Reversed Reality

Disclaimer: I don't own Fushigi Yugi, but if I did Tamahome would be alllll mine...

A/N: Woop! I'm back. Thanks for being patient and I hopeI can still update regularly throughout the summer.Oh, and I understand that I might acidentaly write 'Miaka' instead of 'Tamahome' or that there might be a few spelling errors but just bear with me. And I'm sorry if I accidentally leave out and reviewer responses, I don't think I have but if I do it's not intentional.

Reviewer Responses:
SakuraKino: Thanks! Here's the update, hope it was fast enough.
Queen Asinoe: Thanks. I'm sure you'll love the real series, and I'm glad you like mine. I understand I sometimes write those mistakes but I'm working on fixing it.
Chichiri's Wanderer: Thanks!Haha, I can't wait until he's in the story either, It'll be more fun towrite when all the characters in the story.
Silver Pain:Yay! Yeah I went on vacation but I'm back now (obviously hehe). Here's the update!
Tki-Chan: Hehe, I know what happens too! Sorry this updadte wasn't as fast!
Auron's Fan: Woo, sounds like a nice fantasy to me! Not to worry, I love your ridiculously long reviews. I just had to get out those last couple chapters before I left so I updated super fast haha. Woo, Pepsi high, good thing you have enough candy to share. I wish I knew how to share through computors haha. Well, here's the update!
Lyssah: Thanks for telling me bout that. I'm pretty sure I fixed it, if not then I'll have to go do that. Oh and the Hotohori, Mizu thing...Hotohori's got the estrogen and Mizu's got the testosterone.

R&R

Chapter Eight: The Other Side of the Mirror

Yui reached up and placed a hand to her now aching head.

"You ok?" She didn't need to turn to see the speaker of the voice, Tamahome's older brother; Keisuke.

She gave him a nod, "Mmhm. It's ok, I just have a headache."

"Look, you should go home. I know that I'll Tamahome somewhere, Mom and I will make sure we do. Since we can't check the library because it's closed I'm going to search some other places."

Yui's voice was firm, "No. I can't just quit. Tamahome's my best friend." As Yui finished her sentence her headache suddenly vanished without a trace. What is going on here? First the blood and the water, now the headache…Could I somehow be connected to Tamahome? I need to figure this out…

Tamahome stripped the last article of clothing from his body and carefully stepped into the spring. The warm water immediately soaking through his skin in the most calming and comfortable way possible.

Hm, I feel better already…

His thoughts were cut off by the large ripples of water that suddenly began bubbling from under the water as something large began to rise to the surface.

Miaka ambled slowly through the trees contemplating her decision to go to Tamahome. Well, it's not like I'm going because he wanted me to or anything…I'm going because it's my job…

At this point all the commotion that Tamahome began causing reached her. Picking up the pace she took off in his direction.

She could hear Tamahome only a short distance away going, "Oh shit! What's that? Get away!"

Miaka burst into the clearing, "Tamahome?" she shouted, her eyes locking on the boy in the water, but to her surprise the expression on the boys face wasn't one of fear it was more…embarrassed?

"Um…?" Was all she said.

Tamahome grinned stupidly, "I thought this log here (he slung his arm around the log) was a huge water snake but apparently I was a bit off."

Miaka couldn't help but smile a little. "Nicely done." she added with a hint of sarcasm lacing her words.

It was also at this point that she noticed his complete lack of clothes and the face that the water only seemed to be just deep enough to cover the essentials.

A blush rising to her face she quickly spun the other way, "Didn't see anything." she stated quickly.

Tamahome just stood in the water, fighting the awkward silence. Now's my chance. I was tell her sorry putting her on the spot like that…that you really didn't mean what you said….

Tamahome opened his mouth just as Miaka spun back around to face him, both of them shouting the same thing.

"I'M SORRY!"

Miaka looked down, becoming amazingly interested in an invisible piece of dust. "I didn't mean to be like that. It just caught me off guard, no one's really said that kind of thing to me before. I just didn't really know what to say…but you need to work on getting better and we'll get you home, I promise." Miaka gave a weak smile and then turned and disappeared into the trees.

Miaka…

Before Tamahome had any more time to react to Miaka's response Nuriko skipped out of the woods with a sly grin on his face, "Nicely done, but I was sure you'd try and take advantage of her-uh I mean the situation."

Tamahome sent a short glare at Nuriko, "You set this whole thing up?"

Nuriko's widened smile confirmed Tamahome suspicion, "Only cause I knew you'd fall for it."

Much to Nuriko's surprise, now that Tamahome had managed to climb out of the water, he walked over and gave Nuriko a playful shove and said, "Well whatever, thanks. I seriously thought Miaka wouldn't talk to me again."

Immediately after shoving Nuriko, Tamahome's face blanched, "Holy shit! You're a GIRL!"

Nuriko's face blanked, "Um hahaha ha ha….Well, you caught me…"

Somehow I think this goes beyond just simple cross dressing….

Tamahome, still keeping his distance and also now covering himself completely, spoke up, "So lemme get this straight…You're in love with Hotohori; the woman, and you've kissed Miaka…"

"Love can make you do many things…" Nuriko said lamely.

"Oh lord…What's Miaka going to think…" Tamahome mumbled to himself and Nuriko continued to drone on in the background trying to defend 'her' sexuality.

But little did either of them know that they were being watched.

"Priest of Suzaku. You seek Tai-Yi-Jun but you shall not get there easily…"

"Thanks for all you help today Yui. I know you're busy with the upcoming exams and everything but thanks for helping anyway. I'm gonna try a couple more places tonight. If anything comes up I'll let you know right away." Yui watched as Keisuke gave a short wave and walked out into the crowd disappearing a few moments later.

She glanced back over towards the building they had just exited. Tamahome…I was sure you'd be in the library…where are you?

Tamahome heaved a rather large yawn. Gods I'm tired. This trip is taking a lot outta me. I hope we get to Tai-Yi-Jun's soon cause I wanna go home…

Tamahome looked down at his plate where his breakfast had just been placed. "Hey! What's the big deal? There's nothing on the plate!"

He looked to Miaka who had her elbows propped up on the table and had her forehead cradled in her hands. "I'm so tired I barely have an appetite."

Tamahome looked astounded, "Barely? That's what you call barely! You ate every single thing on the table!"

Miaka just stayed silent, while Nuriko just stared at her. "Tamahome's the one who needs the food, not you; you're not sick." Nuriko tried to chide Miaka but ended up laughing before he finished the sentence.

After his glaring session at Miaka ended Tamahome noticed Hotohori's absence. "Hey. Where'd Hotohori go off to?" All he got in response was a shrug from Nuriko and a grunt from Miaka that sounded kind of like an 'I don't know' but he wasn't sure.

"Hotohori?" Tamahome called out as he stepped outside. "What are you doing? You find anything interesting?"

"No. I'm just taking in my surroundings. I don't have the time to look at the landscape at home."

Tamahome nodded his head understandingly. "Yeah tell me bout it. At home all I saw was school and cram sessions. They were hard but my mom wanted it."

"I inherited the throne along with my brother when we were just fourteen; our father had passed away. The struggle for power then was horrible. She used whatever means she could to ensure that I was made emperor…But, not too long after she passed on as well and I was practically left alone. Sure I had all the people in the palace surrounding me day and night but they weren't true companions. I was like a bird in a cage, like they always say."

Tamahome paused for a moment before responding. "But that's the past now, you can just pick up like you are now! I think this is good for you, besides Mizu can run the palace just as you can so there's no worry, right?"

Before Tamahome knew what was happening, Hotohori grabbed him and pulled him into her arms in a gentle but firm hug.

"You treat me so well. I wish it could be like this always…the two of us." She said softly.

Before Tamahome could respond a large table that had been flung through the air collided loudly with his head. Turning back he saw Nuriko frantically trying to run in his direction with Miaka struggling to hold him back.

"What's gotten into Nuriko?" Hotohori asked looking back at the flailing boy.

Tamahome ignored Hotohori's question; too involved in Miaka's reaction which to this point wasn't good.

Miaka…

Her expression was hard to read but looking at her face gave Tamahome an uncomfortable clench in his chest.

"Well now, Priest of Suzaku. Shall see what you can withstand? Yes…let's try a little test." The shadowed figure held a mirror; silver embroidered with roses. Second later the mirror began to float on it's own before revolving quickly in the air and then disappearing all together.
"Tamahome slow down unless you wanna end up traveling alone. Besides you just got better, take it easy." Miaka said to Tamahome who was almost speed walking through the forest.

Tamahome just waved it off, "I'm fine, don't worry 'bout it."

Being caught up in his quick paced walking, Tamahome didn't notice the upturned root in the pathway and promptly fell over it landing flat on his face.

Miaka being the caring person she is busted out laughing much to her efforts to stay silent.

Tamahome glowered at Miaka who had managed to bring her laughter down to a dull roar. For some reason he suddenly got really angry with her.

After sending one last glare he mumbled a stony, "Whatever," and stormed off into the woods, disappearing into the thick fog.

"Wait! Tamahome!" Miaka called after him but he ignored her.

"Don't you think something's wrong Nuriko?" Hotohori asked referring to that fact that both Tamahome and Miaka were as of then absent.

"Nope. I think we were meant to be." Nuriko said in, what he guessed, was a sexy voice.

Hotohori just raised an eyebrow at him, "That's uh, not what I meant. Look around, all this fog; it's not normal for this time of day."

Nuriko turned a circle, "I think you're right. That, and I think we've been in this clearing before…"

"You Majesty!" Miaka came huffing up, lugging her horse behind her.

"Miaka! Where is Tamahome? Why is he not with you?" Hotohori said immediately.

"I lost track of him in the thick fog your Majesty."

"I don't know what to think about Miaka. She can be almost mean sometimes. Hotohori on the other hand is always nice to me…"

Before Tamahome could continue his thoughts a small glint of light caught his attention.

"OH! Yes! A gold coin!" Tamahome immediately snatched it off the ground and gripped it in his hand.

"Hmm I should probably try to find the others if I ever want to get home…where are they?"

Chink. Chink. Chink. The sound drifted to Tamahome's ear. "Hey…I know that sound…it's the sound of coins being tossed together! Oh wow, there must be a huge pile of coins somewhere…think of all the money that could be there….Damn, I gotta find it!" Tamahome rushed of in the direction of the sound.

To his great surprise, in a tiny clearing there was a very large, very shiny, pile of gold coins, sitting unattended.

"Wow! Who woulda thought there's be coins here?" He questioned to himself as he walked over to the coins.

As he reached the pile he stepped thorough something almost like a dense sheet of water suspended in the air. "Huh? What the hell?" he said turning around and realizing that he was trapped behind something.

"What the hell is this?" he shouted.

"Tamahome, welcome to the other side of the mirror