Chapter Forty-Nine

"This is where it was," Jin-Shun said as they stopped between two outer buildings of the Capital. He, Subaru and Lanva had made their way to the exact place where Jin-Shun had watched Toroki being kidnapped, by none other than the notorious slave trader Chu Chin. The only form of life there was a few crates, one of them with the top twisted as if it were opened and haphazardly put back into place.

"This man sounds awful," Subaru said, looking around to see if there was anything more. She kneeled down next to the suspicious crate, almost ready to open it with her fingers and peek inside when a brand new knife swiftly came down and broke the top in half, making her jump away and yelp.

"Don't open it," Jin-Shun commanded, and she nodded. She pushed herself to stand, her legs still a bit shaky from the surprise attack. "That's what tricked the kid in the first place. The one you said is a Byakko Warrior . . ."

"Toroki," Lanva said for him, in case Jin-Shun had forgotten the name. He shrugged, going to help Subaru stand up fully even though she seemed to be able to do fine on her own. At last he gave her a small hug and a kiss on her cheek; when she gave a curious expression as if to ask, 'What's the occasion?' he said, "You're a pretty girl. Chu Chin's gonna want to get you if anyone, so I want you to go back to Amefuri's place, okay?"

"But-" she protested, but before she could he swung her around by the shoulders and pushed her off in the direction towards her new destination.

"Onward, my sexy Queen!" he said sarcastically, making her give a small huff as she went along. When she was gone, or at the least out of their site he turned back to Jin-Shun, putting his hands on his hips. "Okay; right now we gotta get Chu Chin and stop him from catching anymore innocents and rescue Toroki. You with me big guy?"

"Only if you call me by my name," he replied with s smirk, earning a thumbs up from the older of the two. He looked off in the distance, where they could both see the giant Haunted Mountain. Only the few who had journeyed there and discovered Tatara had known that it wasn't haunted in the least, so normally no one ever went there and feared the place. "That's the direction I saw him going in. Half way there he met another person, but I couldn't tell who they were."

"Either a slave or another trader," Lanva concluded. "Come on, let's go kick some ass!"

x

Amefuri stopped back in the kitchen after he left Higashi's room, looking down at Suzuno. Somehow, her condition seemed to worsen by the minute. He nervously looked at the bloodied bandages around her neck and her hands, some parts of the blanket wrapped around her soaked in the red liquid as well.

'Honestly,' he thought, walking to sit on the ground next to where she was, back in the same situation he was in before Aoi-Yuki had interrupted him the first time. The baby tiger had retreated to his own room for some reason, and he had no objections. 'I want to go find Subaru so I can help Mom, but . . . I can't leave you like this.'

Maybe if he found Subaru quickly she could save both of them? But then again, judging by the severity of whatever illness that had taken Suzuno even Subaru would be exhausted after trying to heal her. He once thought that her power was limitless until she collapsed when trying to heal Toroki's wounds. Because of that he still had plenty of scars to remind him of his past.

Out of nowhere another idea came into his mind, one that he almost felt stupid for because it took so long. As he recalled his thoughts, he held Suzuno's head up and lightly kissed her lips, a tinge of red falling on his cheeks. After just a moment his kiss deepened, then his eyes widened and he backed away.

"She . . ." Amefuri thought, placing Suzuno down and holding a hand to cover his mouth, ready to block a thick, gel-like poison he had just swallowed from coming up again. Already he felt a surge of pain travel through his insides where the poison touched until finally, his body rejected it altogether. He turned his face and spit as much of it out at one time as he could on the floor, coughing heavily for good measure. 'That was disgusting!'

Even more for Amefuri, it was strange. Never once in his life had he not been able to adjust to a poison, and even if it took a short while he would easily get used to it. But this one . . . he had barely gulped it down before he couldn't take it any longer. 'This . . . this was inside of Suzuno? But how'd it get in there? Who . . .?'

Suzuno still looked as unhealthy as ever, but in a way she looked like she was in much less pain, and Amefuri couldn't blame her. He knew for sure that he hadn't gotten all of the poison out but at the same time he had a feeling that even if he wanted to take it all out he couldn't. As he stood up again, as satisfied as he could be with what he had done he frowned. 'I'll just have to get Subaru and she'll hopefully be able to do the rest . . .'

As he readied himself to open the door, leaving the house to go look for his fellow warrior companion it opened for him, and on the other side was just who he was looking for. She stood there, a bit bewildered from seeing him so closely when she didn't expect it, but he grinned and pulled her into a quick welcoming hug before pulling her inside.

"What?" Subaru said, a little confused. "Amefuri, what's going on- Suzuno!"

Subaru pushed herself away from Amefuri, running to Suzuno's side immediately and holding her up the same way Amefuri had, her soft fingers tracing the skin of the Priestess' forehead. She wiped a little bit of sweat off, then turned to look up at Amefuri, who was standing behind her. "What happened here?"

"I don't know," he replied, his voice evidently worried. His expression was so serious when he said the words that Subaru couldn't help but worry about him as well; obviously it was bothering him too, not knowing the circumstances. "She's been poisoned somehow, and those wounds on her . . . not much is making sense."

Subaru turned around after nodding a little bit, taking her hands and placing them lightly on Suzuno's shoulders. With that, she concentrated hard in her mind just as she had quickly taught herself over the short time she had become a Warrior of Byakko. 'Let's see . . . I can try . . . five hours? Six hours?'

With that the seconds, minutes, and hours seemed to run through her mind like a program and her symbol glowed a bright white light, all of the power going into the chest of the young Priestess. A force so great erupted from the woman that even Amefuri had to step back and shield his eyes, but Subaru kept herself as calm as possible working hard to recall the time that had happened.

The memories of what went on before she had come suddenly started to run through her; the dark haired man, the heavy slash of the sword and a feeling of extreme pain and throbbing. So much came in at once that she stopped, ready to fall back on the ground and breathing heavily in fatigue. 'That was too much . . .'

"Subaru!" Amefuri shouted, falling to her level and holding her back, catching just in time before she hit the floor. Already she looked like she was relieved as the glowing white aura of Byakko began to fade, their sights back in the small home. Subaru took a long, deep breath, then weakly opened her eyes and looked up at Amefuri, smiling.

"I'm fine," she said, pressing her hands on the floor to prop herself up on her own so she no longer had to lie in Amefuri's lap. "A lot happened . . . go check under her bandages and see if she's okay."

"Okay," he replied, not bothering to ask what exactly went on though he was curious. Lanva back at the castle had told him once that when Subaru turned back time, she would recall the memories of the event that caused such wounds. Slowly he unbound the tightly strapped bandages, starting with her hands and begging that they were going to be lighter than what the blood had told him.

At last, he was relieved. The only marks across her palms now were small cuts, ones that looked like a paper had cut her. As the tense feeling in his shoulders lifted away he undid the ones around Suzuno's neck too, finding a wound a little deeper than the one in her palms but still nothing to be too frightened about. Even better, aside from the earlier sweating, she looked like she was normally sleeping. 'Suzuno . . .'

"I'm going to take her to my bed," Amefuri said, picking up the Priestess and making sure to hold onto the covers she was bundled in, "I'll come back for you in a second."

Subaru laughed lightly as she pushed herself onto her feet, standing up and stretching her arms out to her sides as if for balance. As she did, she waved a hand carelessly. "Don't worry; you don't have to carry me or anything. Just show me the way."

Amefuri grinned. "Sure."

x

Tatara stared harshly at the two individuals that had invaded the Haunted Mountain, the old man in particular since he was the one who was holding Toroki. Neither of them looked shocked to see that someone else of than themselves happened to be in a 'frightening place', but more amused. The warrior personally had a feeling that the both of them wouldn't be scared off so easily.

"This is my home," Tatara finally said firmly, making sure to keep his voice strong. "I've lived here for the past two years alone. What are you doing here?"

The old man simply laughed back at first, chuckles coming from the woman. "You lived here? Obviously quite the decorator, eh? Lots of nice plants here . . ."

The woman's one eye seemed to trace Tatara's body with a lustful look, so much so that he almost felt uncomfortable with it. But at last she seemed to wander to one of his hands where just barely on the inside a symbol glowed. She smiled as she pointed. "Darling, look at that!"

"Oh?" he had followed her fingertips until his own eyes, narrow as they may be under the appearance of thick, bushy white eyebrows, saw what he was looking for. "I see it! Tatara of the Byakko Seven. No wonder this is such a grand place."

"Thank you," Tatara replied a little sarcastically. But there was no time for games. It was time to cut to the chase. "Who are you, and what are the both of you doing here, and with Toroki? I'm going to have to take him back."

Neither of them paid much attention to the threat and just waved it off, but they did answer the other questions. The old man stepped closer to Tatara, his grip on the child in his arms tightening in case the warrior in front of them made any swift movements. Even though he had no hands the gestures with his face seemed endless.

"First of all, my name is Chu Chin," he said, a little more high pitched chuckling coming from saying just that. "And this lovely young, voluptuous woman is my wife Kemuri."

Kemuri nodded curtly at the sound of her name, being sure to lift up the top of her dress that was sliding down her breasts. "If you must know why we're here, well . . . that's to capture all of you Warriors of Byakko."

'What?' Tatara thought, but somehow he had a feeling that these two could do it. They were an odd, almost too-cheerful sounding pair to seem like enemies but they had something hidden within them, that was for sure. 'Under those smiles is a deadly fire . . .'

"Truly, Tenkou has done wonders to this body of mine!"

And even more surprising among that was the mention of the God Tenkou. Of all things to be considered taboo among all of the countries, it was the very thought of forming an alliance with the enemy of Taiitsukun. 'But it already seems that they've gotten something to do with him . . .'

Tatara's symbol started to glow just a little brighter, but to his knowledge the other two had barely noticed it. Against the walls, the vines that had latched themselves within the hardened dirt over time started to come to life, inching themselves slowly out of their places and towards the intruders. Particularly near the floor behind them, vines started drawling like snakes towards their legs, just about ready to latch themselves on until . . .

"I'm afraid that won't work, love," Kemuri said as she stomped on top of the plant. The entire time she was still looking to the warrior as if she had no clue what was going on until the precise moment. "You're just a weakling, especially without the other six."

Suddenly Tatara stepped back as the woman's eye and grin became wide. She drew back a fist and punched in his direction, the full blow just barely missing his chin. A lick of a black, smoking aura surrounded her and she took no time to turn and send a kick, this time pushing straight into his stomach and throwing the man back.

Kemuri calmed her stance as she walked gracefully over to the now fallen Tatara, stopping between his straddled legs and pressing one heel onto his chest hard, making him flinch. She giggled.

"Oh, some men can be so weak compared to women," she said as she looked down, her curls falling over her shoulders. "It's a shame, really. That's why I prefer big, strong bullies like my husband. Not like yo-"

Before she had a chance to jump away he reached for her ankle with his hand, gripping her thin leg tightly and using his other hand to pull out seeds from his necklace. As he threw them out around him they started to grow at a rapid rate, and just when he pulled on her to fall at his level they tightened around her body.

Chu Chin did nothing but chuckle with amusement as more vines, both from the seeds on his necklace and the ones from the walls , started to cling around her so much that within seconds she was unable to even sit up properly. Tatara sighed as he felt the danger go and stood up, looking down at the woman who only seemed happier. Something about that pleased expression on her face bothered him. 'Are these two always so . . .?'

"Now, that's being a bully," Kemuri said, and Chu Chin's little giggles turned into a fit of loud, echoing laughter. Then she sighed as if disappointed. "But now I guess you have to beat my husband; he's been bad too, you know."

Tatara seemed to nod in approval of the idea, but just as he did that same black aura that had surrounded Kemuri once before came about her again, only this time the vines on her body loosened as she faded within the darkness. Just as quickly as she had been captured, she had completely dissapeard.

"You pulled a quick and decent fight against my wife," Chu Chin suddenly said, taking Tatara's bemused expression to him instead of at the now empty space on the ground. His grin was wider than ever, and even in some of the still shadows around his yellow teeth seemed to glow. "She's impressed. She'll be coming after you."

"Shouldn't you be a little more . . . possessive?" Tatara asked, not exactly sure of the right words to say. They weren't exactly what he was looking for, but he couldn't find much better. He also wanted to ask just what had happened, but at the same time he was sure the conversation wasn't going to go the way he wanted.

Chu Chin shrugged as he glanced down to Toroki, who squirmed and moaned a little as if he were ready to just wake up. "Even if I wanted to, I couldn't. Been married to her for five years, and in all that time she's been a wild cat."

'It's disgusting,' Tatara thought, nervously thinking back on the way he was being looked at by the woman. Many women of this time were adventurous and strong-willed, but he had never met one that forward before. Thinking of what he preferred only brought his mind to Suzuno. 'I'm relieved that she isn't like that.'

As Toroki's body seemed to shake around a little more trying to break free of the strong grip of the old man Chu Chin seemed to shrug and dropped him with a loud thud. Immediately the young child was startled awake, massaging his suddenly sore bottom and yelping. When he looked up at the grinning old man in front of him he scowled, but as he turned to see Tatara he smiled widely and jumped to run to him.

"Tatara!" he said excitedly, giving him a childish hug around the middle. The older of the two, not sure what to do, patted his back a little. "Guess what? I found this huge treasure earlier today! And . . . and . . . Oh no! Suzuno!"

"Suzuno?" Tatara repeated, instantly mimicking the worried sound in the child's voice. Toroki opened his mouth to say more but just as he did a paper thin black hand covered his mouth, pulling him away from his ally and back at Chu Chin. The aura was coming from one of his own hands, stretching out until the boy was back in his possession.

"I'm afraid you can't worry about your Priestess," Chu Chin said, reaching into a pocket around his waist and pulling out a small knife, which he placed under Toroki's neck. For once he didn't have such a playful grin; it was dark and sinister, ready for a fight. "You're going to have to take care of this matter fir-"

Unlike Kemuri, who was so perceptive of the things around her, Chu Chin seemed to lack that ability. Even Tatara who was facing the direction to see the new pair in the cave hadn't noticed until one jumped high in the air landing a swift, strong kick right at the back of the old man's head, knocking him completely off guard and freeing his black grip on Toroki. The youngest Warrior of Byakko hurried again to Tatara's side again before turning to see who came.

"Geez, being beaten by an old geezer," said the one who actually attacked. Lanva stood confidently as the old man began to stand, Jin-Shun already with small weapons of his own out and ready. The moment Chu Chin turned around and grinned, calling out his attacker's name Lanva's eyes widened.

"Wait a minute,"Lanva said, a cautious tone in his voice, "Who are you and how do you know my name?"

X x x x

Dun-Dun-Duuuuun! But doesn't Lanva know Chu Chin? Scandalous! XD Just kidding. Kemuri is also a bad guy. But she's dangerous in more ways than one. But, even still, look out more for Chu Chin. –Jumps up and down- I'm so happy! It's been over a year since this story began and I'm finally introducing the main bad guys. Well, Reikoku came a while ago, but now he's more solid than he was.

So, out of the bad guys, which one do you like best? Chu Chin? Reikoku? Kemuri? Or even Tenkou? There are more bad guys than that coming in the future; I'm so excited to introduce them! I think the polls'll go like this:

Chu Chin- Zilch

Reikoku- A bazillion!

Kemuri- Nada

Tenkou- Zero

That's what I think anyway. XD lol!

Queen of the Paperclips- Thanks:D Oh, and it finally came out in your area? FYGK is really, really good! They did alright with the translations too, although the names are different. XD Rimudo now equals Limdo. But, they were only translating properly so it's not like they did anything wrong. Lol!

The Emerald Princess- Kagasuki . . . I can't wait for him to be introduced into the story. I really like him- I can't tell you if he's a hottie or not, but it's going to be fun when he comes in:D And Ame-chan is just being a dork right now. After all the contemplating he's been doing, he's gotta realize it sooner or later. Lol!

Care- OMGosh, you're so right . . . all of those names are pretty feminine. Well, Ta-Kun doesn't sound so bad! But it just doesn't feel Tatara-ish . . . you know? XD Oh, we'll find something someday! And that's okay if you lost track of everyone. They'll be easier to remember once they all appear (Like how Nashie and Amai are probably easier to remember). Hazuma is a good-looking guy, I guess. XD He's not gorgeous like his brother though- just average.

Lena- Thanks so much! Ack, jealous? I wouldn't go that far . . . I still have so much to learn! But I'm flattered you're enjoying this.

Suzuno Oosugi- Evil bad guys of Doom. Lol:D Kagasuki isn't really a bad guy- after all, it says that he had to get captured in order for Kemuri and Chu Chin to sort of have an upgrade on their bodies. But he will have a devilish streak in him . . . OMGosh, he's gonna be fun!

RabidMantisGirl- "Meatwad makes the monies G, Meatwad get the honies G . . . " lol! That's my favorite part of the ATHF theme song. Although my favorite character is Master Shake. The guy is great! And while Tatara ends up winning the fight (Sort of?) and getting Toroki back, there's more . . . XD Kemuri is gonna trouble Tatara the most out of all the warriors/priestess. Poor guy.

Littleadryan- Thank you so much! Oh, have you read Fushigi Yuugi Genbu Kaiden? It's the Genbu arc being told by Watase Yuu, and volume one just came out in english! I've read about up to volume four- I'm tempted to say it's just as awsome as the original FY! I like Takiko a lot more than Miaka too, and Limdo a lot more than Tamahome. XD

Kaeru Soyokaze- -Casts Revive magic- Oh no! Zombie! XD Ame-chan keeps missing oppurtunities 'cause he's sucha dork. A very sexay dork, but a dork no less. He'll get his chance someday though! Yes! XD