Alright guys the 'long' awaited Chapter 3! Yay! lol. I am sorry if I took too long to update. SeriouslyI only needed to write a few more lines to it and thenI had school...soI couldnt post it until like forever. Okay so what school ends at noon butI had to do a stupid project. So yeah...lol. Well you probably want to just read the story already!
Disclaimer: I don't own FY! But I do own Keiko/Aiko
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Chapter 3
Everyone was still in silence lost in their own thoughts. Nuriko was thinking to himself, 'What the hell…why am I so peeved…because he left her. I would never leave anyone there…it's not just her…I would feel the same if he left any one of us there…' He tried telling himself, 'But damn…she's a brave woman…to protect them like that and willingly stay in Kuto…god its so stupid its probably going to get her killed…' Nuriko thought growing even more worried as he tried to think if she was okay.
'Chichiri…left her…in Kuto,' Hotohori repeated to himself. It was hard to believe. That the bubbly, shy, outgoing, and definitely stubborn/assertive girl was now trapped in Kuto. Another hard thought for him to swallow was that Tamahome…attacked them. He attacked Miaka. His thoughts kept going to Keiko, 'I'm just worried because she is a fellow warrior…' He told himself. 'Damn it I love Miaka right? And now even Tamahome is out of the way…' He tried to tell himself although he wasn't entirely convinced.
'I left her in Kuto…oh god what did I do!' Chichiri thought pained. He had left a young beautiful girl in Kuto…it didn't help that she was plain out gorgeous knowing Nakago had sick ideas. 'What did I just call her!' He thought for a moment. 'Sure pretty whatever…I can say a girl is pretty…as long as I don't ever have close feelings for her…' He reassured himself quickly to then go back to his previous argument with himself. 'But she shoved me in the portal…' He told himself in defense but knew it wasn't good enough. He should have been able to do something…anything! Geeze…he should've at least stayed in Kuto with her! He told himself. 'How will I ever face her again?' He asked himself then it really hit him hard this time. 'Will I face her again because of what I've done…I may never be able to face her again…she may never come back…god.' Chichiri thought now extremely worried and panicked almost. Had he just left her to her death in Kuto? Is that what had just happened!
As if too make things worse Mitsukake returned looking exhausted and he hadn't even been able to heal Tasuki completely. "Everyone…" He interrupted seeing them lost in thought. They all looked up at him, "Tasuki has awaken…and," He looked almost nervous as he said the next part, "He wants Keiko…what should we tell him?"
"You mean you didn't say anything to him yet?" Nuriko asked surprised.
"No…I just didn't answer his questions about her…I didn't know what to tell him." Mitsukake answered.
"I guess I have to tell him." Chichiri said dropping his no da so everyone noted how serious he was being at the moment. He even removed his mask and you could see how troubled he was. No one argued to this and they all nodded their heads solemnly. So Chichiri left and went to Tasuki's room.
"Where the hell is Keiko!" Tasuki was yelling at one of the guards outside the window when the door opened. "Chichiri!" Tasuki said happily but then freaked to see him with out his mask. The news…was going to be bad.
"Hello Tasuki…" Chichiri said never breaking eye contact with Tasuki as he took a seat near the bed. "I have done something unforgivable…" He started.
Tasuki looked at him utterly confused, "What the hell are ya talkin' about Chichiri?" He asked a sinking feeling in his stomach.
"Keiko…she's…in Kuto." Chichiri finally said it out loud.
Tasuki blinked once as the information sank in. Then his eyes looked furious…you could see the fire dancing in them ,"What?" He answered calmly to repeat the question not as calm, "WHAT THE HELL DO YOU MEAN!" He yelled.
"I mean…she never got back," Chichiri answered. "She was fighting with Tamahome…"
"Oh god…" Tasuki choked out, "Don't tell me…that she died…" He said his heart feeling like it was about to be ripped out.
"No!" Chichiri answered almost too quickly. "She was alive when I left." He added.
"What!" Tasuki said not furious but you could see his eyes watering at the thought his twin was dead…his twin sister…who he had adored and looked after his entire life.
"She had pinned Tamahome down for us to escape…" Chichiri started. "And I came and told her we needed to leave…but she wouldn't come. I was going to grab her but…she was using her wind power to hold him down…so if I reached for her I would have been pinned as well." Chichiri said. "I kept telling her to let him go…" Chichiri said getting more depressed with every word. "And she yelled at me to go and then stopped, used her wind to throw me in my own kesa and…that was it…the portal closed." Chichiri said concern in his voice. "And-and…I left her…in Kuto." Chichiri finished.
Tasuki was scanning the monks depressed face, "Chichiri…oh god." He said as he looked up at no particular section of the ceiling and his hand was in a fist against his chin/mouth. "She's in Kuto…and she-she could be dead right now…?" Tasuki said trying to keep calm.
"Yes…" Chichiri answered.
"Chichiri you know what kind of a place Kuto is…and who is in Kuto right?" Tasuki asked.
"Yes…" Chichiri answered again.
"Then…why the HELL did ya leave her THERE?" Tasuki asked his eyes tearing even more. "Chichiri…she can't be dead…" He said as if trying to explain like the monk didn't understand that or something. Chichiri made the wise decision to just stay quiet. "What do we do? When can we get back there and get her?" Tasuki asked raising his eyes up at Chichiri. "You better find a way to get her back…I don't care how we do it…but we are going to go get her." He said as if in a challenging way for Chichiri to even try protesting against him.
"I'm sorry Tasuki…" Chichiri added in.
"Yeah well ya can tell that ta her when she gets back…and she's ALIVE!" Tasuki said harshly. He felt bad for what he was saying to the monk…but this was his sister. His twin sister…she was family.
Chichiri looked at him and nodded slightly all though it was hard to say when he would be able if ever to tell her that. So Chichiri rose from the chair leaving Tasuki to his worries that now troubled him greatly and Chichiri went out of the room. A while later another knock on the door came.
"What do ya want!" Tasuki asked agitated and glared at the door. Although what shocked him was who opened it and let themselves in.
"Well hello Tasuki." Tamahome said smirking evilly. That's when Tasuki saw the unconscious girl in his arms.
"Tamahome let her go!" Tasuki said now panicked for his sister. Why did Tamahome bring her back…?
"Oh well I just thought I would let her, you know. Say hello before I go drown her in that lake and then I'm off to kill that precious Suzaku no miko…" He said smirking again.
Keiko stirred slightly and opened her eyes half way to have pain jolt through her body. Her head was turned to her brother, "Oni-chan?" She whispered confused wondering how in the world he had gotten there in Kuto…she had helped them escape, right?
"Oh god Keiko! Hang on!" Tasuki said moving despite his injuries.
"Nah-uh-uh!" Tamahome taunted stepping away from the bed.
"Tamahome please put her down!" Tasuki pleaded moving getting pissed off…but Tamahome had the upper hand so he was trying to keep as calm as possible for Keiko's sake.
When Keiko heard the voice she realized she was being held and her eyes moved up to look up at her captor. "You!" She said at last a bit shocked. She went to move and found that she couldn't. "Oni-chan!" She said alarmed now realizing that obviously something was going to happen and it wasn't good.
"Hang on Keiko!" Tasuki said feeling helpless as he realized his friends had 'removed' his weapons so now he truly felt helpless.
"Say good bye to your beloved Oni-chan Keiko," Tamahome taunted.
Keiko's gaze went back to her brother, "Oni-chan! What's going on!" She asked in a plead like voice as he was trying to move himself from the bed. Tamahome began backing to the door.
"Good bye Tasuki," Tamahome began, "I was going to kill you…but killing this bitch means you'll suffer more so…" He said shrugging his shoulders slightly. And smirked slipping out the door.
"ONI-CHAN!" Keiko screamed as she was pulled through the door.
"Damn it!" Tasuki yelled as he grew furious and his symbol began to burn. He now was so furious he began to use his speed…well a little of it. It pushed him up and to the door as he pulled it open and he went out the door. He looked to see Tamahome already gone. He panicked as he went straight for the lake/pond. He ended up running into Nuriko who was running the other direction.
"Tasuki!" Nuriko yelled in shock.
"Nuriko go get Tamahome he has Keiko!" Tasuki yelled trying to pull himself up when Nuriko did the job for him.
"But I was just on my way to get him and…he was alone." Nuriko looked confused and wondered what the bandit was talking about.
"Oh god…" Tasuki looked horrified confusing Nuriko even more.
"Nuriko hurry go back to the lake and get Keiko out!" Tasuki said demandingly. This wasn't an option kind of thing.
"Out!" Nuriko questioned as the situation began to sink in. "Oh-" Nuriko yelled getting cut off as he dropped Tasuki lightly back to the ground and took back off to the lake. The water was already calm when he got there. He dived in and looked under water to see Keiko floating lifelessly tied to something on the bottom. Quicker than he thought he had untangled her and brought her to the surface gasping for his own breath. He placed her up on the ground and was panting looking her over.
"Keiko?" He whispered to see if she would respond but knew she wouldn't. He didn't hesitate only thinking that about her possibly dying so he reacted by performing CPR. He only did the process once as she started coughing up water. "Good. Good," Nuriko repeated overjoyed that he hadn't been too late. He helped her sit up after her coughing fit was over. Only then did she open her eyes.
"Nuriko?" She blinked a few times seeing him there smiling.
"Yep." He said cheerfully.
She seemed to now snap back to her senses, "What about oni-chan?" Keiko asked alarmed.
"Whoa hey he's okay calm down." Nuriko said. He then looked her over seeing her burns from Nakago and other wounds. He inwardly was growing furious but he tried to contain it as he lifted her up with ease with out using his seishi power and brought her quickly back to the room Tasuki was in. Tasuki was still sitting outside and he smiled as he saw that Nuriko had brought Keiko back. He paused for a minute as he went in the room and went to place Keiko down.
She turned her head to his chest not really knowing where she was since everything was happening so fast. "Thanks…" Keiko whispered her eyes closing and she clung to his shirt with one hand while her other arm was around him neck. Nuriko blushed slightly and he starred down at her.
"Anytime…" Nuriko whispered knowing already that she was out. He laid her gently down on another bed in the room then went back outside to assist Tasuki to his bed.
"Thanks Nuriko," Tasuki said very genuinely.
"Like I said…anytime." Nuriko shrugged like it was no big deal.
Tasuki grinned at his friend and took an extra note on how Nuriko had delicately treated her wounds the best he could and took a last quick glance at her before he slipped out the door.
Later on he came back with Mitsukake who went swiftly to the new patient first since he wanted to see the extent of the damage. He asked in an alarmed voice, "Tasuki has she woken up since she's been put here!" He asked glancing over his shoulder to look at him.
"No why!" Tasuki asked catching on to the urgency.
"She was bleeding internally." Mitsukake said lightly as he unwrapped his hand and began healing Keiko. After a few minutes he looked exhausted. "I healed her wounds…" He said smiling slightly. "But when she wakes up she's going to have a pretty bad headache." He said as he stood and looked at Tasuki. "Can I finish you tomorrow?" He asked all though Tasuki wasn't really going to get a choice.
"Yeah, yeah no problem." Tasuki said brushing it off not really caring since Keiko was finally doing better.
Mitsukake smiled at him and took his leave. Nuriko slumped against an armchair. "What an eventful day…" He said shaking his head.
"Yeah…" Tasuki agreed.
Nuriko looked up at this, "Oh but you don't even know half of it." Nuriko said tired. "Tamahome was under some kind of spell and went for Miaka but his highness fought him off…and won. Only Miaka nearly freaked and somehow Tamahome fought through whatever spell it was," Nuriko said waving a hand at the things he didn't know detail to, "And then Mitsukake healed him and so forth…his highness…" Nuriko stumbled. "Is still in love with Miaka." He stated plainly.
"When was it ever different?" Tasuki asked letting the news sink in.
"Well his feelings were wavering…for a while at least. He may pursue them now…but." Nuriko ended leaving it in the air.
"Pursue…after?" Tasuki raised an eyebrow then continued with a frown, "Keiko." He stated. "My sister will not be some substitute for Miaka for him," Tasuki said to the point.
Nuriko looked startled at first at Tasuki's bluntness and over protective manor of his sister. If he recalled right that this same bandit had abandoned. He couldn't believe it when he heard it…he would never have left his sister. "I agree…" Nuriko added to his own surprise. His heart wasn't listening to what his brain was telling him.
"Really?" Tasuki questioned surprised then smacked his face and ran his hand down it until he rested it in a fist beneath his chin. "So just how many of yah have fallen for my sister anyways?" He asked grinning catching on quickly.
Nuriko now looked twice as startled and shifted uncomfortably in his seat, "What-what are you talking about Tasuki?" Nuriko asked.
"Well you should now…" Tasuki's grin grew, "Since you love all this type of gossip and anyways…you love the emperor so you couldn't be apart of it." Tasuki tested raising a brow slightly.
"That's not true!" Nuriko blurted out too quickly. Then covered his own mouth his eyes wide as Tasuki smirked.
"I knew it." Tasuki chuckled settling back against the bed more comfortable. "But still…so there's the Emperor…you…and uh who else?" Tasuki chuckled finding all this very amusing. She had been there for what…a few hours?
Nuriko looked around and his gaze fell back on Tasuki, "Well uh…I dunno…the emperor loves Miaka but that may not stop him from wanting Keiko too…" Nuriko trailed on. "And then uh…Chichiri looked kind a flustered…hm he thinks he hides behind his little mask…" Nuriko chuckled recalling the expression Chichiri had possessed along with the tint of blush that even peeked though his mask.
"Yeah and uh…what about you?" Tasuki asked looking at him devilishly.
"Uh me!" Nuriko chirped sitting as far back into his chair as he could.
"No the other purple haired cross-dresser," Tasuki said sarcastically.
Nuriko smiled nervously, "Well um…of course I like her." Nuriko said lightly.
"I didn't ask if ya liked her…I asked if ya fell for her." Tasuki said looking annoyed with playing twenty questions for one real answer.
Nuriko sat there not answering for a moment and just looked at Tasuki, "I don't think it concerns you," Nuriko answered at last.
"What!" Tasuki looked angry at Nuriko. "What do you mean it doesn't concern me! It's my freaking sister!"
"What…when? When you finally decided to take her back…?" Nuriko said and that was the end of that discussion. He was about to leave the room when Keiko stirred and woke up quickly.
"Ow…" She whispered holding a hand to her forehead. "What happened…? Was I hit by a carriage of what?" She whispered as she closed her eyes for a moment to reopen them and push herself up in her bed. Then she blinked in surprise to notice people were actually there. "Oh…uh hi?" She said smiling as the hand on her forehead went behind her head and her other one did a some what like flicking motion that was meant to be a wave.
"Hey!" Tasuki said smiling and Nuriko mimicked.
Tasuki then motioned for her to come over to his bed. Which she did quickly and sat on the edge of it. "You're-" She began to be cut off by him grabbing her and holding her tightly. His head rested on her shoulder into her hair. "-not…mad?" She looked very confused as to what had just taken place.
"Don't do it again." He said sternly holding her tightly.
She raised an eyebrow and looked over at Nuriko questioningly and mouthed, 'What happened to him?' "Uh…Tasuki…usually this is where my actual oni-chan would scream at me for what I did…" She hinted wondering when it was coming so she could brace herself.
"Well this is a different scenario because I thought you were dead and I have to say that definitely changes things." Tasuki said still not even loosening his hold on her.
"Okay well still oni-chan…" She said slightly lighter in voice. "It doesn't change my need to breathe!" She said choking for air.
"No way." Tasuki said laughing slightly moving to where she could breathe and she inhaled sharply and she smiled up at him. So she hugged him back since he didn't seem to want to let go anytime soon.
"Alright that's enough now." Keiko chuckled pulling away as he playfully tugged back. "oni-chan…" She whined trying to pull away. "Come on I want to go outside." She complained in a childish voice which he laughed at.
Then Nuriko intervened, "I agree with Keiko. She should hang out outside it's a nice day." He said with out effort freeing Keiko from Tasuki.
"Thanks Nuriko!" Keiko smiled up at him tilting her head slightly. Tasuki pretended to pout. "Oh hush I'll be back. It's not like I'm going away for years just maybe an hour or two."
He didn't catch at what she was hinting to but answered, "It'll feel like years." He mumbled complaining. Keiko shout him her 'pity' look and then laughed as she went out the door with Nuriko who quickly followed after her.
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Hey guys I wanted to thank you for your reviews...now I truly am not ignoring...I send you all a little message thing when you click reply. But do you guys even get those? Idk...so if you could let me know if you do or not cuz otherwiseI guess I'm wasting my time sending them! lol. So just incase you didnt get them. I'm going to reply to reviews here.
caspercat22: Well I took into consideration Chichiri...and now grr I don't know who to pair her with lol. So right now I'm going to toy around with them all. lol. So if you really have a strong opinion on who should/shouldnt be with her then please do share! I'd love to hear your opinion! . Thanks for your review!
DevoTheMadCashCow: lol I know those cliff hangers stink. Did I update quick enough? Cuz I was trying. And honestly I think I'm doing pretty good. Other people update monthly and yeah...I'm pulling off every couple of days. So I thought I was doing okay lol. But yeah let me know. And if you want to let me know about your opinion on who she should end up with too go ahead and tell me! I'd love to know your opinion! . Thanks for your review!
As an extra thing I'd like to say if you want to email me it's now I seriously know that this sn sucks...but my father made it for me so yeah...I'm stuck with it lol. Yeah if you feel like emailing me at all feel free! I will respond! . Till next time!