Oh, Hotohori would love to but we're supposed to entertain the Boss tonight." I grabbed the guy's arm and twisted it rather painfully as I made him let go of Saihitei. Maybe I used a little more force then necessary. So? We left and Kouji started to lead us back down the hallways.
"Thanks Nuriko." Saihitei smiled at me gratefully.
"Okay, I thought that Eiken would be in the big meeting room drinking with them but apparently not. Which means he's in his bedrooms." Kouji did not seem to like this. "That's where the others were going to sneak in. You two will have to keen Eiken completely distracted."
"We can do it!" I vowed, striking a pose. We came to a large pair of doors with Kouji knocked on.
"Hello? Who is it?" Kouji began. "It's Kouji, here with two pretty new serving women for the Boss. Oh, well come in then. Thank you very much." Saihitei and I looked at each other rather bewildered as Kouji opened the door.
There was a really ugly, fat man who was guzzling sake. I felt like I was going to puke when I watched sake dribble out his mouth and down his chin. Okay, yuck. He stopped drinking when he caught sight of us. He wiped his chin with the back of his sleeve. I could see that Saihitei looked as though he might be sick.
"Kouji! These new girls look very nice." Eiken seemed to be congratulating the blue-haired young man. "What are their names?"
"Hotohori." Saihitei answered in a falsetto that I found very funny but I had to smother my giggles.
"Nuriko." I answered, trying to keep a straight face.
"I'll just leave you three alone." Kouji went out, closing the door behind him. Saihitei and I gulped and then stepped forward. We sat across from Eiken, who was looking at us like we were pieces of meat. If only he knew that there were two guys sitting across from him.
"You're both very pretty." Eiken was leering at us.
"Oh thank you." I decided to just be polite, though I desperately wanted to beat him to death with my tray. "Have some sake, please."
"Yes, drink up." Saihitei kept glancing at the door as though expecting the rest of the brigade to barge through any moment and save us.
"You, with the purple hair, Nuriko was it?" Eiken was clearly drunk, which would make the whole thing a lot easier to deal with. "Why don't you come sit in my lap?"
I'd rather be boiled in oil, thanks.
I can't do this. I am not sitting in that guy's lap. I refuse.
But…we are supposed to be distracting him.
"Nuriko is very shy." Saihitei answered quickly and I could hear a resolution in his words. Omigod, he wasn't going to… "But I would be happy to sit in your lap."
"Alright then." Eiken patted his lap. I looked at Saihitei in disbelief. He was doing it because he knew I didn't want to! Eiken began playing with Saihitei's hair which I could tell Saihitei did not like. He was getting sake in it for one and from the look on his face he was not enjoying.
That's when I saw a window open behind Eiken. I saw Genrou's face pop up and I felt instant relief. He was climbing in and then slowly going towards a pile of cushions.
"I'm not that shy, Hotohori just likes all the attention to himself." I put a hand to my face coyly and laughed. Genrou was trying to be stealthy and failing. He tripped over a cushion and as soon as I saw him start to fall, I rushed forward, grabbing Eiken's face and kissing him.
It was the most disgusting experience of my whole life. For one, this was my first kiss and now I would have to live with the fact that my first kiss was a really gross bandit. Saihitei gasped. I opened my eyes and saw Genrou hurriedly digging through the cushions for a box. He opened it.
And pulled out a gleaming metal fan.
I pulled my face back immediately.
"Eiken!" Genrou seemed excited as he brandished it and the other members of our party came into the window. Eiken realized he had been tricked and backhanded me away from him.
That's when Saihitei suddenly had a sword to Eiken's throat.
"You've laid hands on a royal personage and a Suzaku no seishi." Saihitei was glaring at him as though trying to set fire to him. "And for that you should be put to death." I was wiping my mouth as much as possible. I thought I might even throw up at one point. Miaka was the last through the window and I had to come get her because no one else could give her a hand up.
"Now I'm the leader." Genrou looked excited. "What do you think of that Eiken?"
"Ha! We're under attack!" Eiken yelled, scrambling away from Saihitei's rather sharp looking sword. "We're UNDER ATTACK!"
There was a loud ruckus and before too long, we were surrounded by bandits. They looked at us for a few moments.
"Oh great." I muttered and the drunken bandits began to attack. I grabbed Miaka and was punching anyone that even came close to touching her. Kishuku was doing the same thing except of course not holding onto Miaka's arm. Eiken seemed to be trying to get the tessen away from Genrou.
He wouldn't have got it if one of the bandits hadn't knocked into Genrou, causing Genrou to drop it. Eiken picked it up; stepping on Genrou's back and pointed it at Miaka and me. I threw Miaka out of the way, maybe with too much force as she went flying towards the window and fell out of it backwards. I went rushing towards it when I heard the tessen being brandished.
"Rekka…" Eiken began. "Shinen!" And a burst of fire came towards me. I stood there, like an idiot when suddenly I was lifted off my feet. I looked up at my rescuer who was now on the ledge where I could see Miaka had safely landed in some bushes. It was Genrou. He looked almost amazed as I did.
"How did you…?" I blinked my eyes.
"I don't know!" He admitted as he set me down. Then I noticed a red light coming out of his sleeve. I grabbed his arm and despite his protests, pulled the sleeve down.
"He's a seishi!" I exclaimed. I shoved the arm out the window. "Which one Miaka?"
"Tasuki!" Miaka called back gleefully. "We found another one!"
"Great, now get making with the seishi powers and help out!" I told him, shoving him back into the fight. Genrou seemed to be moving at a super speed, moving too quickly to see. Suddenly, Eiken looked ready to fire the tessen again but then it wasn't in his hands. Genrou had it. He pointed it at Eiken.
"Call 'em off!" Genrou ordered. Eiken did so, quite miserably. The bandits backed away from us, except for one. The earlier bandit who seemed to have grown rather attached to Saihitei in a most literal way. He had his arms around Saihitei again.
"I love you…" He told Saihitei.
"Nuriko!" Saihitei called out to me in a helpless voice. I grabbed the guy by the collar and threw him straight into a wall.
Take's care of that.
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Okay, Genrou was going to be leader of the bandits but then, of course, he couldn't stay here and be a bandit leader, we needed him to save the kingdom!
"If you don't come, we'll never be able to summon Suzaku!" Miaka pleaded with him. "You can go back to being the leader after that! I promise!"
"Alright, alright." Genrou seemed to have given up. I thought Miaka's pleading skills were unmatched. It was probably the big eyes she gave people. "Kouji will be leader while I'm gone."
Genrou kept his tessen though. Kouji didn't seem to want it as it was. So we left Mt. Reikaku and decided to make camp away from the bandits. (I had enough of them.) Genrou demonstrated that he was a bit of a pyromaniac as he wouldn't stop playing with the fire. I decided to go see what Miaka was up to while Saihitei washed his hair in a nearby stream.
I was about to go around a tree when I heard Miaka and Kishuku talking.
"I was really worried about you." Kishuku admitted to her. I knew I was eavesdropping but I really couldn't help it. "I…"
"Kishuku…" Miaka trailed off. "It was okay. Everything worked out fine."
"Everything isn't fine though." Kishuku told her, I peeped around to see he was sitting a foot away from her but giving her an intense look. "Miaka…you have to know…how I feel about you…"
"Kishuku!" Miaka looked surprised.
"I love you." Kishuku admitted and my eyes went the size of saucers. "I love you more then…then anything! And…I can't touch you at all and I know we can't be together…"
"Kishuku I…" Miaka looked so sad. "I love you too!"
"You do?" Kishuku looked happy and then seemed to be depressed. "But…we can't…"
"I know." Miaka took a deep breath, as though she were on the verge of crying. "I know, and I told myself I would try really hard not to fall in love with you but it was impossible…"
"I kept telling myself the same thing." Kishuku looked like all he wanted to do was hug Miaka. And he couldn't.
You have to tell them the truth Ryuuen.
That you've already touched Miaka.
That they'll never be able to summon Suzaku…
Why won't you tell?
Because I'm a coward and I can't face Saihitei and I can't face this world…not if I told the truth.
It's better to keep pretending.
Look how unhappy Miaka and Kishuku are! All because they think they can't even touch each other.
I felt so bad that I ran from the scene and to where Saihitei had finished washing his hair; he was trying to comb it. He looked up at me and I didn't know what to do as I knelt down to the ground.
"Is something wrong Kourin?" Saihitei asked me. I burst into tears.
Everything is wrong.
I can't be honest. I can't tell you that I'm really a boy named Ryuuen.
I can't tell you anything.
Will I still be special to you? Even if I was a boy?
He stopped combing his hair and moved forward, grabbing me in a hug that threw me off-balance. I held onto him tightly.
I'm so sorry Saihitei…I'm so sorry…
I knew the drug was wearing off, I knew I was waking up and I didn't want to. But then, I was causing so much misery, even though no one knew it.
Maybe it would be better if I didn't come back at all.
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Emotional chapter, I know! I think it was because I was listening to Stabbing Westward while I wrote this chapter. They're like the angstiest (Okay, I made that word up.) band ever. Please review!