Sweet Revenge

by LivnaMalinconia

Also a humor fic. Two ordinary girls from America are transported into the Universe of the Four Gods, and become the new Priestesses of Genbu and Byakko. Read the fic to find out more, TasXOC and 'ChiriXOC. BETTER THAN IT SOUNDS! PLEASE RR! Please.

2. Warriors

Chapter Two

Pain. She felt pain in her side, in her head, and on her back. Not to mention, a weight on her back, making the pain even more noticeable. "Ouch... whatever is on me... can you please, please get off!" Serena groaned, finding that, for the third time in two days, she was lying face down on the ground.

Joe moaned and rolled off of Serena, instead ending up landing on Emily's dad's sword. " Owwww!" Joe moaned again and stood up helping Serena up at the same time, looking around at the luggage and at the area surrounding them. " Where are we?"

Serena began to gather up all her scattered luggage, while glancing around the area they were in. "Well, from the fact that we're not being attacked, I'd say we're not in Kutou... and the weather isn't as drastic as it could be, but it's still incredibly warm, I'd say we're... somewhere between Sairo and Konan. Not that you'd know where that is, since you find all anime stupid." she said.

Joe picked up the other luggage staring at Serena. "I'm guessing that we're not near where Emily is then?"

Serena looked to her cousin, with a blank look on her face. "No, we are not anywhere near where Emily is. If we are lucky enough, though, we could get there in, oh say... at least a month." she said, with a sigh, as she got up all of her stuff, and glanced around, noticing that they were in a town of some sort. "We better ask around, to find out which country we're in."

Joe nodded his agreement and was about to go ask a shop man where they were when he saw a pretty girl walk down the street, and it looked as if she was walking toward them. He was momentarily lost from the sane world.

"So, I'll go this way, and you go... Joe?" she had turned around, just to find her cousin staring at a beautiful girl with silvery blue hair held in a high ponytail. With a frown, and a growl, Serena whopped her cousin hard over the head.

"What're you doin'? Pay attention!... Fine, if you're gonna ignore me, I'm just going to take you with me!" she said, grabbing the sleeve of his t-shirt, and dragging him off with her, towards a store.

Joe grimaced when she hit him over the head and glared at her following her toward the store. " You are so mean! Why couldn't you just let me make a fool of myself and maybe have some fun?"

Because, we need to get to Emily as soon as possible, and with two people, it's easier than with one! Now you go to that store, and I'll go to this one. No side-trips to that girl with Chichiri's hair color!" she snapped at him, letting go of his shirt sleeve, and storming into the store in front of her.

Joe grumbled and walked into the store across the street. When he walked inside he walked over to a man who appeared to the owner. "Excuse me sir, can you tell me where I might be?" The man turned around and looked at Joe, wondering where he got the weird clothes. "You are in the small city of Sharpero on the border of Sairo." Joe smiled and nodded. "Thank-you sir."

As he was walking out, the girl with the long silvery blue hair in the ponytail, and the thick bangs covering her forehead, was heading into the store, and stopped him in the doorway. "Hello, sir. I saw you and your friend outside, and was just wondering, where did you get those most interesting clothes of your's?" she asked, with a smile.

Joe blushed ferociously as he tried to think of an answer. " We got them from our world. I think these are from GAP…" Joe smiled foolishly.

The girl's eyes widened slightly, and she tilted her head curiously to the side. "You're from another world? How is that possible, though, only the Priestesses of Byakko, Genbu, Suzaku, and Seiryu are from other worlds, and from your obvious masculinity, I'd say you are not one of them." she said, with a twinge of sarcasm at the end of her sentence.

Joe blushed. " Well when my cousin, Serena, that girl," he pointed over the girls shoulder at Serena who had just exited the shop. "When she began to dissappear from our world to this world I jumped after her and got transported to."

The girl straightened her neck, and nodded her head at him. "Oh, I see, so then, she must be a new Priestess! Do you know of which beast god she is the new Priestess?" the girl asked, seeming to believe it perfectly, as if she knew for a fact that it was the truth. "Oh, before we continue this conversation, I've probably got to tell you my name, huh? My name is Gina."

" Hello Gina. My name is Joe. I don't know which god my cousin is Priestess of, but she might." Joe replied.

The girl smiled slightly once more, turning to Serena, who, with a scowl and crossed arms, had walked up behind her. "Hello, Serena-sama. I am Gina, it is nice to meet you. Your handsome cousin, Joe, here, has told me that you're a Priestess of one of the beast gods, but he does not know which one. Do you?" she asked, politely.

Serena nodded, narrowing an eye at the girl. "Well, I didn't really think about myself actually being a Priestess, but it makes sense. Well, we were engulfed by a white light, so I'm assuming that I'm the Priestess of Byakko." she stated, to which the girl's eyes widened, and she suddenly fell into a bow, highly startling the nineteen year old. "Uh... what are you doing!"

Joe blushed when Gina called him handsome then looked at Serena. " We're in Sharpero, a small city on the border of Sairo. If that helps explain her any.." Joe watched Gina smiling.

Serena nodded slowly, seeming to understand the fact that the reason Gina was bowing to her was because she was in Byakko's country. "Oh... okay. Gina, you can stand up..." she hesitated, wondering how to communicate to people who were now looking up to her.

Gina, with a polite smile, stood up, and clutch her hands in front of her. "It is an honor to meet you, Lady Priestess. And you, her handsome cousin, Joe." she laughed, looking to Serena's slightly older cousin. "Where are you two headed from here in Sharpero? I can take you there, if you would like. I know all of Sairo like the back of my hand." she offered.

Joe smiled and watched Gina and Serena talking, blushing uncontrollably, but staying quiet since he didn't know exactly where they wanted to go.

Serena shook her head, while waving her hands in front of her. "Oh, no, we couldn't ask you to do that. Plus, we're going to Konan, to join up with my best friend, who has become the Priestess of Genbu." she said.

Gina shook her head, crossing her arms, somewhat stubbornly. "I am not taking no for an answer, Lady Priestess. Even if I just escort you to the very edge of Sairo, I'm going to help you two. For one thing, my life has been moderately boring lately, and I need a bit more excitement - what would be more exciting than escorting the Priestess of Byakko and her cousin?" she laughed, and then proceeded to grab both Joe's and Serena's arms, and haul them off towards the south. "I presume you have food and necessities."

Joe smiled like a fool when she grabbed his arm and walked beside her after grabbing all the luggage/supplies that they had with them.

They walked for a while, in comfortable silence, until Gina sighed irritably, and placed her hands on her hips, stopping abruptly. She looked up, a frown marring her beautiful features.

Joe looked at her, wondering why she was frowning. "Is everything ok Gina?"

She glanced to him momentarily, then to Serena, who looked just as confused as her cousin. "I'm not sure. I hear something. Can't you hear it?" she said, and Serena strained to hear what was so obviously there, but heard absolutely nothing.

"No... I can't." she said, raising an eyebrow at the silvery-blue haired girl, who sighed, and shook her head.

Joe also tried to hear but heard nothing. " What is it that you hear Gina?"

Gina's frown grew deeper, and she slid into a defensive position, startling the two, for neither of them thought that she looked to be one who would know how to defend herself. "It's... some sort of animal. A large animal..." she trailed off, listening harder for whatever she heard.

"... Oh, no, it sounds like it's-" before she could get it out, a large tiger burst out of some trees to their left, and landed in front of them, snarling hungrily.

Joe drew Emily's dad's sword preparing to protect the girls from the tiger. " Stay behind me you two, and no harm will come to you." Joe winked ad Gina letting his guard down form the tiger. " I've always wanted to say that.."

The tiger took his momentary lapse in defense as the perfect opportunity to pounce them. As it lowered, ready to pounce on it's prey, Gina noticed, and shouted, just before it could strike, "WATCH OUT! DUCK!" The other two spun around, to see the tiger pounce at them, and did as told.

But, all of a sudden, a bright white light came from Gina, and she raised her hands quickly towards the feline, a large sphere of water shooting from her open palms, engulfing it. It stayed suspended in midair by the clear liquid, unable to breath, until Gina threw her hands to the side, which caused the sphere to fly off somewhere in the distance.

Serena glanced back at the girl, and gasped, as she saw the sign for 'Investigator' (which she could strangely read) glowing in bright white on Gina's forehead.

Joe looked from Gina to Serena and back again, his eyes wide and his face bright red with embarrassment. " How... did you just do that?" Joe asked, staring at Gina before staring at the disappearing tiger amazement on his face.

Gina turned slowly back to the two, a slight look of embarrassment on her own face, as the white 'Investigator' symbol vanished from her forehead. "Uh... that was... er... oh, forget that, you've probably figured out, but I'm the Byakko warrior known as Karasuki. That's why I insisted to come with you." she said.

Joe's eyes widened further as he stared at her. He sheathed the sword in his hand and picked up the rest of the supplies starting to walk on again. "Well let's get going again then eh?"

Serena stared at Karasuki, who had her head bowed, as they continued on their way towards the very, very edge of Sairo. Why didn't she tell them before that she was a Byakko seishi? She wondered, and she didn't noticed she had been staring at the other girl for quite a while until she looked up, noticing the hard glare she had been getting.

Karasuki sighed, and looked back down at the ground, in apology. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner, but I just didn't... uh, really think about it..." she said.

Joe looked at Karasuki silently. " It's ok Karasuki. We forgive you, and understand why you were hesitant. Right Serena?"

Serena nodded her head slightly, and then scratched the side of her head in confusion. "Yeah, I understand. But, what I don't understand is how you're still alive and you look to be the same age as me. Shouldn't you be... like... in your hundreds?" she asked, then shook her head, furrowing her eyebrows. "But that doesn't make sense either, 'cause I thought Tokaki and Subaru were the last two Byakko warriors alive..."

"Uh... well, I can't really explain it. But, suddenly, I woke up in Sharpero, alive and the age I was when Suzuno came. Which kind of made me think that a new Byakko priestess might be here, which is why I approached Joe, 'cause I saw you and him, wearing strange clothing, together..." Karasuki said, smiling at Joe.

Joe smiled at Karasuki. " Well that would mean that the other Byakko warriors had awakened and in the form as they were when Suzuno came. So we should try to find them." Joe said and, at a look from Serena added, " Well going to find Emily of course."

Serena nodded, and crossed her arms. "Yes, we shall go search for the other Byakko warriors after we have found Emily! I sure hope Chichiri and Tasuki are still with her... if they're not, I'm going to hurt them." she growled slightly, with a frown.

Joe smiled and nodded his head in agreement and continued to walk down the road.

Chichiri, all ready to head out, headed to Tasuki's room, and nodded on the door. "Are you two ready, no da? We should head out soon, no da." he called, and then waited for them to answer.

Tasuki looked toward the door. " I'm 'eady. 'At just leaves miss sun head." Tasuki smirked slightly as he shouldered his pack and looked at Emily who was dressed no longer in clothes from her world but clothes the Empress Houki had had the guards go and buy earlier.

Emily twirled and looked at Tasuki as she shouldered a pack with some extra clothes and her own clothes in it. " How do I look? Good enough to pass as a civilian?" Emily asked Tasuki. Tasuki shrugged. " You 'ook like any other girl." Emily sighed and walked out of the room Tasuki behind her. " C'mon let's get going. Where do you think we should look first?"

Once the two left the room, Chichiri began walking in the direction of the gate of the palace, with the other two following him. "Well... if Serena is indeed the new Priestess of Byakko, then she might be in Sairo, no da. But, that might not be true, because you're the Priestess of Genbu, and instead of Hokkan, you got sent to Konan, no da... So, it's really up to you where we search first, Emily, no da." he said, with a shrug.

Emily furrowed her brow in thought. " Let's search Konan first. Then Hokkan…. Does that sound wise Chichiri?" Emily asked as they continued to walk. Tasuki walked beside them listening silently.

Chichiri nodded, glancing back towards her slightly. "Yes, that sounds good, no da." he said, turning forwards once more, and continued to walk to the gate.

"Here we are, Serena, Joe. The border of Sairo, and Konan. If we continue on this way, we might get to the palace in... ten days." Karasuki said, turning to the Priestess of Byakko and her cousin, who were staring at her with wide eyes. She shrugged, and then motioned towards the town that they were coming up to. "We can always buy some horses in that town, if you want to get there sooner."

Joe groaned at the thought of ten more days walking. " I vote for horses!" He exclaimed as they continued to walk. " I don't think I can walk any farther." A chibi Joe sweating starts to stagger between Serena and Karasuki.

Serena nodded her head, rubbing the sides of her legs. "Yes, horses sound very good right now... ow... but, do we have the money to buy them?" she asked, looking at Karasuki, who just shrugged, and pulled out a heavy sack. "Uh... well, it looks like you do have enough..."

Karasuki smiled, and nodded her head, holding the bag with two arms. "Yeah. I had this when I died, and evidently, it stayed with me. I don't remember how I got it now, though..." she said, with a shrug.

Joe popped back to normal and his eyes went wide at the site of all the money. " Money…" shakes head and smiles. " Maybe we should use some to get Serena and myself some clothes more like… this era.."

Serena glanced down at her 3/4 inch sleeved black and white shirt and red velvety pants, and nodded her head. "Yeah, we probably should... so we don't, y'know, stick out too much so people suspect us of something..." she said, looking to Karasuki, who grinned, the grabbed the two by the backs of their shirts and pulled them towards the town.

"Yes, I agree, and I know the perfect shop - that is, if it's still there... after all, it has been a hundred years or so since I last saw it..." she pondered to herself as she continued to drag two chibi cousins who were grasping at the collars of their shirts, gasping for air.

Joe tugged at his shirt as Karasuki dragged him and Serena toward the town. " Karasuki… breathing… very difficult…." Joe gasped and struggled to breath.

Karasuki immediately let go of their shirts, and laughed, somewhat embarrassedly. "Oh, oops, sorry about that. I got caught up while thinking of that store. You see, I worked there once when I lived in Konan for a short period of time, and got attached to the people that lived around there and came to the store." she said with a smile, before continuing on towards the town again.

Joe gasped getting his breath back. " It's ok Karasuki, hope that stores still around. Though knowing my luck of bringing bad luck it probably isn't." Joe sighed then smiled, " But since it has been a hundred years my luck of bad luck might have nothing to with it!" Joe grinned.

Serena laughed, after getting her own air back, and followed after Karasuki. "Yeah, hope it's still there." she said, and after walking for a few minutes, sighed and frowned. "I wonder how Emily, Chichiri and Tasuki are doing, and I wonder if they're even still at the palace any more..." she pondered, crossing her arms.

Joe frowned slightly continuing to walk. " I'm sure that even if they aren't at the palace Tasuki and Chichiri are protecting her. And if they aren't they'll be dead when we meet them." Joe smiled softly knowing he wouldn't stand a chance against them.

Karasuki glanced back at the two, then looked forward again, placing her hands on her hips, with a sigh. "I wish I could get us to the palace sooner..." she sighed.

The mood seeming to be switching from cheerful to depressing, Serena decided to try to lighten the mood. "Ah, I'm sure they're all fine. I mean, unless of course Emily and Tasuki have killed each other." she said, snickering at the thought.

Joe smirked. " Wish I could of seen it if they did, the glorious end of dear Emily." Joe sighed and smiled, " Maybe they are looking for her Seishi as we look for yours." Joe looked at Karasuki. "What do you think?"

Karasuki looked to him, and nodded her head. "Yes, most likely. I mean, if she is the Priestess of Genbu, like you sa-" before she could completely finished her sentence, Serena stopped in her tracks, eyes wide, and exclaimed loudly, interrupting the blue haired female Byakko seishi.

"BAKA!" she shouted, and began hitting her head repeatedly with her fists. "Baka, baka, baka! I'm so stupid sometimes!" she exclaimed angrily, then began to widely flail about, shouting loudly, and being as noticeable as she could possibly accomplish.

Karasuki stared at her, wide eyed, before looking fearfully to Joe. "Is... she... alright?" she asked, nervously.

Joe stared at his cousin the at Karasuki. " I know not if she is well but I suggest we calm her down before she draws to much attention… and before she hurts herself." Joe slowly walked toward Serena. " Serena? Are you suddenly high or something?"

Serena stopped for a moment, and stared blankly at her cousin. "No. I am going through with an extremely intelligent strategy, thank-you-very-much, and if you DON'T mind, I am going to continue with it. I AM HERE, WE ARE HERE, COME AND GET US!" she shouted loudly, and began once more to continue with her loudness and energeticness.

Joe scowled at his cousin and covered her mouth dragging her away from the town. " What do you think you're doing! All this'll get you is a dagger in the back!" Joe twitched trying to keep her from moving. " Now CALM DOWN!"

Serena growled behind Joe's hand, and began to claw at it, shouting loud, muffled exclamations, and continued to flail, kicking her legs out in every which direction. "MPMPHMPMHPMHMPTRMMMMMHRRRMM!" was all that she seemed to be able to get out.

Joe winced and wimpered pulling his hand away and stepping back. " You're mad woman! You'll be the deaths of us all if you don't stop… What are you trying to do anyways!"

Serena glowered at him, and then explained, calmly, "I just remembered that when Em and I first came here, Chichiri noticed our chi because we were so panicky, and transported to where we were. So, I figured, if I panic enough, since he can sense different than normal energies of this world, he would sense me and come here so we won't have to continue looking for them. All right?"

Joe strared at her a blank look on her face. " Huh? So if we act like maniacs they'll find us… Right. I'm not going to act like a fool." Joe huffed and glared at her.

Serena rolled her eyes, and shrugged, turning away from him. "Whatever you want to do. I find it kind of fun, actually. AAIIIEEEEEEEAAAAAA!" she shrieked, and began her fake-panicking once more, 'accidentally' hitting Joe in the nose with the back of her hand as she passed him.

Joe grabbed his nose when she 'accidentally' hit him and growls running after her. " Get back here Serena! You did that on purpose!" Joe continued to scream and run after her.

Serena grinned, and began running away from him, laughing evilly. "Buahaha! Oh, how could you accuse me of such a thing? You're so mean to your cousin!" she said, looking over her shoulder at him and sticking her tongue out at him.

Chichiri suddenly stopped dead in his tracks, his eyes widening slightly. "What is..." he whispered to himself, looking around himself with furrowed eyebrows.

Emily stared at Chichiri and eyebrow raised. " What's Wrong Chichiri?" Tasuki watched his blue haired friend trying to read his face for answers.

Chichiri looked back to Emily, a surprised expression on his face (although, neither of the others could really tell, since he was, as usual, wearing his mask). "Well... I'm not sure, but I think I just sensed Serena, and someone with her, no da..." he said, and then grabbed his hat off his head. "Maybe I should go check and see if it really was Serena and her cousin, no da?" he suggested.

Emily smiled and nodded her head enthusiastically. " Please do Chichiri, and if it is them bring them back with you, so that we no longer need to search for them or them for us." Emily smiled at Tasuki who simply rolled his eyes and turned away from her.

Chichiri nodded his head, smiling at her, saying, "I will be back soon, na no da!" and then disappearing into his hat. Soon, he fell out of his hat, to fall onto something that seemed to soft to be the ground. Before he could get up and see what he landed on, suddenly he heard two shrieks, and he jumped, looking around in the direction of the screams,to see a girl with the same color hair as him and a boy that looked to be around the same age as Serena staring at him with wide eyes. "Um, hello, no da. Have you seen a girl with strange clothes and reddish-brown curly hair around here, no da?"

Joe stared at blue haired man who had just squashed his cousin. " You must be Chichiri. I'm Joe Serena's cousin. This is Karasuki," he said motioning the blue haired girl," She is one of the Byakko warriors. As far as Serena you just fell on top of her." Joe smiled.

Chichiri blinked at Joe for a minute, before he gasped slightly, and quickly got up, looking down at the relieved, and slightly miffed, girl that he always seemed to land on. "Oh, Serena, I'm sorry, no da! I didn't mean to land on you, again!" he said, and proceeded to help the winded Serena up off the dusty ground.

Serena looked at him, and smiled, letting him pull her to her feet. "Eh, that's all right, Chichiri. As long as you're here - we won't have to walk anymore! Whoohoo!" she exclaimed, then jumped the rest of the way to her feet, and flung her arms around Chichiri's neck, startling him.

Joe stared at his cousin and Chichiri before wlaking over and pulling Serena off of Chichiri's neck. He glared at Serena then Chichiri, " Chichiri you don't touch my cousin. No intimacy. Serena no falling head over heels for the masked blue freak."

Chichiri and Serena gaped at Joe, then looked at each other, and they found themselves blushing - Chichiri, at this point, was very grateful for his mask. Then Chichiri frowned, looking back to Joe. "I'm afraid you misunderstand, no da." he said, firmly, and as he did so, Serena looked at her cousin with a scowl, and nodded her head.

"Yeah, Joe, I was just hugging him because I was relieved we don't have to walk anymore. And, plus, you've already fallen for Karasuki, if I wanted to fall for Chichiri, it would be fair. Not saying that I'm going to, of course." she stated, glaring at her slightly older and taller cousin.

Joe blushed at the mention of him falling for Karasuki. " I have not fallen for anybody. Anyway let's just go fine Tasuki and Emily shall we?" He said poking Serena in the forehead and gathering all the luggage.

Karasuki just stared, wide-eyed, at Chichiri, looking slightly like a fish. "Ah... oh... eh... wha... where... what on earth just happened? A masked guy with the same color hair as me, appearing out of nowhere, from a hat..." she rambled, looking from Chichiri, to Serena, to Joe, then back to Chichiri.

Joe laughed softly at Karasuki and smiled. " I'm not sure myself, you should ask Serena for all the details." Joe smiled shouldering a pack.

Serena looked to Karasuki, then to Chichiri, and laughed slightly. "Oh, Karasuki, this is Chichiri, one of the only surviving members of the Suzaku seven. He can use his hat, and cloak, to transport himself and other people places. And he can do a bunch of other cool stuff, but, uh, I don't know if I could explain them all." she stated, also sliding two bags' straps over her shoulders.

Chichiri smiled politely, and bowed to Karasuki, in greeting. "Nice to meet you, Karasuki-san, no da." he said, as he pulled of his cloak, and laid it flat on the ground. He stood back up, tapped the cloth with his staff, and said, "Okay, everyone, get onto this, and it will transport us to Emily and Tasuki, no da."

Joe stepped on the cloak after making sure everything they had brought was on it. Joe smiled at Karasuki then at Serena. " You to ready or what? I for one want to see Emily and Tasuki rip each other to shreds, since they will now that no one is there to stop them."

Serena rolled her eyes at her cousin, and walked onto the cloak at the same time as Karasuki. Just as they all began to sink into, she looked to Chichiri, and glared at him, then turned her glare momentarily to Joe. "Neither of you better land on me this time!" she warned, and Chichiri nodded at her in response.

Joe rolled his eyes and smiled, " Well now I simply must land on you Serena." Joe laughed then gasped as he really did land on Serena. " Atleast you're softer than ground."

Emily jumped off her horse and ran over to Joe, Serena, Chichiri, and Karasuki. " Get off of Serena ,Joe you evil cousin!" Joe growled rolling off of his cousin annoyed at Emily. " Serena are you okay? What happened? Where did you go to first?" Emily asked helping Serena to her feet.

Tasuki jumped off his horse as well helping Karasuki to her feet and Chichiri. " And who might the femal blue-haired freak be?"

Karasuki, as soon as she was to her feet, frowned, and growled, "This 'female blue-haired freak' is Karasuki, of the Byakko seven." then she brought a hand back, and then forward again, shooting a brief spray of water at the red-head. "And who might the flame haired baka be?"

Serena, ignoring Karasuki, Tasuki, Joe, and Chichiri, dusted her pants off, and smiled. "I'm okay. Nothing much happened, except we found Karasuki, one of my revived seishi! And we went to Sairo first. What happened while I was gone?" she asked, glancing to Tasuki, Karasuki, and Chichiri.

Tasuki screeched and tried to get the water off. " You evil blue haired twit! Water is the all high of evil! And the 'flame haired baka' is Tasuki of the Suzako seven to you." Tasuki huffed glaring at her.

Emily rolled her eyes at Tasuki and Karasuki. " While you were gone Empress Houki was very helpful and understanding." Emily moved closer and whispered so only Serena could here her. " And shortly after you disappeared and the strange man disappeared, Tasuki said I could sleep in his room." Emily grinned and stood back looking at the stuff. " You certainly didn't overlook anything."

Karasuki raised an eyebrow at the flame-haired Suzaku seishi, and then smiled, bowing slightly to him. "I suppose it's a pleasure to meet you. Even though you insult water." she said, standing back up straight, with a shrug.

Serena grinned back at Emily, and grabbed some of her bags. "Yeah, well, ya' kinda do have to bring a lot of your stuff when you aren't going to be going home for a while, you know. Oh and..." she then leaned closer slightly to her best friend, so she could whisper so only she could hear, "Congrats on the Tasuki thing! Who knows, maybe he'll fall for you." she pulled back, with a laugh.

Emily blushed slightly and smiled picking up bags. " Well we should get going, we have to make camp before night fall." Emily smiled looking at everyone. Joe smirked when he saw Emily and Serena leaning closer to each other to wisper. "Aw if it isn't two little love birds awww." Emily twitched and before Joe could say anything else she had broken his nose with a swift punch.

Tasuki glared at Karasuki then laughed at Emily and Joe. The he turned to Karasuki, " Well your highness I didn't mean to insult the almighty water. I like fire, I can use fire. Not the evil stupid water."

Karasuki frowned slightly, and placed her hands on her hips. "Fire is the evil one, it burns down houses, and kills people much more often than water does." she said haughtily, turning away from him and walking over to a horse.

Serena rolled her eyes at Joe, who by now was crying about his nose. "I hate to say it, but you sort of deserved it, my dear cousin." she said, before handing some of the stuff in the pile to Emily. "Here. Out of all of this, this bag and the sword are your's. Oh, and later I've got to tell you another reason to throttle Joe." she said, glaring at Joe.

Emily nodded taking the sword and bag. " I need to sharpen this sword, way to dull for this world. I can't wait to hear a reason to hurt Joe." Emily smiled smirking at Joe. Tasuki glared at Karasuki and shoved her out of the way when he realized she was moving toward his horse. " Get your own water lover!"

Joe cried holding his bleeding nose. " I 'I'd't oo 'othing!" He said through a bloody hand. Emily glared at him and he glared back standing. " 'ey Ichiri? 'An 'ou 'elp 'e?" Joe asked Chichiri.

Chichiri looked at Joe, and blinked, before shaking his head slightly. "Well, I'm not a healer like Mitsukake was," he frowned briefly, then continued, "but I'll see what I can do, na no da." he said, examining Joe's nose. "Hm... I'm not sure I can do much, no da..."

Serena nodded, and almost laughed at the expression Joe was now giving Chichiri. "Yeah, it's definitely a reason to hurt him... I mean, it wasn't even anything that meant anything, and he still made a big deal out of it..." she growled.

Joe stared at Chichiri and started to complain. " What do you mean you can't do anything! You're supposed to be a monk person with magic aren't you?" Emily rolled her eyes. " Not that type magic you baka." Joe growled at Emily who replied by sticking out her tongue. Just as Joe was about to tackle her a arrow pierced the air hitting the ground inches from Emily.

Emily jumped drawing the sword looking at the person who had shot the arrow. It was a boy with brown hair and brown eyes who looked to be roughly 16 years of age. He had his bow pointed at Emily and was swearing because he missed. " Hello strangers from another world."

Chichiri moved in front of the two priestesses, frowning up at the archer, finding him strangely familiar. "Who are you? Why are you shooting at the Priestess of Genbu?" he asked, his speech pattern having dropped the cheerful 'no da's.

Tasuki glared at the archer as he stood beside Chichiri drawing his fan. " 'Ay back, I'm warning you ice freak." The archer laughed and jumped down landing in front of Chichiri and Tasuki. " I see master fire hasn't changed. Just be glad I don't test these two brats of priestess' like I did the one of Suzako. I was aiming for the boy who was trying to hurt the priestess, not the priestess baka." The archer lowered his bow glaring at Joe.

Chichiri finally recognized the Genbu warrior, and his eye widened. As he did so, Serena inched to where Emily was, and whispered, "Isn't that Tomite? Your warrior?"

Emily nodded her head as she stare at Tomite sheathing her sword. " How long have you been following us? Where you only going to watch us forever?" Emily said stepping in front of Tomite. Tomite laughed." I've been following you for awhile. I was going to capture you tonight, scare ya'll a little but when he," Tomite jerked his head toward Joe who was still seething," to close to you and was angry I had to step in. You are after all my priestess." Tomite smiled and bowed before smiling.

Emily looked at Tomite uncomfortably when he bowed. Then she looked at Joe who was shakling where he stood. " Why you….." He uttered and leaped toward Tomite.

Serena cried out as Joe lunged at Tomite, and ran over, to pry her angry cousin off the Genbu warrior. "Joe, stop it! You'll only hurt yourself worse! It's not a good idea to fight someone when your nose is broken!" she shouted, and soon Chichiri came over to help her pull her cousin away from Tomite, who looked angry.

Tomite growled shaking with rage. "This is a new tunic! And you ruined it with your blood you rag doll!" Tomite growled and lunged at Joe, Tasuki and Emily quickly moving to hold him back. Joe and Tomite struggled against the people who held them back. Emily jerked Tomite back glaring at him. " Stop it before we resort to fire. Joe," she turned and looked at him," You calm down before I break something else."

Karasuki, stared at the scene, with slightly wide eyes. After a few more minutes of watching them, she walked over, in an irritated manner, and stopped in between Tomite and Joe, a ball of water in each hand. "Bad children, just for this, I'm gonna have to punish you." she joked, and dropped each sphere of water on the two's heads. "If you're not going to listen to them, I'm gonna continue soaking you."

Tomite and Joe glared at Karasuki but they slowly stopped calming down. Tomite growled, " Fine but if he gets any more blood on me more of his blood will be shed." Joe growled and stalked off down the road. Tasuki slowly let of Tomite and glanced at Emily before walking over to his horse. Emily watched Tomite and Joe, wondering if she should go after Joe.

Serena noticed that Emily seemed to be wondering if she should follow Joe, and smiled slightly walking over to one of the horses. "I'm sure Joe'll be alright. I mean, we're headed that way, right? We should run into him; not to mention, he doesn't know anyone else here, he'll have to come back to us. Sooo... now that we've got this cleared up, what're we gonna do about riding conditions?There are only three horses, and there are seven of us. Well, six, not counting Joe, since he decided to walk." she said, looking to the others.

Emily nodded her head knowing Serena was right about Joe. "Tasuki and I will ride on one horse, Serena and Chichiri on another horse, and Karasuki and Tomite on the third. Does that work for everyone?" Emily looked around at the others.Tomite shrugged, " Just no water balls." Emily smiled and looked at Tasuki who was scowling slightly. " Are you unhappy with the riding arrangements: Tasuki shook his head. " I don't like girls." Emily sighed. " To bad for you Tasuki."

Serena laughed under her breath, shaking her head at Tasuki's usual 'I don't like girls' sentence. She then walked over to the horse she was pretty sure was Chichiri's, and proceeded to struggle up onto it. Just as she was beginning to slip, she felt someone grab her, and then help push her up onto the horse. She glanced back at the person to see who had helped her, having a pretty good idea. "Thank you, Chichiri."

Chichiri smiled at her, and then pulled himself up behind her. "You're welcome, no da." he said, cheerfully. Serena felt herself blush slightly, as Chichiri's arms went around her to grab the reins. She mentally berated herself for blushing, and glanced back at Emily and Tasuki.

Emily had finally pulled herself onto the horse and Tasuki swung up behind her grabbing the reins. Emily smiled enjoying this closeness to Tasuki before shaking her head somewhat disgusted. She glanced at Serena and smiling. " Tally Hoe then." Emily said laughing slightly and stopping as Tasuki, Chichiri, Karasuki, and Tomite stared at her, eyebrows raised. " Oh that's right, you've never heard of that. Never mind then."

As they then proceeded to set off, Serena laughed slightly. "These poor horses. Having to carry my stuff. Must be breaking their backs even more than us." she chuckled, and heard Chichiri laugh slightly behind her. She smiled, then reached into a moderately small black bag, pulling out a circular CD player and headphones. "Buahaha. I did bring it. Hooray!" she cheered.

Chichiri looked down at her strangely, wondering what she was doing. "Serena, no da? What is that thing you're putting on your head, no da?" he inquired, and she replied, "Oh, this? It's a thing that plays music that only I can hear, if I put these things on my ears." she pointed to the headphones.

Emily looked at Serena shaking her head. " Serena, maybe you shouldn't use that right now. Seeing as how Tasuki, Chichiri, and Tomite, the ones steering the horse are watching you and it instead of the road." Emily suggested as she jerked the reins on her and Tasuki's horse so he was going straight again.

Serena thought about that for a moment, before shrugging, taking the headphones off, and putting them back again. "I suppose that makes sense. I'll just listen to it when I'm we've stopped... the only problem about that is, boredom. Because if I use any of our world things, it'll distract them, and so that eliminates that option." she stated, simply, with another shrug.

Emily looked at her. " You could always read a book. That isn't an our world thing." Emily looked through her back and found her favourite book 'Shadowmancer'. Tasuki looked over her shoulder, reading every so often. Tomite smiled and started to poke Karasuki.

Serena made a 'hm' noise, and then pulled a book that she was reading for the fourth time, Sword and Shadow by Ann Marston, the third in her favorite trilogy, from her bag. "Well, actually, it sort of is, Em, since they only have scrolls so far." she said, but then soon lost herself in reading the thick book.

Karasuki frowned, twisting around, to look the driver of their horse in the face. "What is it?" she asked.

Tomite shrugged. " Nothing, just want to poke an annoy you." Tomite smiled and continued to poke her.

Emily didn't even hear what Serena said because she was so deep into her own book. Tasuki continued to read over her shoulder then stopped as he realized they had reached Joe. " You 'ant to continue 'alking or climb on 'ehind me.?" Joe looked at Tasuki and took the offered hand swinging up behind him.

Karasuki sighed deeply, and shook her head, trying to keep herself from giving the Genbu seishi a nice, long, cold shower. "Well, congratulations, you're doing a wonderful job of it." she stated, sarcastically.

Tomite smiled and laughed and stopped poking her. " Aw come one lovely, lighten up. After all we'll be riding together for awhile so we should used to each other." He smiled and playfully blew in her ear.

Karasuki's eyes widened, and then narrowed dangerously. She breathed in deeply to calm herself, then let it back out, before deciding on a plan. She mock-giggled, and she ran her fingers lightly down Tomite's arm. "Of course, that makes sense. But, one thing, handsome?" she said, saying 'handsome' in a cynical tone, hoping that he wouldn't catch it.

Tomite smiled not noting it, enjoying her fingers on his arm. " What would that be sweet?"

Karasuki then formed a large water-sphere in her other hand, grinning. "Do not call me pet names, and do not blow in my ear." she stated, and tossed the large water ball over her shoulder, into Tomite's face.

Tomite gasped as the water hit him and growled. He held to reins with one hand and in his other hand made a ball of frozen ice that he threw at her. " To can play this game…"

Karasuki growled back, as the ice hit her, but before she could respond, Chichiri shouted from up in front, "Don't make me come back there, you two, no da!" and following after that, they heard Serena laughing something about things called 'cars', parents scolding their kids, and vacations.

Tomite sighed and stopped tormenting Karasuki. Emily burst out laughing at there feud and at Chichiri's comment. Joe grinned widely when Karasuki hit Tomite with the water. Tasuki just looked at everyone like they were nuts.

After that, everyone rode in silence, until it began to get dark, and Chichiri suggested that they stop for the night. So, they stopped, and set up the temporary camp. But, they soon ran into a problem, and Serena sweatdropped as she pointed out the problem. "Uh... there are only three tents." she stated.

Emily bit her lip thinking." Well we could either share tents with out riding parteners… or have two guys in one tent, two guys in another, and then the girls share a tent. Or two girls in the last ten and on girl sleep outside. What do you guys think?" Tomite smiled and wrapped an arm around Karasuki playfully." Well I vote for the riding parteners share tents, because I would love sometime with Karasuki." Tasuki and Joe both shrugged. " I don't care really" Joe said in a plugged nose voice. Tasuki agreed with him but in a normal voice.

Serena looked at Chichiri, who looked back at her, and they both shrugged, saying that they didn't really care about the sleeping conditions. Karasuki, however, seemed quite appalled at the thought of sleeping in the same tent as Tomite. "What! Riding partners? No way am I sleeping in a tent with this hentai!"

Tomite shook with outrage at the last remark. " And the is no way I'll sleep with this….this busu!" Emily, Tasuki and Joe either gasped or winced when he said that. " Fine then Tomite. Everyone else is fine with riding parteners, you just sleep outside." Tomite glared at her trying to decide what to say. Then just as he was about to hit her with ice Joe stepped in, " I'll share a tent with Karasuki if she has no objection and you can share the tent with Emily and Tasuki. Work everyone?"

Karasuki glared deadly daggers at Tomite, before looking to Joe, grabbing his arm, and dragging him into one of the tents that they had set up before they had realized there were only three. Serena laughed at that, and turned to the others, with a smile. "That's fine with me. Evidently, it's okay with Karasuki, too." she said, turning to one of the tents, and walking into it, followed by Chichiri, who had just shrugged at the arrangement.

Emily smiled trying not to laugh at Karasuki and the look on Joe's face as she dragged him in. Emily ducked into the last tent, Tasuki following her. Tomite stood outside for a little while glaring at the tent that Joe and Karasuki disappeared into. After a little while he crawled into the tent after Tasuki and Emily. " Well nightly night." he smiled and laid down smirking at Emily as he wrapped his arms around her. Emily twitched resisting the urge to beat him to a pulp. " Just because I let you sleep her, doesn't mean you can touch me."

In the tent that Serena and Chichiri were sharing, meanwhile, Chichiri was settling down into his blanket, when he noticed that Serena wasn't attempting to go to sleep yet, but was instead sitting up, with the strange thing from before over her ears. He stared at her a moment, before asking, "Serena? Aren't you going to sleep, no da? We are going to be traveling a lot tomorrow, na no da..." he stated.

Serena glanced back at him, with a slight smile. "Yeah, I know. I just wanted to listen to a couple songs before I go to bed, because I'm not all that tired." she said, to which Chichiri nodded, resting his head back down on his pillow. "Right, no da. Well, goodnight, Serena, no da." he said, and then proceeded to drift off to sleep.

It was about ten minutes later that a now much more sleepy Serena got up from her sitting position, crawled over to where she thought her bed was, and plopped down, her head resting on what she thought - but wasn't really - her pillow.

Tomite glared but didn't move his arms. " Strike me with fire but I won't move." He stated then let go of her yelping slightly as Tasuki brandished his fan. " It can be arranged for you to be striked with fire." Emily sighed and glared at them sitting up between them." Now boys, try not to kill each other and me in the process. It will be a long day tomorrow so please sleep." Emily grunted as she lay back down pulling her blanket over her head. Tomite and Tasuki glared at each other for several minutes before laying down and falling asleep.

Serena slowly began to awaken, realizing she was slightly cold. She shivered slightly, and, at noticing a warmth she was curled up to, inched closer to it. She heard her pillow mumbled something inaudible, and momentarily wondered what it could be, but then realized that pillows normally couldn't talk.

And now that she thought about it, pillows didn't usually move up and down as if breathing, either. She looked up, to see that her pillow was not actually a pillow, as she had guessed, but was in fact, a sound asleep Chichiri. She blinked at her discovery, but then shrugged groggily, and proceeded to try to go back to sleep, hoping that no one decided to come wake them up.

Tasuki woke up shortly after daybreak and crawled out of the tent to take a walk. When he got back roughly an hour later he found that Emily and Tomite had gotten up and were arguing about Emily's now black nails. Tomite said she had been cursed while she insisted it was paint. " 'Eh you two, don't 'ake me split you up." Tasuki said and walked over to Karasuki's and Joes tent. He stuck his head in and saw Joe trying to wake up Karasuki. He pulled his head out and walked over to Chichiri's and Serena's tent sticking his head in and laughed when he saw Serena using Chichiri as her pillow. " 'AKE-UP!" he bellowed.

"AHH!" Serena jumped awake, up off Chichiri, and looked, wide eyed at who was now standing in their tent, while Chichiri also jumped awake, and looked frantically around the room. He then spotted Tasuki, and smiled at him in greeting. "Um, good morning, Tasuki, no da!" he greeting, while Serena just stared at the flame haired bandit, with wide eyes, and a slightly red face.

Tasuki smirked at Chichiri. "And you thought I was the one who was trying something." He smirked again then his face changed into one of surprise as Tomite pulled him out. " Let me see the love making!"

Chichiri's eye widened, and he blushed, while the already present blush on Serena's face deepened. "Nothing was happening! I swear, I just mistook him for my pillow, or something, because I stayed up a little while last night, and I was too tired to realize he wasn't! That's all it was! Plus, we don't like each other like that, do we, Chichiri?"

Serena stated, looking to Chichiri, who shook his head, to show that she was correct about that.

Emily growled dragging Tomite out of the tent while laughing at Serena and Chichiri. " Suuuuure you don't she said letting go of Tomite who was worried she would curse him with her black nails. She rolled her eyes and pretended to curse him, Tomite screamed and cowered behind Karasuki.

Karasuki, who had just walked over to the tent to see what all the ruckus was about, was startled when Tomite screamed and hid behind her. "What are you doing!" she exclaimed, before noticing Emily pretending to curse him.

She eyed the Genbu Priestess's black nails, before rolling her eyes, figuring it was a other-world thing, and glanced into the tent that was the current focus of attention, to see Serena and Chichiri sitting beside each other, deep blushes on their faces, accompanied by scowls. "Ooo, getting a little too friendly, I see..."

Joe looked at Emily and Tomite smirking before looking into Chichiri's and Serena's tent. His eyes widened as he saw them blushing, his mind registering 2 and 2. " Why you…" he growled eyes a light in anger as he dragged Chichiri out of the tent, having every intent of killing him.

Chichiri 'DAAAAA'ed as he was dragged out of the tent by the furious Joe, and Serena's eyes widened, realizing what Joe was about to do to the poor, innocent blue haired monk. "ACK! JOE, NO! NOTHING HAPPENED! DON'T HURT HIM, HE DIDN'T DO ANYTHING!" she shouted after them, and jumped up to her feet, rushing out of the tent, to see Joe holding up a now-chibi Chichiri, who was trying to explain what happened.

Joe growled lossening his grip on Chichiri. " What do you mean he didn't do anything! You were both beet red!" Tomite turned his eyes to look at the arguing cousins and chibi monk. Emily looked from Joe to Tasuki who had his hand on his fan. " Joe, 'et go of Chichiri… 'efore I 'et you on fire." Emily looked between everyone slightly afraid of what they'd do. Where was Taiitsukun(don't know how spell it) when you needed her?

Serena angrily stormed up to Joe, and grabbed a corner of Chichiri's cloak, to try to take him from her cousin. "I meant just what I said, he didn't do anything. All that happened was, last night, I stayed up for a while, then when I decided to go to bed, I accidently thought he was my pillow, and was too tired to realize he wasn't. And Tasuki found us that way this morning." she stated, pulling the chibi monk (who by then felt like a toy being pulled back and forth by children) away from her cousin.

Joe let the chibi monk fall to the ground, his own face turning a shade of red. Tasuki moved his hand away from fan shaking his head. " 'Is is 'eh punishment I receive 'or 'eaving 'eh bandits." He muttered and started a fire to make breakfast.

Chichiri wiped his forehead in relief, before popping back to normal, and walking back into the tent to get everything ready for when they were going to leave.

Serena glared at her cousin for a few more moments, then turned away from him, and walked over to Emily, the glare on her face still present, which was a major result at being embarrassed and woken up this early. She was no morning person, and embarrassment made it worse. "SHUT UP!" she randomly shouted, and then walked past Emily, into the tent, to get her music.

Emily jumped when Serena shouted and blinked a couple times wondering why she had shouted at her. After a little while of staring after Serena she went into her own tent and came out a few seconds later with her dads sword. " I'm going for a walk" she said walking off down the road. Tomite glared at Joe. " Look what you caused!"

Karasuki glared at Tomite, and walked over to Joe, her hands on her hips. "It wasn't his fault, you baka! It was Tasuki and your fault, for accusing the other two of doing things and making it a big deal and alerting everyone else to it!" she accused, with a frown.

Tomite looked at her in shock. " Me! Tasuki started it. I was just being me. I'm only 16 years old! This is how I'm supposed to act at this age!" Tasuki stood glaring at Karasuki. " I idn'y do nothing'. I 'as simply 'etting 'ack at Chichiri for something he said to me before. He looked down the road after Emily as she started to get farther away.

Serena came back out of the tent after a few minutes, and looked around for Emily, hoping to apologize for shouting at her. She blinked, and then walked over to Tasuki, Tomite, Karasuki, and Joe. "Uh, where'd Em go?" she asked.

Joe looked at the ground avoiding his cousin. Tomite looked at Serena then Tasuki, " He'll tell you!" Tasuki glared at Tomite before pointing down the road, walking toward it when he realized he could no longer see Emily. " 'He 'ent 'hat way. 'Aid she 'as taking a 'alk"

Serena stared down the road, and squinted her eyes, hoping to see Emily, but failing. She then frowned slightly, and said, "I think I'm gonna follow her. If we're not back by the time Chichiri's finished, come looking for us." she then began running down the road in the direction Emily had gone, picking up a white, smooth (except for a few bumps that stuck out on it, but not very many) four foot long stick on the way.

Emily continued walking before sighing and sitting down on the side of the road, hoping no one decides to scare her. She looked down the road towards where the camp should be and sighs realizing she can't see it.

Suddenly, an amused voice echoed from the trees behind Emily, "That wasn't very wise, Priestess of Genbu."

Emily jumped spinning around drawing her dads sword. "Who's there!" she asked, a shiver prickling up her spine as she recognized the voice.

The voice chuckled lowly, but the owner of the voice did not appear from the shadows. "Who? Who indeed. I believe you know who I am."

Emily cautiously took a step forward, her breathing quickening. " You're Nakago…aren't you?"

Three slow, quiet claps followed, but Nakago still did not step forward out of the shadows. "Very good, Priestess of Genbu." he said, and then, he took a single step forward, enough for his silhouette to be seen. "I have more to speak with you about, but I believe I hear your friend coming. Sayanora, Genbu no Miko." with that, he took the step backwards again, and once again disappeared from sight.

Emily sheathed her sword, shaking in fear before looking down the road to see Serena running toward her. " Serena!" she yelled running toward her friend.

Serena heard her friend yell for her, and began to run faster, waving her hand not holding the stick. Once she reached her friend, she bent over, her free hand on her knee, trying to catch her breath. "Wh... what is it?" she breathed, once she could manage some sort of reply.

Emily looked behind her then at Serena. " It…it was Nakago. He appeared, and said he would talk to me more but he heard you coming and disappeared." Emily grabbed Serena by the arm dragging her back towards the camp. " We've got to tell the others….. He's alive!"

Serena's eyes widened, as she heard what her friend had said. "Shoot!" she exclaimed, and began to run with her friend, instead of being dragged.

Emily let go of Serena starting to run quickly reaching the camp. " Chichiri! Tasuki! Tomite Karasuki!" Emily screamed reaching the camp. " 'ats up sun brat?" Tasuki asked smirking lightly. Tomite just stared at her and Serena, tanding behind Karasuki still afraid of Emily.

Karasuki rolled her eyes at Tomite, and asked Emily, "Yes, what's the matter, Emily?" as Chichiri walked out of his tent, his mask barely showing the confusion on his real face underneath.

Emily glared at Tasuki before turning back to Karasuki and Chichiri. " Nakago's alive! I just saw him and spoke to him. He said that he had more to say to me but disappeared when Serena showed up." Emily shivering slightly looking at everyone, then noticed the confusion on Joe's face. " Nakago- evil leader of the Seiryuu seven."

Chichiri gasped, his eye widening under the mask. "What? That can't be possible! Unless, of course... unless another Priestess of Seiryu has come? But, no, that can't be, because it's only been a year since Yui and Miaka left..." he said, the appearance of the leader of the Seiryu seven obviously confusing him.

"I don't think it's a new priestess. He knew I was the Priestess of Genbu though, that's all he called me by." Emily said looking at Chichiri. Tasuki just gaped at Emily in surprise. " Na…Nakago! 'Ut I saw 'im die!"

Karasuki, confused by the whole big deal about this 'Nakago', blinked. "Well, I don't know who this 'Nakago' is, but obviously, he was a great threat. So, shouldn't we be heading off to find the other Byakko and Genbu warriors, so these two can wish for him to be gone?" she mentioned, and everyone looked to her, seeming to have forgotten that she was there.

Joe looked around compltetly confused. Tomite looked at Serena. " Did you see him.. This Nakago person? I mean if what Tasuki is saying is true that he saw him die.. How did Emily see him. Maybe you were just imagining things?"

Serena looked to Tomite, and shook her head. "I didn't see him, but I believe Emily. She doesn't just randomly say she saw some evil guy that's already dead. Unless we're trying to scare each other, but that's too cruel a joke to pull." she said, not seeming to acknowledge Karasuki's suggestion.

Emily glared at Tomite. " He said he'd be back to talk to me more. If Serena hadn't shown up when she did……I don't know what would have happened." Emily looked at Chichiri and Tasuki. "What do you think is happening?"

Chichiri shook his head, frowning slightly. "I don't know, no da, but whatever it is, it must be the reason that you two because the Priestesses of Genbu and Byakko." he was about to continue, when Karasuki sent a light water spray at all of them, irritatedly.

"Hello, anybody listening to the Byakko seishi that already had a good idea? That was my thoughts from the beginning of this conversation, Chichiri, and that is the reason I said what I did! Now, does everyone wanna just continue talking here, or get going to find the rest of the Byakko and Genbu seishi!" Karasuki exclaimed, placing her hands on her hips in obvious irritation.

Tasuki yelped slightly when the water spray hit him. He glared at Karasuki. Tomite stared at everyone wondering what would happen next. " We do need to find our other warriors….But how do we know what…who we're looking for?"Emily asked.

Karasuki looked to Emily, and smiled brightly, motioning to herself and Tomite. "Well, that's obvious. Tomite and I should be able to identify the other Genbu and Byakko seishi, since we knew them before. And since I look the same as I did before - dunno if Tomite does or not, but from your reactions to him earlier, I'd say he does - I assume that the others would too." she declared.

Tomite nodded his agreement. " Yeah, I'll recognize my fellow seishi anywhere." Emily looked at Serena and the others. " Shall we get going again then? Before any other dead guys pop up."

Tomite looked at Karasuki. " Do you recognize that voice, 'cause I sure don't. Is she one of the Byakko seishi?"

Karasuki had a exasperated frown on her face as she turned to look at Tomite. She sighed, and nodded. "Yep, I recognize that voice, alright... unfortunately... KOKIE, WHEREVER YOU ARE, COME OUT ALREADY!" Karasuki shouted angrily up into the trees.

Suddenly, from the tree right above Karasuki, a small black figure fell quickly, and fell directly onto the Byakko seishi. "KARASUKI! It's great to see you!" the chibi shadow exclaimed, seeming to be squeezing the life out of the blue haired girl.

Emily and Tomite stared at the chibi shadow and Karasuki wondering what was going on. Tasuki sighed whiled Joe just glowered.

Karasuki's eyes bugged out of her head, and she gasped for air, grabbing at the shadow that was now strangling her. "Kokie! Stop it... you're... strangling... me!" she choked out, and as she did so, the chibi shadow let go of her neck, plopping to the ground, and popping into a full-sized shadow.

The shadow stood up, dusting herself off, and then placed what appeared to be hands on what appeared to be hips. "Neh, you're still no fun." she said, and then reached up to what appeared to be her head, and pulled the cloak she was wearing away from her face, revealing chin-length perfectly straight dark purple hair, with a black cloth tied around her head as a headband, and eyes the same color as her hair.

Tomite snickered as Kokie choked Karauki but then strted trying not stare and gaze at her when she took off the cloak. Tomite smiled his most charming smile stepping in front of Karasuki, in front of Kokie. " Hello my dear, how lovely you are. My name is Tomite and I'm guessing yours is Kokie?"

Kokie stared at Tomite for a minute, before blinking, and raising an eyebrow. "Yeah. Or you can call me by my real name, Lawan, if you wish, even though I really advise you don't." she stated blandly, before turning away from him and glancing around the group of people with a slight frown. "Aw, man, no one else I'm familiar with. Okay then. I'm Kokie, as you all heard from my fellow Byakko seishi, so, you wanna introduce yourselves now?"

Joe smiled bowing slightly. " Hello Kokie, I'm Joe, Serena's cousin." Tasuki sat back down with a sigh. " So 'uch 'ciment an' its 'onl the 'orning!" he shook his head again. " I'mTasuki the Suzako seishi." Tasuki said before looking at Emily. " And that's sun-head." Emily growled. " My name is not sun head. It's Emily, Priestess of Genbu." Tomite stepped so Kokie was looking at him again. " I like the name Lawan. I think I'll call you Lawan." Tomite said making his desion.

Kokie narrowed her eyes at the brown haired boy, and placed her hands on her hips. "Fine, but don't be surprised if I often don't answer to it." she stated in a haughty tone, before pushing him roughly out of her way, so she could see the others as they introduced themselves.

Serena smiled, and waved slightly at Kokie, before realizing that bowing was the proper greeting for this time and place, and bowed. "I'm Serena, the new Priestess of Byakko." she said, and Kokie blinked in surprise, but soon got over it. Chichiri smiled under the mask polite, making the mask smile wider, and he bowed as well. "And I am Chichiri, the other of the last two remaining Suzaku seishi, no da." he said.

Tomite stumbled back, an aghast look on his face she'd actually shove him. " Why you….." he growled and held out his hands coating her back with ice. " Never shove me out of they way." Emily sighed shaking her head and covering her eyes.

Kokie, at feeling the ice cover her back, growled, frowning deeply, while moving her hands to reach somewhere inside her black robe. "Oh, I'm so cold!" she cried, mockingly, before pulling two daggers from her cloak quickly, dashing over to Tomite. She popped into a chibi very quickly, climbed up onto his shoulders, and held the daggers threateningly to his temples, with a growl, that would have been threatening, if it hadn't come from a chibi voice.

Tomite's eyes widened and he froze. " Sorry Kokie sorry Kokie sorry Kokie!Please no kill me!" Tomite pretended to cry and he wimpered softly. Joe tried to hide the smirk that was taking control of his face.

Kokie nodded her head in satisfaction, grinning brightly, before hopping off him, and popping back to normal before she hit the ground. She then stuck her daggers back in her cloak, and thwacked Tomite hard over the head. "We're gonna get along just fine, Baka-san!" she chirped happily.

Tomite mumbled something and rubbed his head. Joe smirked openly trying not to laugh,even though he knew not what she said, as Emily said, " Don't you mean bakasaru-san?" Tasuki smirked and whispered to Chichiri, " Just like our old group get togethers right?"

Chichiri laughed, and nodded his head. "Yeah, no da. Tomite and Kokie remind me quite a lot of you and Tamahome, na no da." he answered, as Kokie burst into laughter, and then stuck her tongue out at Tomite. Serena laughed as well, having great fun watching the scene, while Karasuki just shook her head, with a smile.

Tasuki frowned slightly. " They remind me to much of me and Tamahome." Tasuki muttered back taking a step away from Karasuki. Tomite glared at everyone before just scowling. Emily laughed then jerked her head toward the trees as she heard a twig snap. " Did you hear that?" she asked taking a somewhat fearful step forward.

Karasuki nodded her head, because she had actually been hearing it for several minutes now - since her hearing was enhanced. "Yes... but, I can't hear quite what it is..." she said, in a quite tone of voice, placing her hands together, forming a swirling water sphere between them. Kokie pulled the daggers from before from her cloak, completely switching to joking mode to serious seishi mode. Chichiri took his staff out, frowning, trying to sense who the source of the twig snap was.

Tasuki drew his tessen ready to set the forest on fire while Tomite turned toward the sound his palms out in front of him. Suddenly a voice spoke up. "Send the Genbu priestess forward and none will be hurt." Emily looked at Tomite wondering if it were one of her warriors but he looked completely mystified. Emily took a couple steps closer to the voice. " What do you want with the said person?"

Kokie, Karasuki, and Chichiri (even though he was a Suzaku seishi, instead of a Byakko seishi), who had stepped closer to Serena, just in case, relaxed somewhat, but not all that much. Chichiri was thinking up the spell to use for in case the person in the shadows attacked.

Tasuki stepped forward after Emily as did Tomite. " Emily, maybe ye' should stand 'ack." Tasuki whispered but Emily shook her head taking another step forward. The voice laughed. " Brave and foolish of you priestess." Then the voice changed tones and muttered something that caused ice serpents to surround Emily.

Tomite's eyes widened when he saw the serpents and Tasuki about to melt them. " TASUKI NO!" he screamed before walking into the woods and coming back dragging Hikitsu out with him. " How dare you harm our Priestess?" Hikitsu glared at Tomite. " I was only trying to test her which you failed to do." He said matter factly and the serpents disappeared.

Serena and Chichiri both stared at Hikitsu, both recognizing him. But, Karasuki frowned, stormed up to Tomite, and hit him with the large water ball she had formed a while before. "You idiot! You told us all you'd know the other Genbu seishi's voices when you heard them?" she snapped, placing her hands on her hips, quite irritated.

Tomite glared at Karasuki rubbing his head. " He changed his voice and I didn't recognize it. Well…. I knida did but I wanted to see what mischievous he would cause." Tomite smiled then hid behind Hikitsu when he saw the look Emily was giving him. " You wanted to see what mishchief he would cause! You could atleast have given me some warning to those ice serpants!" Emily yelled at him. Tomite frowned more a glared at Hikitsu. " It's all your fault." Hikitsu growled. " How is it my fault! If you had tested her I wouldn't of had to!"

Sensing a fight coming, and not wanting it to go any farther, Serena and Chichiri (the peacemakers) tried to think of some way to get the others to stop fighting. They glanced to each other, thinking maybe the other had an idea, but neither did. Just as Chichiri was about to say something - anything, really - Kokie, stormed up to the four fighting, and hit them each over the head. "Shut up, Karasuki, Emily, Tomite, and Hikitsu!... It's Hikitsu, isn't it? I'm right, I bet, but who cares. All any of us others care about is you guys SHUTTING UP!" she shouted, pulling out of the daggers and pointing it threateningly at all four of them.

Tomite shied away from the dagger. Hitkitsu growled again and the ice serpants rose up behind him ready to strike. " Get that dagger away from me." Emily rubbed her head glaring at Hikitsu and Kokie. " No thank-you Kokie. Hikitsu try to calm down, we have to stick together and I don't want a war constantly happening." Hitkitsu glanced at Emily before the ice serpants disappeared. " As you wish."

After things had calmed down a bit, and the group had packed up the tents and such, Serena, once again, pointed the obvious out. "Uh... there are only three horses still, and now there are nine of us..."

Before she had even finished that train of thought, Kokie shook her head, and placed her hands on her hips, with a bright smirk. "Nuh-uh! Four horses, I have my own horse. 'Cause a traveling dead shadow girl needs a shadow horse, y'know. But, I'm not sharing my horse with anybody. Unless it's Karasuki or Serena, since they're both Byakko people like myself."

Hkitsu looked at Serena. " Five horses actually. Tomite may ride with me, or Emily is she wishes." Tomite walked over to him. " I'll ride with you!" Hikitsu rolled his eyes mumbling " Why am I not surprised?" before walking into the woods where he had been hiding and walking back with a icey white horse. Hikitsu climbed onto the horse before offering a hand down to help Tomite up. Emily looked around. " Same tent parteners then as riding parteners?"

Kokie nodded quickly, before bringing up two finger to her mouth, and whistling a loud, sharp, quick whistle. As she did, a black horse trotted out of the forest, and stopped beside her. She petted it's mane, before hopping up onto it's back. "So, Karasuki, Serena, either of you going to ride with me?" she asked, looking to Karasuki, then to Serena, then back to Karasuki.

Serena shook her head, smiling politely. "That's alright, Kokie." she said, walking over to the horse that Chichiri was already sitting on, and he helped her up onto it, in front of him. Karasuki shook her head at Kokie also, looking over at Joe. "Nah, that's okay, Kokie. I think I already have a riding partner."

Joe blushed slightly at what Karsuki said before climbing onto his horse and reaching down a hand to help her up. Emily walked over to the horse Tasuki was sitting on and took the hand he had offered before yelping slightly when he let go letting her drop to the ground. Emily glared at him as he laughed. " Silly 'un-head. You 'ould 'e more careful." Emily growled and stood up brushing herself off. " Well fire brain I guess I'll have to be when around you." She continued to glare at him as she pulled herself up onto the horse.

Karasuki smiled up at Joe, took his hand, and used his hand to pulled herself up in front of him. Serena, who had been watching Tasuki and Emily, laughed. "Oh, they get along so well..." she joked to herself, before straightening in her seat, still smiling widely.

Emily glared at Serena and sighed grabbing her book then screaming slightly as Tasuki kicked the horse causing him to gallop down the road when she wasn't ready. "TASUKI!" she yelled. Tasuki laughed and stopped the horse just as the other started to disappear. Joe sighed and got his and Karasukis horse going at a trot. Tomite and Hikitsu stared after Tasuki and Emily before galloping after them.

Chichiri and Serena's horse trotted after the others, while Kokie's galloped quickly ahead of every, Kokie herself grinning at the speed her mare could attain. She momentarily glanced back, sticking her tongue out at everyone else, and then turned forward again, slowing down somewhat. "So, where are going next? Sairo, Hokkan, what? I'd say Sairo, myself, since we're closer to it! I mean, we're right on the border." Kokie shouted back at everyone from up front.

Tasuki and Emily trotted next to Chichiri and Serena's horse after that. Emily looked at Serena. " Serena you know better than I do the different countries. Where do you think we should go?"

Serena glanced at Emily, before biting her lip in thought. "Hm... well, maybe Sairo, since we are so close to it." she said, careful not to mention Tokaki and Subaru, since she was from another world and shouldn't know who they were. "Yeah. Let's go there, and then go to Hokkan. So we won't have to go all the way there, and then all the way back here."

Emily nodded her head in agreement. " Sounds good to me." She smiled and looked at Joe and Karasuki. "Sound good you two?" Joe shrugged. " I have no clue what you guys are saying so I don't really care." Tomite and Hikitsu rode up next to them. " It sounds good to us thanks for asking." Tomite said.

"So it's settled! We're gonna go get the rest of us Byakko seishi, and then go get the Genbus! Great! I can't wait to see the others again." Kokie chirped to herself, and in response, Karasuki let out a loud laugh. "Right! More like, you can't wait to see Toroki." she teased, to which Kokie cursed loudly at her.

Tomite smirked. " Awww does little Shadow girl have a boyfriend?" Hikitsu sighed and shook his head. Emily glared at Tomite. " You live to cause trouble don't you?" Tomite shrugged watching Kokie.

Kokie cursed loudly once more, and sent a dagger whizzing past Tomite's head. Again, the cursing. "Darn it, I missed! And Toroki and I are not together, I never liked him like that! Just because we always did things together, does not mean we liked each other! So shut up, Karasuki you baka!" she shouted at Karasuki, before turning to glare at Tomite. "Get my dagger!"

Tomite hopped off the horse and grabbed her dagger. He threw it forwards to her and hopped back onto Hikitsu's horse. He cursed under his breath and glared at Emily who was laughing. Emily saw him glaring and stuck her tongue out at him.

Kokie, still in a bad mood, didn't even thank Tomite, but just continued to frown (pout, really), and ride her horse. Karasuki smirked, knowing something Kokie didn't know she knew. "Oh, you don't, huh? Well, then I guess I must have been imagining things when I saw you guys kissing that time..." she teased, and, as before, all she got in response was a loud curse.

Emily laughed and yelped as Tasuki kicked the horse into a gallop. Tasuki looked at Chichiri over his shoulder bringing the horse to a sudden stop. " 'Ey Chichiri 'anna 'ace?" Emily scowled at Tasuki. "I don't wanna race." Tasuki smirked. " Then don't." He then shoved her off the horse. " You 'oming Chichiri?"

Chichiri blinked under his mask, glancing down at Serena momentarily, before looking back up at Tasuki. "Well... I don't know, no da..." he hesitated. Serena smiled slightly, and slid off the horse, somewhat startling the monk. "Go ahead and race with Tasuki, Chichiri." she said to him, backing slightly away from the horse. He blinked again, and smiled at her, nodding his head slightly, before kicking the horse lightly, to make it gallop.

Emily glared at Tasuki and stood brushing herself off. She walked over to Serena. " Who do you think will win?" Tasuki waited until Chichiri was next to him before he started galloping down the road.

Serena shook her head, watching as the two raced down the forest path. "I have no clue. I mean, Tasuki is the seishi of speed and everything, but that doesn't mean his horse is..." she trailed off, as Chichiri's horse began to speed up a little.

Tasuki growled and kicked his horse making him go faster. Emily watched the race as Tomite and Hikitsu stopped next to them getting off the horse. Joe stopped his horse next to theirs watching the race. " Looks like they're tied." he said.

Serena nodded, agreeing with her cousin. "Yeah, looks like it." she replied, and heard her comment echoed beside her, from the still pouting Kokie.

Emily watched the race with interest. Tasuki slowly got slightly ahead of Chichiri.Joe slightly stood so he could see them. " Tasuki's in the lead but it doesn't look like he'll be there for long."

Serena nodded her head, as Chichiri kicked his horse lightly once again, trying to get it to get ahead of Tasuki's. "I wonder if they know what their finish line is..." she joked, figuring that they probably did. "Oh! Look, Chichiri's getting ahead... or, wait, not quite... they're tied again."

Emily jumped onto Tomite shoulders so she could see better. Tomite scowled slightly but didn't fight, being happy to help his priestess. Emily yelped and winced. "Tasuki's horse just stopped and he did a nose dive into the ground. Now Chichiri is hopping of his horse and helping him. Ewwww Tasuki is covered in blood." Emily hopped down and ran toward them.

Serena ran towards them as well, followed by Karasuki, who had jumped down off of Joe and her's horse, figuring her water skills could help clean up the blood.

Emily stopped next to Tasuki. " Are you ok fire-brain?" Tasuki glared at her blood flowing from him nose. " 'Ell 'un 'ead, 'ould 'ou 'e 'if 'ou 'ad 'ust 'fallen 'ff a 'orse?" He asked he speech even worse than usuall because of the blood.

Karasuki bent down next to Tasuki, peering at his nose. "Huh, you're the second one to get a broken nose, aren'tcha? Well, just let me clean that up... don't worry, it shouldn't hurt." she said, forming a water ball in her hand, then directed the water so that it ran itself along the blood, washing some of it off, before making the water splash to the ground.

Tasuki screamed as the water hit him and nearly fainted. " 'Re 'ou trying 'o 'ill me woman?1!"

Karasuki growled and him, and had to force herself not to make some water go up his broke nose. "How did you ever guess?" she snapped sarcastically, before shaking her head. "No, I am not trying to kill you. I'm just trying to get the blood off you, you baka!"

Tasuki mocked her and pushed her away before standing up. " 'ine but 'nough with the 'ater 'ashing." Emily smirked and poked his nose. " Did that hurt?" Tasuki growled and shoved her away.

Karasuki stood up, and walked over to Joe and her horse, climbing up in front of him. Chichiri nodded his head, acknowledging the fact that Tasuki was pretty much fine, since there was really nothing to do about either his nose or Joe's. He and Serena walked back to their horse, and climbed up on it.

Emily pulled Tasuki to his feet and dragged him over to there horse. She climbed up then helped him up behind her. Joe smiled at Karasuki and sat down on their horse so she could better. Hikitsu andTomoite climbed back onto there horse and started riding down the rode.

"Um..." Serena muttered, looking up, away from book she had been reading in, and catching Chichiri's attention. He looked down at her, and tried to peer around at her face. "What is it, Serena, no da?" he asked, and she glanced down at her book, shaking her head. "Oh, nothing really. Just that, I'm ever-so-slightly hungry..."

Emily blushed slightly as her stomach growled. " I agree with Serena… only I'm hungry not ever so-slightly-hungry." Joe nodded his head in agreement as did Tomite and Hikitsu.

"Yeah! Are we gonna stop soon so we can eat? If I remember right there's a place with food up ahead, if we don't have enough or something. I remember, 'cause I stopped there before I found you guys." Kokie stated, and kicking her heels against her horse, making it begin to gallop.

Tomite smirked and kicked his heel against his and Hikitsu's horse making it gallop as he tried to get past Kokie. Tasuki smirked and wrapped one arm around Emily and squeezed as he kicked his horse into a gallop. Joe followed the others at a canter.

Chichiri decided to go slower, but fast enough not to lose the others, and Serena was really pretty glad at that - otherwise, he would have had to do like Tasuki had done with Emily, and with the incident this morning, she really didn't want any more close contact than necessary. Much too embarrassing. She thought, with a nod, agreeing with herself.

Emily gasped slightly as Tasuki held onto her tightly and galloped down the road. Then she smiled trying not to blush as she felt his breath on her neck, then she shook her head and frowned. What am I doing, smiling, BLEH! in the words of Tal….. she thought sighing.

Kokie's voice exclaimed, as loud as usual, "WOO, I SEE IT!" and as she did, everyone else noticed the building that they were heading directly for. She pulled on the reins of her horse, forcing it to slow down, and dust to fly up into everyone else's faces. "Food, here I come!" she cheered, jumping off her horse, tying it to a nearby tree, and dashing into the building.

Tomite and Hikitsu followed suit, Hikitsu and Tomite racing against each other. Tasuki slowed the horse down then jumped off using his seishi speed to get ahead of Tomite and Hikitsu. Emily yelped as she realized Tasuki hadn't stopped the horse and she quickly grabbed the reins pulling her horse to a stop.

Chichiri pulled his and Serena's horse to a stop after reaching the others, slipped off, and helped Serena slip off as well. "Thanks, Chichiri." she said, with a smile, before turning and following the others into the building.

Emily hopped off her horse, an angry gleam in her eye. " TASUKI!" she bellowed storming into the building after Serena. Joe followed suit, minus the anger and bellowing and storming. Tasuki looked toward the door hesitantly and backed away as he saw a quivering Emily.

Serena noticed her friend near to explosion, and sweat dropped. She quickly walked up next to her, and patted her shoulder, slowly. "Em… calm down. Please. Before you kill your riding partner…" she said.

Emily growled and turned her head slowly and glaring at Serena. " Serena… Where is your seishi Karasuki…"

Serena raised an eyebrow, and glanced around at Karasuki. "Over there. Why?" she asked, looking back to her ticked off best friend.

Emily grinned mischievously and stalked over to Karasuki and whispered in her ear. " May I request a favor?"

Karasuki tilted her head, and 'hm'ed, giving Emily a curious look. "What type of favor?" she asked.

" The type favor that would…. Not hurt but definitely scare and enrage my riding partener…" Emily replied.

"Hmm…. Let me think about that… yes." Karasuki smirked, and strode slowly up to Tasuki. She raised her hand, up in front of his face, and then sent a large jet of water spray from her hand, completely soaking his head.

Tasuki went rigid and twitched before screaming and lunging toward Karasuki. " 'EVER 'IT 'E WITH 'ATER!" Emily laughed as the water hit him then moved so she was between Tasuki and Karasuki. " Now , now little wet head. I told her to soak you, get mad at me not her." Emily grinned at him.

"Now, now, no more fighting. We're all hungry, and you three're irritating us; just because of having to wait for you three is making me hungrier. Now move before I slice you up and eat YOU." Kokie stated, walking up to the three and pushing them roughly out of the way, stalking into the building.

Tasuki and Emily leaped out of her way. Tasuki glared at Emily and she stuck her tongue out at him. He growled and took a step towards her but suddenly Joe appeared and stepped between them, " Keep on walking flame breath." He muttered and glared coldly at him. Tasuki snarled and stormed into the building. Emily looked at Joe then walked inside kinda surprised by his actions.

Karasuki watched the others walk into the building, then followed them in, to a long table. They sat there for a bit, and even in that short time, Kokie got impatient. "OI! SOMEONE COME HERE! WE'RE REALLY HUNGRY!"

The waitress scurried over to their table as she heard Kokie's annoyed voice and didn't want to hear it again. " What'll you people be having?"

"Um…" Kokie started, looking at the menu that was always on the table. She squinted at it, bringing it up as close to her face as possible, before taking it away and looking up at the waitress. "That." she pointed to a meal on the menu.

Joe looked at the menu in disgust then looked at Serena. " I'll have what you have." Emily said the same thing then added " Or just the food you brought…"

Serena nodded, and examined the menu, that was written in Chinese, but amazingly, she found herself to understand. "Um… I'll have the… chow main." she said, looking up at the waitress, with a smile.

The waitress nodded writing down all the orders before looking at Hikitsu and Tomite. " We'll have this!" they said pointing to the same thing. The waitress looked at what it was then wrote it down. Tasuki pointed randomly at the menu still glowering at Emily.

The waitress took the last of the orders and walked off before to give them to chef. After a little while she came back bringing the orders with her. " Foods up." she said as she handed the food around to the starving people.

"YES! Finally!" Kokie exclaimed, immediately digging into her food. Almost disgustingly quickly. The others stared at her for several minutes, before starting into their own food. "I haven't had food this good in… over a hundred years." Kokie exclaimed, happily grinning.

Emily looked over at her. " I thought you said you'd eaten here just before coming to find us?"

Kokie looked back at her, with a slight glare on her face. "Let me exaggerate in peace." she snapped, once more digging into her meal.

Emily rolled her eyes poking at her food, taking a bite every now and then but not to much.Joe did the same thing, taking only one real bite.

Serena tried a bite of her's, and smiled as she realized it tasted better than the usual chow main she had.

As everyone else finished there food Karasuki paid the bill with her money and they set out on there way.

(We'll edit the mile long bolds later)