Title: Historic Travels

Author: Cheza-chan

Rating: PG-13

Summary: As most Priestesses who travel into the Shi Jin Tenchi Sho, Amai Ritsuko has a similar set of troubling issues and a few new ones of her own. Will her upbeat attitude give her the strength she needs to succeed in her perilous journey? And can she tame the hearts of the Seiryuu Shichiseishi?

Disclaimer: I would never lay claim to any of Yuu Watase-san's work, but if I could… I'd let Miaka and Tamahome die a thousand times over and don't bring them back alive in the end. (laughs evilly)

A/N: Weeeeeeeee! A review! I'm happy… and because I'm happy, even though it's a little late in its arrival, I bring forth another chapter of this story! (bounces about)

Chapter Four – Arrivals

Nakago gave her a once-over and his eyebrow rose almost imperceptibly. "The legend speaks of a girl coming from another world, but you… How old are you?"

"Fifteen," Ritsuko said caustically, her smile sour. "Don't I look it?" Ignoring him and the boy who had kept such a large secret from her, she faced the nonchalant man seated on the throne. "I just want to go home. Is there any way you can do that?"

"There is a way."

She bristled and glared at the smug blonde behind her. "And what then?" the woman snapped. "What do I do after I gather these remaining people—form a circle and chant?"

"In a fashion…" Nakago smirked and Ritsuko wanted to claw her way up his face.

"What right do I have to be someone else's priestess when I'm not even respected?" she scoffed. Nakago had dismissed her as if she were nothing. 'That's your fault.' She silenced the annoying voice in the back of her mind and closed her eyes. She would remain locked in the room until Keisuke or Taka found some way to rescue her.

Nomura sighed deeply and stared at the closed door before him. He raised his hand and knocked. "Ritsuko-san? Ritsuko-san, please. Open the door." He opened his fingers against the smooth surface and lowered his head. "It's not that I lied to you, I just didn't tell you—there's a difference. I, too, hoped there might have been another way to send you home and was a little reluctant to come to the capital. I was born to protect you, Ritsuko-san. I'll remain by your side until your journey has ended to make sure no harm befalls… you…" Nomura drew his hand away as the door opened.

Ritsuko stared blankly at him. "Stop… preaching. Stop begging. Your voice, it's annoying." Nomura's green eyes widened. "It reminds me of Shinji Yamada-kun's, and he doesn't beg. And you are Shinji Yamada. I see it in your eyes." Her face relaxed into a weary smile. "Call me 'Ritsuko-chan'."

"Ritsuko-chan," Nomura said obediently.

"Repeat after me." Ritsuko leaned against the doorframe. "'Ritsuko-chan, you will be our priestess.'"

The boy's face shone brightly. "Ritsuko-chan, you will be our priestess."

"If you insist." The woman shrugged and began laughing.

Nomura relaxed greatly and smiled. It was a comforting sound—Amai Ritsuko's laugh. Nakago's eyes narrowed where he stood hidden around the corner. The former Priestess of Seiryuu never laughed like that.

She wasn't laughing anymore. Reluctant to leave the palace grounds, Ritsuko paced about her room the following morning. From one side to the other, she repeatedly asked herself why she accepted the position of Priestess when the only thing she knew about this world were the countries' names and three citizens.

The young woman stopped before the window and pushed the decorated shutters open. Her room faced the eastern side of the kingdom, allowing her to see the rolling and rocky plains of Kutou. Ritsuko smiled and lifted herself onto the sill, swinging her legs as she stared at the scenery that could never be found in central Tokyo. 'Tokyo.' She closed her eyes and pictured her class. 'The basketball team wasn't even able to see me in action.'

"Ritusko-sama." Two soft raps to the large door came. Ritsuko sighed and jumped onto the hard floor of her room. "Ritsuko-sama," the persistent female voice continued. "Are you awake? Nakago-sama requests… a word." The maiden girl bowed her head as the door opened. "Nakago-sama wishes to see you," she repeated. "I've come to prepare you."

Ritsuko blinked. "Prepare?"

"You must be cleaned and dressed accordingly."

"I can clean myself," the woman muttered.

"Ritsuko-sama, it is not wise to keep the shogun waiting."

Ritsuko's eyes narrowed and she took a step back. The girl raised her head. "From what I understand, Nakago answers to me, not the other way around. I hold the fate of this world in my hands," she said in a much softer voice. "Let him wait." The door was slammed shut.

The young girl hiked up her gown and hurried back down the hall to relay the message to the Seiryuu seishi. Behind her, Nomura appeared before Ritsuko's door, a grin on his face. "Ritsuko-chan, good morning!"

"Nomura-kun," the woman whispered loudly, halfway out her window. She waved.

"Were you planning on escaping?" the boy questioned, taking her hands. She had changed into the dress Kaen had given her, but her bathing suit was still underneath. Nomura lifted her out and slid his arms around her waist.

"I was," the Priestess admitted.

"Well. We should leave quickly." A second before, she stood on solid ground, now she floated high above the palace grounds. "Teleportation," the boy explained, the faint glow of his seishi symbol visible through his white silk shirt. "And a manipulation of the water molecules in the air. I solidify them enough to stand on them."

"This is great," Ritsuko laughed, her arms tight around the boy's neck. She stared down at the front gates, making Nomura do the same.

"Looks like our shogun won't be coming to visit you today," he commented. "Let's see what's going on."

They disappeared once more and Ritsuko was quickly drawn out of the line of fire. Nakago scowled at their sudden appearance. The young woman pulled away from Nomura and threw herself against the blonde, knocking him aside. The attacking wolf missed its mark and its paws scraped over the stony ground as the animal tried to regain its footing.

The shogun wrapped his cloak around the woman at his side and with his left hand, formed a life force ball that he fired. With a series of pained yelps, the wolf rolled along its side before coming to a final stop. "Is it dead?" Ritsuko asked softly. She pulled away. "How did it get in?"

"Good question." Nakago glared at the men behind him dragging their wounded and dead away.

"It's still alive…" Ritsuko had already run by Nomura when she made that statement and was now kneeling beside the creature. She placed a hand to its racing heart. 'Why have you come here?' The wolf's blood red eyes flew open and its head turned sharply, jaw wide to capture the woman's hand between it. Ritsuko's hair flew about her face as Nakago's chi blast grazed her cheek. The attack tore through the animal, causing the crimson liquid to splatter over the ground. The wolf's tongue rolled from its mouth, the pooling blood slowly beginning to darken already dark fur.

"Insolent animal," Nakago spat, disdain heavy in his tone. He hid his bleeding right hand amongst the folds of his cloak. "To attack your own Priestess—rebirth made you no smarter."

Ritsuko was pulled from her shock at the man's words. She faced Nakago, a mixture of emotions on her face. "That was…?"

"A Seiryuu seishi," the man replied in an even tone.

"Why did you kill him?" Ritsuko yelled, still unable to find the strength to rise. Nomura reacted quickly and drew her away from the slowly flowing blood; the hem of her dress was caught in it and slapped against her leg.

"Take her to get cleaned up," Nakago instructed the wide-eyed boy, bypassing the question thrown at him. Turning his back to them, he addressed the soldiers lingering about.

"Let's go," Nomura whispered softly to his Priestess, squeezing her hand. Ritsuko nodded and allowed him to lead her out of the courtyard. She caught Nakago's eye ands scowled. He smirked then returned to ordering the men to take the carcass down to the dungeons.

Nakago drew his arm out from under his cloak and scowled at the torn and bleeding skin. 'I'll get her tonight… She needs to be here anyway.' He stormed away toward the horse stalls.

§§§

Ritsuko whimpered, scrubbing furiously at her calf where the blood had slowly dried up. She threw the cloth behind her once finished then sank into the water until it covered the top of her head; this was her domain. The young woman sat there a few moments, allowing herself to calm down then raised her head, gasping softly for air.

Two handmaidens stood nearby, their eyes closed and their heads bowed as they obediently waited for her finish. Ritsuko sighed and ran her hands through her hair.

Mayo worked on her schoolwork while still occasionally glancing at the Shi Jin Tenchi Sho. Keisuke had left her about fifteen minutes ago to go to his bedroom; she knew better than to move from her spot at the table. Pushing her textbook aside, she brought the Universe of the Four Gods forward and gave it her full attention.

"The young boy paused in his steps and quickly became one with the shadows to observe the horse now entering the palace grounds. It carried two riders…"