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: I'm on vacation. There's no school until the second week of January—I decided to update something.

Chapter Seven – Alliances

Ashitare watched the sun go down from the top of the palace gates. He had been waiting for several hours now. The werewolf sniffed the air suddenly and he turned to stare down at the dark courtyard behind him. His eyes perceived a young man sprinting for the gates, with the smell of his Priestess. Ashitare dropped down in front of the figure and a wide grin split the other's bruised face.

"Sorry," Ritsuko whispered. "But, as you can see, I completely went for a new look." What had taken up the most of her time was her hair. It was cut short in such a way that her bangs and about two inches along the sides stopped above her ears, leaving the remainder of the dark locks to be pulled back into a ponytail. Even though it was clearing up, the bruise was far from unnoticeable. This, along with the stolen clothes from Suboshi, only helped to finalize the look she had been searching for: one of the guys.

Ashitare lifted her easily and cleared the stone wall in one leap. Once she was on solid ground on the other side of the Kutou palace, he began following her by way of the shadows.

Ritsuko took in all around her as she traveled through the streets of Kutou. First experiences told her to stay where it remained brightly lit. The young woman grinned and tucked her arms behind her head. Excited, she hurried to a bright booth and stared at the assortment of snack foods.

The clerk scowled at her and leaned forward. "Are you buy, boy?" he snapped.

'Boy? Oh, that's right…' Ritsuko shook her head and stepped back. She didn't have any currency for this world.

"How much?" a voice asked from behind her. She glanced around and spotted a pale young man with long black hair pulled into a high ponytail. He smiled at her then returned his attention to the old man behind the booth. Ritsuko kept her blush under control; he was treating her—this gorgeous stranger.

"What do you want?" was the snappy reply from the vendor.

"Pork bun," Ritsuko stammered out.

"How many?" the stranger asked.

"Two will be fine," she mumbled.

"Three," he told the clerk.

The items were placed in a paper bag, which was then thrust at Ritsuko. She bowed her head as she accepted it then turned and smiled at the young man. "Is the one yours?" The Priestess of Seiryuu held out the bag.

He shook his head. "All yours."

"Trying to fatten me up?" Ritsuko drawled, reaching in for a pork bun. She took a bite and kept an eye on the man as they fell in step with each other. There was something about him that seemed familiar to her but she had never seen him before in her life; maybe a previous life? She shook her head. "Amai Ritsuko. You can call me 'Ritsu' if you wish."

"Chuin Ruo," he replied, dark eyes gleaming faintly. "I noticed you were kind of aimlessly wandering, so I'm offering to be your tour guide. I know Kutou like the back of my hand." Ritsuko agreed then started on another pork bun. Ruo showed her the safer shortcuts to travel when running through the city and a store that sold a variety of clothing; she made a mental note of its location.

About two hours after her departure from the palace, they ended up in the middle of a bridge overlooking the canal that ran through the city. Ritsuko leaned over the railing, studying her reflection. Ruo reached over and lightly caressed the bruised area. "Who would hit someone so beautiful?"

"Someone cruel," Ritsuko spat, thinking of the blonde shogun. She missed the flash in the man's golden eyes and only saw, closely, his closed lids. Stunned immobile for several moments, Ritsuko remembered her role for the night. "What are you doing?" she panted, hand covering her mouth; she'd just been kissed without permission.

Ruo grinned, tilting his head. "Taking my payment, for the meat buns. Did you really think I wouldn't want something in return?" He grabbed her wrists, drawing her body close against his. "And if you haven't figured it out," he whispered. "I have no interest in women."

"Stop!" Ritsuko shoved him away, drawing an arm across her chest in a reflexive action. She screamed and the scene surrounding her shattered, revealing the street where the pork buns had been bought; her arm was bleeding from a wound on her shoulder.

"Tomo," Ashitare growled. He lifted the woman onto his shoulder and headed back toward the palace.

"Ashitare," Ritsuko whimpered once they cleared the wall for a second time that night. "What… happened? Why…?" The Seiryuu seishi set his Priestess down and dropped to his knees. The bright blue was reflected in the woman's wide eyes and she turned just in time to watch Ashitare crash into the wall. Ritsuko spun back around and glared at the blonde.

"Why did you leave the palace?" Nakago asked in a low voice, his face hidden by the darkness of night.

"You have no right to act without my permission."

He chuckled softly, thriving off of the fear he heard in the woman's trembling voice. "I have no right? Shall I put you back onto the streets and see how long you survive? I have control over your actions until it is time to summon Seiryuu. Tomo, Suboshi." Two figures appeared on either side of the shogun. "Suboshi, take that animal back to its cage. Tomo… provide your dear Priestess with medical attention. Get acquainted, if you wish."

As the pair approached—even with the elaborate appearance—Ritsuko knew exactly who "Tomo" was. "Chuin Ruo…"

"He died," the newest Seiryuu seishi sighed, staring down at her. "Several times over, in fact. So… You're what Seiryuu sent. The woman who made Nakago lose his cool." The corner of his lips turned downward in a scowl. Ritsuko held her bleeding arm, staring at him with wide eyes. "I meant what I said on the bridge," Tomo added, reaching out to caress her bruised cheek. "I have no interest in women."

Movement in the corner of her eye drew her gaze away and she looked to where Suboshi had assisted Ashitare into getting to his feet. "Ashitare…" She backed away from Tomo and ran to the other pair.

"Ah, ah." Ritsuko gasped and stared at her snagged wrists. Her bonds were the black and white feathers that she'd noticed adorning the seishi's elegant headdress. "Come peacefully, Seiryuu no miko-sama, otherwise your wound will fester and we'll have to remove the arm."

Nakago smirked and turned away, heading back into the palace. His good mood vanished as he crossed paths with the new, chosen seishi. Nomura stared past him to where Tomo and Suboshi headed in opposite directions in the courtyard. He glared at the shogun then disappeared. Trust was hard to come by in this "merry" band of warriors; Nakago had none for anyone, especially the boy.

Ritsuko kept her gaze downcast as Tomo treated the wound in her shoulder. She winced as a knot was tied then drew her hands into her lap. "Apparently rebirth has made that beast slightly smarter than before." Tomo eased his hair off his shoulder. "To cause you pain, to wake you from my Illusion." He opened his eyes in time to witness the hand swing around but was not quick enough to avoid it.

Ritsuko worried she might have had too much power in her slap but then remembered he was a male and she was sticking up for Ashitare, who couldn't be here to stick up for himself. Shaking off the sting in her hand, she hurried to where Shin had fallen and placed her sandal-covered foot atop the clam shell. "I just ask to be respected," she mumbled, massaging her bandaged left arm. "You stay out of my way, I'll stay out of yours." The Priestess raised her foot and brought it down hard atop the clam shell.

Tomo raised a hand to his chest, feeling as though his heart shattered along with Shin. His eyes didn't follow the woman as she stormed out and he continued to stare at the scattered pieces of his beloved shell.

Standing out in the empty hall, staring at the hand she'd slapped the older man with, Ritsuko wondered where her violent thoughts and emotions came from. The desire to protect. She sought to protect herself, Ashitare, and anyone else who might need it. Slowly raising her head, the young woman smiled at the two boys waiting for her at the end of the hall. She also wanted to protect those that protected her.

Dressed in a floral pattern, navy blue yukata, Ritsuko left the palace the next morning with Suboshi and Nomura flanking her sides. Because their age differed the most from the others', she assumed that's why they stuck together. With a pouch each full of ryuu, they came to her room with the intention of taking her out. Ritsuko now sought out the store "Chuin Ruo" had shown her last night; she needed new clothes.

Along the way, the trio happened by a young woman selling jewelry. Not too far away, the Priestess heard the crabby man that had sold them the pork buns.

"Care to purchase something for your sister?"

Ritsuko laughed as her seishi blushed and took a step forward to inspect the merchandise. "That wish they were my brothers, but we are close." She reached out, pointing. "This one, please." The clerk smiled, nodding.

They stopped by the man's snack booth as they continued to the store. Oh, how his tune had changed when he caught sight of the true Ritsuko.

§§§

Leaving her purchases in the good and capable hands of Suboshi and Nomura, the young woman hurried through the palace, retracing her steps as best as she could remember from the dark night. Stopping before the large door, she pushed it open. "Ruo-kun?" The sheets shifted, informing her that whom she sought was there. Closing the door behind her, Ritsuko hurried over and took a seat at the edge of the bed. "Ruo-kun."

"Go away," came the muffled and soft voice. "I bought you a present." The brunette reached for the tops of the sheets and drew them away. What lay before her now was the true form of the celestial warrior Tomo.

Innocent, shy, and hidden behind his freed dark locks; he no longer wore his face paint and his pales features were those of the man Ritsuko remembered having traveled through Kutou with. He raised his head to glance at the woman for a brief moment then looked away.

"I wanted to apologize," Ritsuko explained in a soft voice, opening the bag she held in her lap. "My behavior was uncalled for, no matter how strong my emotions ran. So, here…" Tomo blinked at the hand entering his line of vision and the golden orbs grew wide as the digits parted to reveal a clam shell. "I don't know if it'll work the same as the other, but I felt really bad about letting my anger dictate my actions."

Tomo sat up slowly, taking the woman's hand in both of his. His head lowered, he uttered a soft "thank you".

Ritsuko smiled warmly. "Can we be friends?" she inquired, using her other hand to tilt the brunet's head upward.

Tomo avoided her gaze but she noticed the faint blush tingeing his cheeks. "Un," the seishi murmured, nodding. His eyes widened as he was drawn into a tight embrace.

"I won't let you have my boys, though," Ritsuko whispered teasingly into his ear.

Nakago stood outside the closed room, his head tilted upward. What had Seiryuu been thinking, bringing such a woman into their world? He scowled and took his leave before he was noticed. A certain purple-haired seishi had been aware of him for she had been following the Priestess. Soi squeezed her hand into a tight fist and headed off.

Keisuke reluctantly shut the book then looked back into the house. "Sakaki!"

"I'm coming!" The girl appeared at the end of the hallway, the handle of her school case held tightly between her lips. She was still brushing her hair. Keisuke watched her complete a few more strokes then took the brush away and tossed it back in the vicinity of the living room. "Coach!" she shouted.

"You got the wind-tossed look running for the train. If we don't leave now, it'll be the truth. Not that it isn't true…" He groaned. "Come on!"

Mayo sighed, quickly slipping her feet into her shoes, and the door closed behind them.

§§§

The coach and basketball player both yawned loudly, Mayo's head falling to rest against his arm as they rode the crowded train. Both were too tired to care about any looks they might be receiving. Keisuke had stayed up reading the Shi Jin Tenchi Sho; Mayo had woken up two hours after falling asleep in order to wash her clothes in preparation for a new day.

Keisuke tilted his head and stared at the face of his watch. "Ten more minutes," he said softly to himself. "Ten more minutes, then it's a straight walk from the station to the school. Amai-sensei, you better still be alive."