Umm… yeah. I'm back!n.n "(( ))" are author's comments since we can't use asterisks any more… -cries-
On another note, brackets seem to have been banned, so just pretend that they're there for the translations… -.- And the "…" is the little break.
Volume One: Chapter Two
It was late that night, as Chichiri lay restless in his bed, that he realized that something was missing. No, not something, someone. But, who? He rolled over on his mattress, trying to find a more comfortable position. Who could possibly be missing? He shook his head, blue hair glittering in the moonlight. Blue. That was it!
He crept slowly out of bed, careful not to disturb Tasuki, who was snoring loudly on the bunk above him. He opened the door quietly, passed through, and slid it shut just as silently. He stood outside his companion's room, trying to remember the layout of the bandit stronghold.
If he was correct, it would be all the way on the other side of the stronghold. He groaned softly, knowing his memory was true and uneager to walk all the way to his destination. He began to walk towards that end of the stronghold, quiet as a cat.
He'd been walking for a while, and, finally, he came upon the room. He slid open the door quietly, hushing its loud creak. The room was empty. Empty to his eyes at least, for what he was looking for was not there. Kouji was missing.
Chichiri then walked back to his room, satisfied. He would ask the bandit leader about it in the morning, but now, he must sleep. The monk curled up on his bed and fell asleep instantly, dreams of moon and light filling his head.
…
But, Chichiri hadn't been the only one up late at night. A pair of red eyes watched him in his sleep.
"It's late; you should sleep," whispered a soft voice. The eyes blinked, then opened, then the watcher left.
…
Chichiri woke up late that day, for the sun was nearly at its zenith. He yawned and stretched and went about his morning business. He had the slightest inkling that he was forgetting something, and, he knew, he was. Ther was something… something missing.
The Tasuki entered the room, peering through the door at Chichiri. "Oi," he said loudly, startling the monk out of his thoughts. "Finally awake, ne? We already ate, but I saved ya sommet' from th' kitchens."
"Arigatou, no da," said the monk wearily, "I'm starving!"
Several minute later, he was enjoying his slightly warm meal. Despite that it was no-longer hot, the monk was enjoying his first real meal in a while with relish. "Oishi Yummy/ Tastes good, no da!" he exclaimed happily.
"Glad ya think so." Tasuki grinned. "S'my own secret recipe! First time cookin' it, tho…" At this, Chichiri's eyes bulged and he spit out his breakfast (luckily, they were outside). "Nah, I'm jus' kiddin'! Kame-kun made it as an apology for lockin' ya out yesterday."
"A-Ara O-oh…" Chichiri said in a strained voice. Then he remembered his question. "Ano Umm… Tasuki?"
"Hai Yes?"
"Last night I went for a walk and… where's Kouji, na no da?"
Just then, Kame yelled over to them. "Ooooooooooi Heeeeeeeeeeeey!! Gen-sama!" he shouted, completely covering what Chichiri had said while blasting the two seishi's ears off. "Wuja come 'ere? Would you come here? ((Bandit language is so much like my native "Texanese."))"
"Eh? I guess I'd better go over… huh. Welp ((Just like what I say… -sweatdrops-)), later, 'Chiri."
Chichiri watched as Tasuki walked over to where Kame was standing. The two talked for a bit, laughed, and walked off in the opposite direction.
Chichiri sighed and said to himself, "I guess I'll just have to ask later, no da…"
"Ask what later?" For a second, Chichiri looked up hopefully, thinking it was Kouji, but, no, it wasn't. Chichiri looked around, but he couldn't see anyone there.
"Ano Umm… where are you? Who are you?"
Then, from behind an old oak, stepped out a girl, roughly Tasuki's age, with her long chocolate brown hair braided behind her. She stared back at Chichiri with her large red eyes, not blinking. "I'm here," she said haughtily, "and my name is Shiahara… Shiahara Shizuka ((last name before first, Japanese style. ;p))."
"Ano Umm, hajimemashite nice to meet you, no da! Chichiri desu I'm Chichiri, na no da!" He smiled at her politely, and, eventually, the corners of her curled up slightly in a small smile.
"Nice to meet you, too."
They stared at each other for a while, then Chichiri looked away and said, "So… ano umm… do you live in the village at the bottom of this mountain?"
"Iie No," she replied, "I don't live… close by." She looked away, embarrassed at her poor response, a slight blush touching her cheeks.
"Would you like to stay here, then, no da? I'd have to ask Tasuki, no da… demo but… I think he'd agree, no da. How about it?"
"H-hai Y-yes… that would be very kind of you… A-arigatou Thank you, Chichiri-san. Ara Oh! Can… do you think my friend could stay, too?"
"Friend? I don't see why not, no da. Where is your friend, no da?"
"Here," spoke a soft voice from behind the old oak. "I-I… I'm here…" The brown-haired girl, Shizuka, went behind the tree and, after a few moments, pulled her friend out with her. She was young, and about a head shorter than her more outgoing friend. She had long light blue hair that was tied in a plat at her back. Her cloths were finer than Shizuka's, but the only sign of wealth was a small necklace at her throat, a silky black band with a minute grey-blue pearl shining prettily. Her soft grey eyes looked away as she blushed shyly. "A-ano U-umm… gomen ne I'm sorry… I… I'm very… shy…"
"Daijobu It's okay, no da," he said, smiling, "and don't worry, no da. I'm sure Tasuki will let you both stay here with us, no da."
…
At that moment, on the other side of the stronghold, Tasuki sneezed.
"What is it, Gen-sama?" asked Kame.
"Eh… must be catching a cold… goddamn weather," he said, whipping his nose with the end of his sleeve, Kame grimacing at the vulgar sight ((just felt like putting that there)). "But… just now, "said Tasuki wearily, "I got a sudden chill…" He shivered.
"Maybe someone's talking about you?"
"Well, who ever it is," he said irritably, "they better not do it anymore!"
…
Later that day, Chichiri was waiting in the bandit leader's room with the two girls.
"A-ano U-umm… gomen ne I'm sorry…" said the blue-haired one, "I-I've been extremely rude… I haven't told you my name…"
"Daijobu It's okay, no da. So… what's your name, no da?"
"Ara Ah… I-I'm Aotsuki," she said, blushing slightly.
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Author Comments
Yes, it's a short chapter. Yes, it's a bit of a cliff-hanger. Sorry!!!!
Thank you for waiting so patiently for this chapter!!! I had finals and was doing (almost) nothing but studying!!! Please forgive me!!!
Other stuff: Hmm… okies. "Kame" means "turtle," so he's kinda slow, ne? "Aotsuki" most likely, and I couldn't resist this, means "blue moon." I have no idea what "Shizuka" means, but I like the way it sounds.
So, there are no brackets to indicate translations, but my poor translations are still there! -sweatdrops-
Answering Reviews
To Rhapsody-san: Yeah. Good thing it caught your attention, ne? The summary will be back later and will be important! So, five of the six "cards" have been introduced, the sixth is yet to come! Try and guess who is what card; it's fun!n.n
To O.T.-san: Heh! Thanks for your support! Nine reviews already! Heehee! Thanks for the complement! I try to spell well, but my elementary school never taught spelling! -sweatdrops- I used to have to have Shinju-chan (yes, the one reviewing) edit all my chapters (like in Everyday Defects), but I have spell-check and she doesn't. (smiles evily)
To Shinju-chan: Are you proud yet? Because, if you are, then it makes my job a lot easier. (grins) Was this chapter enjoyable? It was fun, yet stressful and hard, to write because it gave me a break from studying for the dreaded finals. (smile smile)
To Kitsuna-san: Heh… this probably wasn't soon enough, huh… (sweatdrops) (I'm not indenting on this, so deal with this.) Tasuki: U-ugg… yet another fangirl. Nakago: At least it's not another fan-guy. Tasuki: (grimaces) Uh… yeah… I guess… Kitsuna: Yuuuuummm…. Tasuki tastes like… ice-cream! (smile smile) ((You did bite him…)) Mie-chan: Uh… this sounds like something Shinju-chan would do… Like that time with the "Tasuki bed-mattress ((read Everyday Defects if you want to find out, because I'mm to lazy to explain!!!))"… (sweatdrops)
To Shadow Scribe-san: Heh. Glad you're amused. I couldn't write angst if I wanted to, and even my drama seems to be taking its own course into the "general/romance" category… (sweatdrops) But there is a lot of drama later on… And it will torture all of you… most likely… Except Shinju-chan because she's all "indifferent" to the pain of people who like her bishies… (sweatdrops)
To Cheeto-san: Soon enough? I just got it all typed up! I've had it written on paper for a while, but typing! Ugg! It's such a bother! It hurts my back! (weeps) But, for my loyal reviewers, I had to do it!! (triumphant hero face)
-The ever-so-late Mie-chan