Disclaimer: I do not own Fushigi Yuugi, I wish I did though. All I own is my version of the story, Jade Stevens, and Tara Robinson.
Chapter 6: Home Again
Jade could feel her body flying through space. She winced at the cold pinpricks that crawled up her skin. She felt a final tug, and she landed in Tara's bedroom. "Tara? Where are you?" Franticlly, she searched for her friend. Then she remembered her promise. Running to her house, Jade passed a few of her friends. She panted as she flew up the stairs to her bedroom. Slumping onto the bed, she took a quick rest. Suddenly a small body hurled itself into her. "Jade! You're home early!" Jade shoved her excited sister off. "Keiko, I need to get some things, then I'm going right back." Keiko nodded. She watched as her older sister packed some necessities into a bag. Then, Jade grabbed her photo album and her diary out of her bookcase. Tossing them in, she picked out some clothes. Finishing, she got up and hugged her sister. "See ya later, Keiko." Jade then ran back to Tara's house. "Tara still isn't here...maybe she fell back into the book..." Picking up The Universe Of The Four Gods, she flicked to the page she had been at. A red light wrapped around her and pulled her back in.
**************
Jade felt a falling sensation as she plummited through darkness. She fell right onto a certain purple haired seishi. "NURIKO!!!!" she squealed as she hugged the crossdresser. "Jade? You're back!" Nuriko said, a little startled. Jade smiled. "So, what happened in the hour I was gone? And how did you guys get home so fast?" Nuriko gave her a strange look. "You've been gone for two months!" Jade stared, thunderstruck. "WHAT?!?"
**************
Hotohori was in his throne room, thinking of Miaka. How he missed her! As if answering his prayers, Miaka fell out of nowhere onto Hotohori. "Mi-Miaka?" Miaka gasped. "Hotohori! I missed you so much!" She hugged the surprised emporer. Nuriko and Jade came in, chatting happily. Miaka leaped off of Hotohori and hugged the two bemused warriors. "Get the hell off!" a startled and secretly happy Jade protested. Miaka let go and looked around. "Where's Tamahome?" Nuriko shook his head. "He went off to protect a village. I was about to go check on him when you two...um...dropped in." Jade smiled. "We'll go with you! I haven't seen that money-grubber in what seems like ages!" Nuriko led them out to the stables and grabbed a horse. Jade also got one, a firey red stallon. Mounting, she watched as Miaka mounted in front of Nuriko. The three rode out into a nearby forest. Miaka seemed excited at the thought of Tamahome."Did he...uh...miss me?" Nuriko laughed. "Tama-kins has been pining away for you ever since you left! He hasn't been the same..." He described Tamahome attempting to eat a plate and then sitting on a fence, dejectedly. "He really loves you, Miaka. He'll be so happy to see you..." Miaka flushed with happiness. They suddenly plunged into darkness.
**************
"What the hell is going on?!?" An angry Jade yelled. The horses reared up in fright, throwing their riders off. Jade scrambled around to try and find the others. A sword point was dirven into the ground close to her face. Out of nowhere, torches sprung to light. A group of men stood over the three travelers. "Wait a second..." a familiar voice floated from the group. It was Tamahome. "Mi-Miaka?" He bent over the scared Priestess. Miaka threw herself at him. "Tamahome!!!" Jade snorted. Yet another reason for her to get jelous over two sappy teenagers. She pushed herself up and watched as a blushing Tamahome introduced them. While no one was looking, a pair of hands pulled Miaka and Jade into the darkness.
**************
"Let me go!" a furious Jade cried as she flailed and kicked. "OWWW!!!" cried a voice from behind her, confirming contact. The hands immediately released the two girls. "That hurt, no da!" the voice said. Jade whirled around to see a odd blue haired man. "Why did you grab us like that?" Jade demanded. "I was just trying to protect you two, no da. You didn't have to kick me, no da!" the man protested. The Celeste Warrior blushed. "Sorry about that. My name's Jade Stevens, or Kokyu, if you want to get technical." The man smiled. "So you're the Celeste Warrior, no da?" Jade nodded. The man grinned happily. "I'm Chichiri no da! Nice to meet ya!" Jade gasped. "Are you the Suzaku Warrior Chichiri?!?"
"That's me, no da."
"Miaka! We found the fourth warrior! Miaka?" Jade turned to find Miaka missing. "Damn! Where'd she go?" Chichiri grabbed her hand. "Come with me, Jade! You are in serious danger here, no da!" He led her away from the forest.
*************
Nuriko gasped as a hail of arrows flew into the clearing. He quickly dodged them, but still got pinned to a tree. All the other men were dead. Tamahome came back with Miaka seconds later. Miaka screamed. Tamahome cast his eyes over the horrific scene. "Nuriko, what happened?" The purple-haired seishi explianed the arrows to the horrified pair. "Where's Jade?" he asked. Tamahome shrugged. "No clue. We should find somewhere to stay for the night." He led them out of the forest, Nuriko still keeping an eye out for Jade.
************
Jade settled down next to the campfire Chichiri had prepared. She felt warm and sleepy after the day's events. Chichiri was guarding her carefully. "You don't have to do that, you know." Jade said, sitting up and looking at the blue haired seishi. The monk replied without turning around "Your safety is very important, no da. If you want to find the other three seishi and summon Suzaku, you must be protected, no da. Many people are out to kill you." Jade sat, shocked at Chichiri's explenation. "They're out to kill me?!?"
"Think about it, no da. You are the savior of Konan, as well as the Priestess. If something were to happen to you two...not only would Suzaku never appear, but the people of Konan would become confused, and they would panic, no da. That's why I'm trying to protect you." Jade nodded. She knew he was right. "Thank you, Chichiri-kun." Chichiri smiled. "Chichiri's fine, no da. You don't have to be all formal, no da. Jade?" He turned, and found Jade deeply asleep. "Goodnight, no da."
************
The next morning, Jade woke up to Chichiri making a quick breakfast. "Good morning, Chichiri. Did you sleep well?" The monk smiled. "Yes, thank you for asking, no da. We should try and find the Priestess and the other seishi as soon as we can, no da." He handed her a plate with eggs and sausages on it. Jade ate it silently, thinking about the remaining three seishi. 'Lets see...we have Tamahome, Hotohori, Nuriko, and now Chichiri. All we need are Mitsukake, Chiriko, and Tasuki. I wonder what they look like? I bet one's too young for me, one's too old for me, and the last...maybe he'll love me...no one else does...' She sniffed lightly at that thought. Chichiri had put all the supplies somewhere, and he helped her to her feet. "Come on, Jade-san, no da. I think I know where the Priestess is!" He led her to the river. Suddenly, they heard a scream. Jade took off, drawing her sword. "Come on, Chichiri!" The monk slipped into his hat, disappearing from view. The Celeste Warrior saw a man trying to slice Miaka. Jade ran forward and drove her sword into the man. Letting out a shreak, he toppled into the water. Miaka's eyes grew wide. "Tamahome's family!" She took off. Jade was about to follow when Chichiri appeared. "Here! Get in, no da!" He shoved her into the hat, then put it on himself.
************
Jade fell out of the hat right near a village. Chichiri ran to one of the houses, and she took off right behind him. Inside the house, Miaka was staring horrified at a man dressed in black. Behind him, four kids, a sick old man, Tamahome, and Nuriko hung in some kind of sticky substance. Chichiri's voice came into her head. *Cut evryone down! I'll take care of this guy!* Jade nodded, too busy to be shocked. She dove forward, and with a few quick slashing movements,
had cut everyone out. Chichiri used his staff to throw the man into the wall, his head hitting with a sickening crunch. Tamahome hugged Miaka to him, and the four kids hugged the old man. Nuriko grabbed Jade and shook her. "You little baka! Where have you been?!?" Jade fell limp in his arms. "I think she's unconcious, no da." Chichiri replied. Nuriko glared at him. Jade groaned as she came back into conciousness. "I was with Chichiri, to answer your question. By the way, he's the fourth warrior." Nuriko looked the monk up and down. "You sure?" Chichiri pointed to his knee. Sure enough, a symbol was there, glowing brightly. Nuriko snorted. "Whatever..."
*************
Miaka suddenly blurted "I forgot about Yui!" and ran out the door. "Miaka, wait!" cried Tamahome as he ran after her. "Oh, for god's sake!" Jade mumbled. She grabbed her bag and ran out after them. The others sat in stunned silence.
*************
Tamahome ran into the forest, followed by Jade. He soon ran out of her sight, and she vainly tried to find her way. Realization hit her. "I'm LOST!!!"
Will Jade find her way out? Or, will she perchance meet someone who will help her? Find out in Chapter 7!
Chapter 6: Home Again
Jade could feel her body flying through space. She winced at the cold pinpricks that crawled up her skin. She felt a final tug, and she landed in Tara's bedroom. "Tara? Where are you?" Franticlly, she searched for her friend. Then she remembered her promise. Running to her house, Jade passed a few of her friends. She panted as she flew up the stairs to her bedroom. Slumping onto the bed, she took a quick rest. Suddenly a small body hurled itself into her. "Jade! You're home early!" Jade shoved her excited sister off. "Keiko, I need to get some things, then I'm going right back." Keiko nodded. She watched as her older sister packed some necessities into a bag. Then, Jade grabbed her photo album and her diary out of her bookcase. Tossing them in, she picked out some clothes. Finishing, she got up and hugged her sister. "See ya later, Keiko." Jade then ran back to Tara's house. "Tara still isn't here...maybe she fell back into the book..." Picking up The Universe Of The Four Gods, she flicked to the page she had been at. A red light wrapped around her and pulled her back in.
**************
Jade felt a falling sensation as she plummited through darkness. She fell right onto a certain purple haired seishi. "NURIKO!!!!" she squealed as she hugged the crossdresser. "Jade? You're back!" Nuriko said, a little startled. Jade smiled. "So, what happened in the hour I was gone? And how did you guys get home so fast?" Nuriko gave her a strange look. "You've been gone for two months!" Jade stared, thunderstruck. "WHAT?!?"
**************
Hotohori was in his throne room, thinking of Miaka. How he missed her! As if answering his prayers, Miaka fell out of nowhere onto Hotohori. "Mi-Miaka?" Miaka gasped. "Hotohori! I missed you so much!" She hugged the surprised emporer. Nuriko and Jade came in, chatting happily. Miaka leaped off of Hotohori and hugged the two bemused warriors. "Get the hell off!" a startled and secretly happy Jade protested. Miaka let go and looked around. "Where's Tamahome?" Nuriko shook his head. "He went off to protect a village. I was about to go check on him when you two...um...dropped in." Jade smiled. "We'll go with you! I haven't seen that money-grubber in what seems like ages!" Nuriko led them out to the stables and grabbed a horse. Jade also got one, a firey red stallon. Mounting, she watched as Miaka mounted in front of Nuriko. The three rode out into a nearby forest. Miaka seemed excited at the thought of Tamahome."Did he...uh...miss me?" Nuriko laughed. "Tama-kins has been pining away for you ever since you left! He hasn't been the same..." He described Tamahome attempting to eat a plate and then sitting on a fence, dejectedly. "He really loves you, Miaka. He'll be so happy to see you..." Miaka flushed with happiness. They suddenly plunged into darkness.
**************
"What the hell is going on?!?" An angry Jade yelled. The horses reared up in fright, throwing their riders off. Jade scrambled around to try and find the others. A sword point was dirven into the ground close to her face. Out of nowhere, torches sprung to light. A group of men stood over the three travelers. "Wait a second..." a familiar voice floated from the group. It was Tamahome. "Mi-Miaka?" He bent over the scared Priestess. Miaka threw herself at him. "Tamahome!!!" Jade snorted. Yet another reason for her to get jelous over two sappy teenagers. She pushed herself up and watched as a blushing Tamahome introduced them. While no one was looking, a pair of hands pulled Miaka and Jade into the darkness.
**************
"Let me go!" a furious Jade cried as she flailed and kicked. "OWWW!!!" cried a voice from behind her, confirming contact. The hands immediately released the two girls. "That hurt, no da!" the voice said. Jade whirled around to see a odd blue haired man. "Why did you grab us like that?" Jade demanded. "I was just trying to protect you two, no da. You didn't have to kick me, no da!" the man protested. The Celeste Warrior blushed. "Sorry about that. My name's Jade Stevens, or Kokyu, if you want to get technical." The man smiled. "So you're the Celeste Warrior, no da?" Jade nodded. The man grinned happily. "I'm Chichiri no da! Nice to meet ya!" Jade gasped. "Are you the Suzaku Warrior Chichiri?!?"
"That's me, no da."
"Miaka! We found the fourth warrior! Miaka?" Jade turned to find Miaka missing. "Damn! Where'd she go?" Chichiri grabbed her hand. "Come with me, Jade! You are in serious danger here, no da!" He led her away from the forest.
*************
Nuriko gasped as a hail of arrows flew into the clearing. He quickly dodged them, but still got pinned to a tree. All the other men were dead. Tamahome came back with Miaka seconds later. Miaka screamed. Tamahome cast his eyes over the horrific scene. "Nuriko, what happened?" The purple-haired seishi explianed the arrows to the horrified pair. "Where's Jade?" he asked. Tamahome shrugged. "No clue. We should find somewhere to stay for the night." He led them out of the forest, Nuriko still keeping an eye out for Jade.
************
Jade settled down next to the campfire Chichiri had prepared. She felt warm and sleepy after the day's events. Chichiri was guarding her carefully. "You don't have to do that, you know." Jade said, sitting up and looking at the blue haired seishi. The monk replied without turning around "Your safety is very important, no da. If you want to find the other three seishi and summon Suzaku, you must be protected, no da. Many people are out to kill you." Jade sat, shocked at Chichiri's explenation. "They're out to kill me?!?"
"Think about it, no da. You are the savior of Konan, as well as the Priestess. If something were to happen to you two...not only would Suzaku never appear, but the people of Konan would become confused, and they would panic, no da. That's why I'm trying to protect you." Jade nodded. She knew he was right. "Thank you, Chichiri-kun." Chichiri smiled. "Chichiri's fine, no da. You don't have to be all formal, no da. Jade?" He turned, and found Jade deeply asleep. "Goodnight, no da."
************
The next morning, Jade woke up to Chichiri making a quick breakfast. "Good morning, Chichiri. Did you sleep well?" The monk smiled. "Yes, thank you for asking, no da. We should try and find the Priestess and the other seishi as soon as we can, no da." He handed her a plate with eggs and sausages on it. Jade ate it silently, thinking about the remaining three seishi. 'Lets see...we have Tamahome, Hotohori, Nuriko, and now Chichiri. All we need are Mitsukake, Chiriko, and Tasuki. I wonder what they look like? I bet one's too young for me, one's too old for me, and the last...maybe he'll love me...no one else does...' She sniffed lightly at that thought. Chichiri had put all the supplies somewhere, and he helped her to her feet. "Come on, Jade-san, no da. I think I know where the Priestess is!" He led her to the river. Suddenly, they heard a scream. Jade took off, drawing her sword. "Come on, Chichiri!" The monk slipped into his hat, disappearing from view. The Celeste Warrior saw a man trying to slice Miaka. Jade ran forward and drove her sword into the man. Letting out a shreak, he toppled into the water. Miaka's eyes grew wide. "Tamahome's family!" She took off. Jade was about to follow when Chichiri appeared. "Here! Get in, no da!" He shoved her into the hat, then put it on himself.
************
Jade fell out of the hat right near a village. Chichiri ran to one of the houses, and she took off right behind him. Inside the house, Miaka was staring horrified at a man dressed in black. Behind him, four kids, a sick old man, Tamahome, and Nuriko hung in some kind of sticky substance. Chichiri's voice came into her head. *Cut evryone down! I'll take care of this guy!* Jade nodded, too busy to be shocked. She dove forward, and with a few quick slashing movements,
had cut everyone out. Chichiri used his staff to throw the man into the wall, his head hitting with a sickening crunch. Tamahome hugged Miaka to him, and the four kids hugged the old man. Nuriko grabbed Jade and shook her. "You little baka! Where have you been?!?" Jade fell limp in his arms. "I think she's unconcious, no da." Chichiri replied. Nuriko glared at him. Jade groaned as she came back into conciousness. "I was with Chichiri, to answer your question. By the way, he's the fourth warrior." Nuriko looked the monk up and down. "You sure?" Chichiri pointed to his knee. Sure enough, a symbol was there, glowing brightly. Nuriko snorted. "Whatever..."
*************
Miaka suddenly blurted "I forgot about Yui!" and ran out the door. "Miaka, wait!" cried Tamahome as he ran after her. "Oh, for god's sake!" Jade mumbled. She grabbed her bag and ran out after them. The others sat in stunned silence.
*************
Tamahome ran into the forest, followed by Jade. He soon ran out of her sight, and she vainly tried to find her way. Realization hit her. "I'm LOST!!!"
Will Jade find her way out? Or, will she perchance meet someone who will help her? Find out in Chapter 7!