10Disclaimer: Fushigi Yuugi belongs to Yu Watase, therefore I am only borrowing it. I made up Jade Stevens, Tara Robinson, Taran the hawk, and the altered storyline.
Chapter 14: Battle
Jade sidestepped easily, avoiding Tamahome's lunge. She then slashed him quickly across the back. Fuming, the seishi attempted to strike her with his nunchucks, but she fended it off with her blade. The two warriors continued their battle of death, equally matched in skill.
***************
Chichiri held the unconcious Priestess in his arms while Tasuki watched the battle in horror. Why was Tamahome doing this? The bandit growled angrily. When he got a chance, he'd kick that guy's ass! Not only did he hurt Miaka, his love, he was also intentionally trying to kill Jade! Chichiri shook his head as if reading Tasuki's thoughts. "That isn't the real Tamahome, no da. He would never act like that. Look, his symbol isn't even glowing!" Tasuki noticed that while Jade's symbols were glowing brightly, Tamahome didn't seem to have a symbol anywhere. He silently prayed that Jade would remain safe while Chichiri watched the battle.
***************
Sweat began pouring down Jade's face. Tamahome was a good fighter, and he seemed to sense her every move. Suddenly, she heard a shout from behind her. It was Miaka. "Jade, don't!!! Don't hurt Tamahome!!! If anything were to happen to him...I would just die! Don't!!!" Tears poured down her cheeks. Jade felt her heart go out to the Priestess. If something were to happen to Tasuki... She lowered her sword as she turned to look back at Miaka. Tamahome took his chance. He slammed his nunchucks down onto her sword hand, sending the sword spinning. Jade sceamed out in pain as he pushed her down onto the ground on her stomach. Pinning her there with his foot, he laughed cruelly. "So, Jade, you said you would hit back. Hit me now!" He started hitting her with the nunchucks.
***************
Tasuki's symbol flared fiercely as he faught Chichiri's grasp, who was trying to hold him back. Jade's screams rented the air, causing the furious bandit to redouble his efforts. "I'll rip 'm into a million pieces!!! Let go, 'Chiri!!!" The monk finally managed to pull him back. "Tasuki, if we leave this spot, Nakago would kill us instantly, no da! What help would we be to Jade then? I'm just as angry as you are, but we can't help her now, no da." The bandit hung his head helplessly, tears pouring down his face. Tamahome was killing Jade, and there was nothing he could do about it.
***************
Jade had never experienced pain like this before. It spread all over her body, doubling every time she was hit. Finally, Tamahome stopped and pulled her up roughly by her shirt. He kicked her, sending her hurtling into a tree. Tamahome smiled evilly. "One down, seven to go." He had failed to notice Jade slowly standing up. She picked up her sword painfully and said "You didn't kill me yet. I'll never give up while I still draw breath!" She lunged forward, striking him in the side. He aimed his nunchucks at her, but she sliced through the chain, leaving two handles, one with the chain still attached. Suddenly, she was hit from behind by Nakago. "Fool. She was a stupid distraction, wasn't she Tamahome?" The seishi nodded in agreement. Nakago smiled. "I'll take care of the other three, I think her eminence wishes to see you." With that, the blond general teleported over to the bushes. He blasted at various spots, waiting to catch a glance of the seishi and their Priestess.
***************
Chichiri teleported them to a safe area. "We need to break this barrier so we can get back, no da." Taran landed beside him. The monk stared at the hawk. "We can use you to break through the barrier, no da! You're not a Suzaku Warrior, so you can break through! Let's hope this works, no da!" He placed his hand on the hawk and closed his eyes in concentration.
***************
Jade got unsteadliy to her feet. She snorted at Nakago. "Coward. Doesn't even finish a battle. Hey blondie! Get back here-ugnh!" Tamahome had wrapped the nunchuck handle that had the chain attached around her neck. The Celeste Warrior found herself unable to breathe. She struggled helplessly as he tightened the chain.
**************
Tasuki couldn't stand it any longer. He ran out and tackled Tamahome. The surprised seishi let go of the nunchuck. Jade slumped to the ground, unconcious. The bandit gathered her up into his arms gently. Tamahome, breathing heavily, picked up the nunchuck handle. He was about to strike them when flute music drifted across the garden. Chichiri quickly teleported them over. Miaka was sobbing softly for Tamahome, who was staring at them angrily. Tasuki tried to revive Jade. "Jade...please...say something!" he whispered fiercely. The girl opened her eyes slightly and smiled. "Tasuki...Tamahome's...a cheater...Never trusted...him...in the...first place..." She fainted against his chest. The bandit held her close. "Jade..." Chichiri opened the portal and pulled them in. Miaka looked back at her love and whispered "Goodbye...Tamahome..." He then disappered from her sight.
**************
Nuriko saw the horribly wounded Jade and immediately started freaking out. "What the hell happened to her?!? Tell me right now!"
Chichiri sighed. "Tamahome attacked her, no da. She had challenged him to a duel, and he unfairly beat her." Tasuki was shaking with rage. "He did this...to her...I'm gonna kill him! I don't care if he's a seishi, I'll rip 'm to pieces! The same thing he did to Jade I'll do t' him!" he roared, looking down at the unconcious Jade. Nuriko scopped her up and took her to her room. Mitsukake healed Miaka's arm. "Thank you, Mitsukake! Be sure to heal Jade, okay?" the Priestess requested. The healer turned away and went to Jade's room, followed by Tasuki and Chichiri.
*************
The Celeste Warrior flinched in pain as Mitsukake bandaged her wounds. "You sould consider yourself lucky. With your right arm and leg broken, three broken ribs, a minor concussion, and bruises all over, not many people would be alive after all that." He patted her shoulder gently and told her that he would heal her once he regained his powers. Chichiri grinned at her and left the room, leaving Tasuki alone with Jade. The bandit walked over and sat beside her on the bed. She smiled up at him painfully and tried to grab his hand. Instead, she winced as her side spasmed with pain. He gently put his hand on her cheek and pulled her into a hug. The surprised girl ignored her pain and pressed against the bandit. He pulled her face up until they stared into each other's eyes. "Don' do that again! I was so worried about you!" She grinned, wincing slightly at the pain. Tasuki laid her back down and drew away. He pulled off his shirt, revealing his tanned chest. Jade stared. He had the best body she had ever seen. With a six-pack, amazing biceps, and a muscular chest, it was all she could do not to drool. The bandit got back into the bed and got on his hands and knees over her. Closing his eyes, he concentrated. The Celeste Warrior felt his chi start to enter her body. Strangely, her body didn't hurt anymore. She even felt a little drowsy. Her eyes slid shut as she sighed happily. The bandit crawled off of her once she fell asleep, feeling slightly weaker. He pulled his shirt back on and gently bent down and kissed her. He left before seeing the slight smile playing on the Celeste Warrior's lips.
Wow, that one took forever! Gtg, but will be back soon!
Chapter 14: Battle
Jade sidestepped easily, avoiding Tamahome's lunge. She then slashed him quickly across the back. Fuming, the seishi attempted to strike her with his nunchucks, but she fended it off with her blade. The two warriors continued their battle of death, equally matched in skill.
***************
Chichiri held the unconcious Priestess in his arms while Tasuki watched the battle in horror. Why was Tamahome doing this? The bandit growled angrily. When he got a chance, he'd kick that guy's ass! Not only did he hurt Miaka, his love, he was also intentionally trying to kill Jade! Chichiri shook his head as if reading Tasuki's thoughts. "That isn't the real Tamahome, no da. He would never act like that. Look, his symbol isn't even glowing!" Tasuki noticed that while Jade's symbols were glowing brightly, Tamahome didn't seem to have a symbol anywhere. He silently prayed that Jade would remain safe while Chichiri watched the battle.
***************
Sweat began pouring down Jade's face. Tamahome was a good fighter, and he seemed to sense her every move. Suddenly, she heard a shout from behind her. It was Miaka. "Jade, don't!!! Don't hurt Tamahome!!! If anything were to happen to him...I would just die! Don't!!!" Tears poured down her cheeks. Jade felt her heart go out to the Priestess. If something were to happen to Tasuki... She lowered her sword as she turned to look back at Miaka. Tamahome took his chance. He slammed his nunchucks down onto her sword hand, sending the sword spinning. Jade sceamed out in pain as he pushed her down onto the ground on her stomach. Pinning her there with his foot, he laughed cruelly. "So, Jade, you said you would hit back. Hit me now!" He started hitting her with the nunchucks.
***************
Tasuki's symbol flared fiercely as he faught Chichiri's grasp, who was trying to hold him back. Jade's screams rented the air, causing the furious bandit to redouble his efforts. "I'll rip 'm into a million pieces!!! Let go, 'Chiri!!!" The monk finally managed to pull him back. "Tasuki, if we leave this spot, Nakago would kill us instantly, no da! What help would we be to Jade then? I'm just as angry as you are, but we can't help her now, no da." The bandit hung his head helplessly, tears pouring down his face. Tamahome was killing Jade, and there was nothing he could do about it.
***************
Jade had never experienced pain like this before. It spread all over her body, doubling every time she was hit. Finally, Tamahome stopped and pulled her up roughly by her shirt. He kicked her, sending her hurtling into a tree. Tamahome smiled evilly. "One down, seven to go." He had failed to notice Jade slowly standing up. She picked up her sword painfully and said "You didn't kill me yet. I'll never give up while I still draw breath!" She lunged forward, striking him in the side. He aimed his nunchucks at her, but she sliced through the chain, leaving two handles, one with the chain still attached. Suddenly, she was hit from behind by Nakago. "Fool. She was a stupid distraction, wasn't she Tamahome?" The seishi nodded in agreement. Nakago smiled. "I'll take care of the other three, I think her eminence wishes to see you." With that, the blond general teleported over to the bushes. He blasted at various spots, waiting to catch a glance of the seishi and their Priestess.
***************
Chichiri teleported them to a safe area. "We need to break this barrier so we can get back, no da." Taran landed beside him. The monk stared at the hawk. "We can use you to break through the barrier, no da! You're not a Suzaku Warrior, so you can break through! Let's hope this works, no da!" He placed his hand on the hawk and closed his eyes in concentration.
***************
Jade got unsteadliy to her feet. She snorted at Nakago. "Coward. Doesn't even finish a battle. Hey blondie! Get back here-ugnh!" Tamahome had wrapped the nunchuck handle that had the chain attached around her neck. The Celeste Warrior found herself unable to breathe. She struggled helplessly as he tightened the chain.
**************
Tasuki couldn't stand it any longer. He ran out and tackled Tamahome. The surprised seishi let go of the nunchuck. Jade slumped to the ground, unconcious. The bandit gathered her up into his arms gently. Tamahome, breathing heavily, picked up the nunchuck handle. He was about to strike them when flute music drifted across the garden. Chichiri quickly teleported them over. Miaka was sobbing softly for Tamahome, who was staring at them angrily. Tasuki tried to revive Jade. "Jade...please...say something!" he whispered fiercely. The girl opened her eyes slightly and smiled. "Tasuki...Tamahome's...a cheater...Never trusted...him...in the...first place..." She fainted against his chest. The bandit held her close. "Jade..." Chichiri opened the portal and pulled them in. Miaka looked back at her love and whispered "Goodbye...Tamahome..." He then disappered from her sight.
**************
Nuriko saw the horribly wounded Jade and immediately started freaking out. "What the hell happened to her?!? Tell me right now!"
Chichiri sighed. "Tamahome attacked her, no da. She had challenged him to a duel, and he unfairly beat her." Tasuki was shaking with rage. "He did this...to her...I'm gonna kill him! I don't care if he's a seishi, I'll rip 'm to pieces! The same thing he did to Jade I'll do t' him!" he roared, looking down at the unconcious Jade. Nuriko scopped her up and took her to her room. Mitsukake healed Miaka's arm. "Thank you, Mitsukake! Be sure to heal Jade, okay?" the Priestess requested. The healer turned away and went to Jade's room, followed by Tasuki and Chichiri.
*************
The Celeste Warrior flinched in pain as Mitsukake bandaged her wounds. "You sould consider yourself lucky. With your right arm and leg broken, three broken ribs, a minor concussion, and bruises all over, not many people would be alive after all that." He patted her shoulder gently and told her that he would heal her once he regained his powers. Chichiri grinned at her and left the room, leaving Tasuki alone with Jade. The bandit walked over and sat beside her on the bed. She smiled up at him painfully and tried to grab his hand. Instead, she winced as her side spasmed with pain. He gently put his hand on her cheek and pulled her into a hug. The surprised girl ignored her pain and pressed against the bandit. He pulled her face up until they stared into each other's eyes. "Don' do that again! I was so worried about you!" She grinned, wincing slightly at the pain. Tasuki laid her back down and drew away. He pulled off his shirt, revealing his tanned chest. Jade stared. He had the best body she had ever seen. With a six-pack, amazing biceps, and a muscular chest, it was all she could do not to drool. The bandit got back into the bed and got on his hands and knees over her. Closing his eyes, he concentrated. The Celeste Warrior felt his chi start to enter her body. Strangely, her body didn't hurt anymore. She even felt a little drowsy. Her eyes slid shut as she sighed happily. The bandit crawled off of her once she fell asleep, feeling slightly weaker. He pulled his shirt back on and gently bent down and kissed her. He left before seeing the slight smile playing on the Celeste Warrior's lips.
Wow, that one took forever! Gtg, but will be back soon!