To be a Seishi

Chapter two: Ni Jiyun

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"NO DAAAAA!"

With a scream not unlike a cat being mowed over by a carriage, Tasuki jumped into the air, latching onto the roof beam and hanging on for dear life. The entire dining hall burst into roaring laughter as the monk responsible for such a scene calmly walked to his seat, innocently looking around, "So, what's for breakfast, no da?"

Tasuki, his face nearly as red as his hair, dropped back down onto the ground, nearly falling flat on his face, and he would have too, if Nuriko hadn't quickly reached out, snagging the bandit's collar and pulling him back. This move, in fact saved him only from a headache. It did nothing to help the pain his back felt when the other seishi released him and he fell backwards.

Tamahome snorted into his tea, while, next to him, Miaka was laughing hopelessly at the look of absolute FAKE horror on Nuriko's face. "Oh, Tas!" His voice was high-pitched which only made the miko laugh harder, "I am sooooo sorry! Please forgive me!" And without missing a beat, the warrior of strength glomped the redhead.

"AHH! GET FRICKEN OFF ME YOU...YOU...CROSSDRESSER!"

That was quite enough for Hotohori, who couldn't resist the urge to tease his star brother. "Oh, that was original. Did you think of that one yourself?"

The entire table was laughing so hard, tears were coming out of their eyes, Miaka nearly doubled over her food, chopsticks half-way to her mouth. The only one not laughing their heads off was Chichiri, who only sat there with a small smile on his face.

Tasuki finally managed to free himself of the other and he jumped back, expecting to be able to put enough distance between himself and the cross-dressing seishi. He wasn't expecting to be as close as he was to the table. He slammed into Chichiri, taking them both to the ground, the food the monk had just gathered flying into the air.

Suddenly the situation wasn't so funny anymore, as neither seishi were rising. "Chichiri-san? Tasuki-san?" Chiriko rose to his feet, Mitsukake at his side. "Daijobu?"

A soft voice suddenly reached their ears a second before a red light flashed through the hall.

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It was quiet on the edge of the river, an ideal place to just sit and think. Long fingered hands toyed with a dagger, spinning it in and out of his fingers and from one hand to the other. It was moving so fast it was like watching a light show, the way the sun hit the blade and reflected off.

"Jiyun." A gentle voice broke through the fifteen year olds musings, making him start and look up in surprise. His one free hand immediately went to his raven hair, pulling it free from the thong that held it, letting it fall across one side of his face. It was a reflex, a reaction that he had adapted over time to hide his eyes. They were a piercing green, so piercing and deep he had to hide one, lest people run from him.

"Ranin." His voice was deep for a child, but then again, he hardly looked like a child. His muscles were well-defined and could be seen even through the dark tunic he wore, he stood at a regal height of 5'8 and was far more mature than many would ever dare to guess. "What are you doing here?"

"I went to your house, but Hikari-chan said you weren't home." The girl calmly lowered herself to the ground next to her boyfriend, tucking the edge of her kimono under her knees. "Daijobu?"

"Im fine." Jiyun wouldn't look at her. "I was merely thinking."

"I am worried about you, Jiyun." She said softly, "I wish you wouldn't hide from me." Her light amber eyes were troubled as she toyed nervously with the end of her blonde hair. "I do not mind your eyes. I...I find them beautiful."

He snorted, "My eyes are proof I am the devil's child. These eyes, it is said, defy the gods. I am not meant to live, for demons do not deserve what is given to Suzaku's children. I am a filthy heathen that should be stricken down!" As he said this last word, he slammed the dagger into the hard packed dirt.

"Jiyun, no!" She cried, flinging herself into his arms. "No! You are none of those things! You are Ni Jiyun and I love you!"

He pushed her away, but gently. Now, only several inches away, Ranin quickly brushed the bangs that covered his right eye aside, determined to see both his eyes for the very first time...

"NO!" He screamed. But it was already too late.

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"AHHHHHHH!"

"Tasuki!" Nuriko was all business now, vaulting clear over the table, only to blink in shocked surprise...and snicker.

"WHAT THE HECK DID YOU DO TO MY HAIR!" The bandit jumped to his feet, "YOU...YOU FRICKEN MONK!"

Chichiri calmly stood, brushing food off of his kasa. "What's the problem? I think you look stunning, no da."

Everyone merely blinked, before bursting into laughter once again, Chiriko and Mitsukake nearly falling back into their seats, tears coming out of their eyes from laughing so hard. The blue-haired seishi just gave Tasuki a cat-like grin, before removing his mask and joining the others in helpless laughter, clutching at Nuriko's arm.

"Ha ha, laugh it up!" Tasuki grumbled, "But you frickin better change it back!" He crossed his arms and snarled at Chichiri, which for some reason, only made everyone laugh harder. The bandit groaned and hid his face as several servants crept to the open doors to see what the matter was. They found out real quick. There was a bandit in the dining hall with bright, shocking, neon pink hair.

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Jiyun caught Ranin before she could hit the ground, but the damage had already been done. Her eyes stared straight up at the sky, unblinking and unseeing, her skin was pale, her mouth half-open in shock. The youth stared in horror, both eyes locked onto the corpse of a girl he loved...Had loved... "R-Ran? Ranin!" He shook her, hard, "RANIN!"

Several small children, lured by his screaming, came over the edge of the hill, their eyes wide and full of innocent curiosity. The lead one, a young girl with golden hair and light blue eyes suddenly screamed and burst into a quick run, followed by all the others.

"SISSY!"

Jiyun's head snapped up, the pain so evident on his face, even the youngest there could easily see it. It wasn't until he saw the way their eyes bulged out of their heads did he even think...He hadn't realized...

Minutes later, tears dripping down his face, he stood shakily to his feet, Ranin in his arms. Wind twirled around him, kicked up the dirt from underneath his boots, ruffled the hair of the children sprawled across the grass, blew his hair fully away from his face, revealing his two glowing, green eyes.

"You destroyed my life, made me believe I was a heathen, whose only usefulness was to die." He said to no one, his voice low yet still deadly. "Well look on, people of Konan- LOOK WHAT YOU HAVE MADE!"

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Hehehehe...someone gave me pixie sticks! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAH points at Cheeto HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!

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