Hey guy's here's the next chappie!
My mail program started to act funny last night but I'm going to fix it as soon as possible!
And thank you for all your funny reviews!
To Chichirifan: I hope this a long enough chapter for now. But I will try to write even longer chapters after this one! -
To Stariko: I'm sorry Stariko but she will go to Kuto with Chichiri and the others. (Apologizes) But I'll try to make it up to you. You'll just have to answer a question first!
How much do you like Tasuki?
Disclaimers: I don't own Fushigi Yugi, Yu Watase does.
But I own Akina! And everything else I make up!
Chapter four: I'll protect you, no da.
Akina woke up pretty early in the morning as the sun tickled her eyelids. But she refused to open her eyes. She decided to stay put for a little longer.
Her thoughts wandered to last night and on the most embarrassing and wonderful moment in her life. She couldn't believe she had passed out like that right in front of Chichiri and the others like that! But then she thought of the other thing that happened.
She blushed slightly at the memory when Chichiri picked her up in his arms bride-style.
" It felt quite nice too be in his arms… And how close his face was to mine!"
She thought her heart would jump out from her chest at that moment when he looked down at her like that. His face had only been a few inches a way from hers.
And concern had been on his face. Concern for her well-being, though she was a total stranger to him.
" He's really sweet… Much sweeter than modern guys in my world." She thought and smiled slightly. Then a knock on the door interrupted her daydreaming. Akina growled and sat up.
" I'm awake so just step inside! " She hollered. And she then saw Miaka poke her head inside.
" Good morning Akina! How are you feeling? " She asked as she closed the door and walked over to Akina's bed to sit down.
" Pretty good actually! I slept like a baby! " She answered and Miaka laughed.
" I decided to take over Mitzukake's watch over you so he could get some sleep." Akina looked confused.
" Do you remember what happened last night? " Akina leaned her head on her right arm with a thoughtful expression on her face.
" Well I do remember that I was in Chichiri's arms and that I tried to get my hands on Kouji before I fainted. I'm sorry if I caused any trouble…" Akina said and blushed.
Miaka only waved off her apology.
" Don't worry about it! It can happen to anyone! Hey are you hungry? " Miaka asked as her stomach started to rumble. Akina sweat dropped but nodded.
" Hai, I'm pretty hungry, and you too it seems…" They both burst out into laughter and Miaka helped Akina get out of her bed. But as she got out of it she noticed that she wasn't wearing her clothes, but a nightgown instead.
" Huh? Who changed my clothes? "
Akina looked around in her room and tried to locate her clothes.
" Umm, Miaka? Where are my clothes? " Miaka shrugged her shoulder and said that the servants had probably taken care of them.
" Let's go to my room, I have a large set of different clothes that you can borrow! " Akina thanked her and gave Miaka a squeeze on the shoulder. They ran over to Miaka's room and locked the door so Akina could change without worry. Then Miaka pulled out clothes and tossed them on the bed.
" Nope not this! Ugh! Horrible! " She went on like that until she finally found some good clothes.
" Hm, let's see… These look good, try these on! Miaka tossed her some clothes and waited for her to change. Akina nodded gratefully and was about to change. But before she got started she looked at Miaka who was staring at her.
" Umm, Miaka? "
" Huh? Nani? " The miko asked.
" Could you turn around while I change please? "
" Oh! Sorry, sorry! " Miaka turned around and stared into the wall.
After a while Akina finally had managed to get into the clothes and Miaka turned around to inspect her.
She wore a long light blue tunic with pretty white embroidery on it.
The tunic sat pretty tight on her waist and had long white arms; a bit of the tunic reached down just beneath her hips.
She also tied a yellow belt around her waist to keep the tunic in place.
And she had big white baggy pants and stuffed the ends into her short brown boots.
She had also tied up her long hair into a plait and secured it with some small ropes.
But she let some bangs hang over her forehead and on each side of her face.
" Oh! You look so cute! " Miaka chirped happily. Akina swirled around and smiled.
" Thanks."
" The guys will drop dead when they see you! " Miaka grabbed her arm and pulled her to the door and unlocked it. Then she led Akina down the hall and into the dinning room. When they arrived they found Chiriko, Nuriko, Mitzukake, and Chichiri already sitting there and enjoying their breakfast. They looked over at their miko as she made her way towards the table to eat.
" God morning everyone! " Miaka greeted as she walked over to them.
" Morning Miaka! You hungry? "
(Ayshia: What a question to ask HER! Don't you agree? )
" Yup! "She said and sat down taking the bowl of rice that Nuriko offered her.
" By the way Miaka, where's Akina? Since you're here I presume she up now. " Mitzukake asked as he looked around for the said girl. Miaka looked over to the door.
" I think she's too shy to come inside! " She said while she rose to her feet and walked over and peeked behind the door. Akina stood outside and looked pretty nervous with two pink patches covering her cheeks.
" What are you hiding out here for? Come on in and eat with us! " Miaka ordered as she reached out her hand to Akina.
" Oh I'm fine out here, so don't worry about me! " She backed away from Miaka's outstretched hand and shook her head. But Miaka followed her and stepped up beside her and took Akina's left hand.
" Come on now! You look great and if anyone of the guy's laughs at you, I'll eat them,
okay? " Akina only sweat dropped at the last part but let herself be dragged inside.
" Well everyone, doesn't she look cute? " Miaka asked as she pushed Akina right in front of her so that the others could see her. Nuriko clapped his hands in approval and Chiriko joined him. Mitzukake gave her a small smile, while Chichiri inhaled deeply as he saw her.
" Cute doesn't seem to be the right word to describe this site! She looks wonderful, almost like an angel…" Chichiri blinked his good eye.
" Okay… Where did those thoughts come from, na no da? " He was brought out off his thoughts when he noticed Akina looking at him. He gave her a friendly smile and patted the seat next to him.
" Come and sit over here no da! " He invited, Akina accepted the offer and walked over to him and sat down on his right side. She then reached out to take a bowl of rice. But she couldn't reach them so she was about to rise up and walk over to the other side and grab a bowl, but Chichiri pushed her back down in her seat and grabbed one for her and handed it over.
" Arigato! " She said and smiled brightly at him. He nodded in reply and turned his attention back to his food.
Akina also began to eat, and she secretly gazed at Chiriko across the table.
Since she did not see Tamahome last night she figured he was still in Kuto. And that Miaka, Chichiri, and Tasuki soon would go and try to retrieve him from the Seiryu seven.
And when they did, Chiriko would throw off his disguise to reveal himself as Amiboshi of the Seiryu seven and try to kill them all. Akina hated that part, since she knew Amiboshi was a good person.
" I have to try to talk with him later. I don't want the Suzaku seven to hate him! He really a good person and deserves better than falling down in the river and get his memory erased…" She knew he did not like fighting but he believed in the lies Nakago had told him. And that's what made him decide to fight against the Suzaku seven…
" CRASH! " Akina flew up in her
chair hitting the table. A servant had accidentally dropped a plate
and nearly scared poor Akina half too death.
She heard a small chuckle from her right left side and looked over at Chichiri.
He had placed his hand over his mouth to conceal his laughter
She blushed furiously when everyone else joined in and laughed at the incident.
" You should have seen your face! It was very amusing no da! " He said and ruffled her hair.
She tried to give him a hard glare but her face betrayed her, and she broke up in a smile. She giggled and playfully punched his shoulder and he returned the favor with one of his own.
Half an hour later Tasuki and Kouji showed up and joined them at the table. They both looked pretty tired and yawned time to time.
" What's up with you to? " Akina asked, when she received no reply Nuriko cleared his throat to get her attention.
" Oh, they're just tired from all
the drinking from last night! " The bandits gave Nuriko a death
glare across the table.
" Shut yer mouth Nuriko or I'll burn yer hair! So ye look like a bald old man! " Tasuki threatened the cross-dresser. Nuriko gave him a mock glare and smirked evilly.
" Well if you're gonna burn my hair then I might just tell everyone about your little " ADVENTURE " last night! " He threatened back. Both bandits paled at those words and tried to apologize but Nuriko didn't listen to them.
" Last night Tasuki and Kouji had both been drinking at least twelve bottles of sake before Tasuki decided that he wanted to take a bath!
So he and Kouji went to the bathhouse and went inside.
The point is that it wasn't the MEN'S bathhouse! " Nuriko smiled and began to retell the incident.
Flash back…
Tasuki and Kouji were dancing around in their room highly affected by the sake. And they imitated different animals and some of their friends.
Kouji draped himself into the curtains and flashed with his eyelids.
" Look at me I am Nuriko! And I've got a new dress, so now I have to go and find Hotohori and try to seduce him."
Kouji dodged a chair that was flying in his direction and was smashed into bits at the wall.
" SHUT UP! " Nuriko yelled and glared at the drunken bandit who only snickered at him.
" I WANT TA SWIM! " Tasuki suddenly shouted and began to wobbly go towards the door while he grabbed Kouji and dragged him along.
" Tasuki's going to swim while he's drunk? This I got to see! Nuriko thought as he ran after the bandits. He finally caught up with them as they stopped outside the WOMEN'S bathhouse.
" Hey! Guys you're going the wrong way…" Tasuki and Kouji didn't seem to hear him and walked inside the room.
A few moments of silence… … … … …
" EYYAAAAAHH! " Nuriko heard female voices scream mixture with Kouji and Tasuki's voices.
Tasuki and Kouji ran out from the bathhouse with buckets and brushes flying after them and angry female voices shouted after them.
" NASTY PERVERTS! DON'T EVER COME BACK HERE AGAIN OR WE'LL KILL YOU! " They shouted after the two highly embarrassed bandits.
Tasuki and Kouji were both beat red in their faces and glared at Nuriko who lay on the floor and laughing his lungs out.
" Ya see Kouji? That is why I hate women! They don't listen when you try to explain things to them. They jump conclusions immediately!
And I am going to have nightmares about big " Boobs " probably for the next couple of weeks! "
Kouji looked up at his best friend and patted him on the shoulder with an understanding look on his face.
" Remind me too stop you from going to the bathhouse next time when you're drunk…"
He said as they began to walk away leaving a laughing Nuriko behind and returned too their room.
End of flash back.
" They both had walked into the WOMEN'S bathhouse and on top of that there was several women inside who bathed then.
The women all started to scream as those two stepped inside and began throwing buckets after them as they ran out.
It was hilarious! I haven't had such good laugh in a long time! " Nuriko finished and began to laugh.
He was soon joined by Akina who tried to contain her laughter but to no avail. She started to laugh and laughed until tears began to form into her eyes. And then the others allowed themselves to laugh a little to.
" Oh so it is the " Embarrass the bandits day " today? " Kouji asked and gave the cross-dresser a very unfriendly glare.
" YES! " Everyone shouted and laughed harder and louder this time. Tasuki and Kouji grabbed some food and did their best to ignore it all.
And when everyone finally calmed down Hotohori arrived to join all of them.
" Good morning everyone. " He greeted them and sat down beside Miaka who gave Hotohori a little hug before continuing to eat again.
" Where have you been Hotohori? " Miaka asked with her mouth full of rice. He sweat dropped at her before giving her a smile.
" I had some business to attend to Miaka, I'm sorry that I took so long…"
" No, its okay Hotohori! You don't have to apologize, I'm glad you came, better late than never! " She said and continued to inhale more food. He laughed and began to eat himself. And then he noticed Akina sitting and chatting with Chichiri.
" Oh Akina! You're awake. " He greeted her and she waved her hand in reply.
" Do feel better now? " He asked.
" Yes, I'm alright! It was a really good nap! " She answered and pushed her away bowl on the table. Hotohori nodded.
" That's good to hear." And then a bit more serious expression crossed his face.
" Akina if you wouldn't mind could you answer a few questions for me? " He asked and everyone's attention turned to her.
She blushed feeling a bit nervous with everyone's gazes at her.
She then felt a hand on her head that patted her reassuringly. She looked up at Chichiri's smiling face and blushed even more.
" Don't worry no da. Just answer the questions and you'll be fine no da!" He said and ruffled her hair; Akina gave him a warm smile and nodded.
Miaka noticed this and snickered, she was going to pick on Akina about this later when Chichiri's not around.
She smiled evilly but was careful to not let anyone see it.
" Well what do you want to know? " Akina asked.
" Do you come from Miaka's world? " He asked and locked her gaze with his.
" Yes I'm from Miaka's world. " She answered since a part of it was the truth. Miaka lived in Tokyo in Fushigi Yugi and Akina lived in Tokyo in the real world. Hotohori nodded and motioned for her to continue.
" I found this strange red book called " The universe of the four gods " in my mail and I decided to read it. And before I knew it I was pulled into the book and woke up in the woods on that mountain. Where those Kauro guys found me. And then Kouji rescued me. That's all. She finished while keeping eye contact with Hotohori"
Hotohori seemed satisfied with the answers Akina gave them and left it there.
Akina then rose up and excused herself saying she wanted to look around a little and then left.
When she had closed the door she leaned against it and let out a sigh in relief.
" Phew, finally outside! I was really getting nervous when being the center of attention in there! I prefer to be in the background." She thought as she began to walk away from the dining room.
Back in the dining room…
" Well do ye think she's telling the truth? " Kouji asked while rubbing his eyes, since he did not get much sleep after the sake" ADVENTURE " with Tasuki and Nuriko. Hotohori only shrugged his shoulders.
" I don't know Kouji.
But I get a strange, but somewhat familiar feeling when I am around her. It feels warm and gentle, almost like the link between us Seishi's to our Miko."
" Ya mean she's a priestess? Tasuki shouted and looked at Hotohori in confusion.
" But we already have a priestess… Maybe she's a Seishi? But she can't be a Suzaku Seishi since we have all the seven warriors assembled." Mitzukake pointed out. No one noticed Chiriko's slightly pale face as they spoke of another Suzaku seishi warrior.
" I could try to talk a little more with her later no da. " Chichiri offered and Hotohori nodded.
" Well let's eat and we will decide what to do later about that! Right now we have to decide how to get Tamahome back! " Miaka said and placed more food at her plate. Not noticing the others sweat drops.
Food and Tamahome, was that all she think about? They all wondered.
Outside…
Akina walked around aimlessly in the palace until she stumbled upon the palace garden! She squealed in excitement at her discovery.
" Large Sakura trees and a pond! It's a perfect combination! "
She immediately ran over there and sat down under a large Sakura tree from where she could look out over the pond.
" The garden looks even more beautiful than on the movies! "
Akina sighed happily and leaned back against the tree trunk and watched the clouds as they passed by on the clear sky.
Her thoughts wandered to Suzaku and her being in this world.
" I wonder how long I am allowed to stay here… I wouldn't mind at all if it were permanent." But would the others let her stay with them when the summoning was over? Or did she have to return when it all was over?
If they drove her away from the palace before the summoning she would have no were to go and no one to turn to.
" Suzaku please give me a sign if they want to be with me or not…Please, I beg of you… "
But she felt nothing or saw anything, disappointed she closed her eyes and began to hum two songs she liked from " Record of Lodoss war " (Ayshia: Don't own those two songs, but I wish I did…)
Chichiri remained true to his words and went off to find Akina to talk with her. He scanned the palace for her life force and sensed that she was in the garden. So he walked over there to find her sitting under a large Sakura tree by the pond with her eyes closed.
At first he believed she was asleep so he tiptoed forward to her and was just about to reach out to shake her. When she opened her mouth and began to sing.
The dark night sky above…
Exists to expose our hearts as…
They call out to each other…
When the two of us are apart.
Throw off those useless trappings.
Some things can only be seen…
When you've lost everything.
Oh, wind.
I rise and turn to face you.
Now let's go…
To the sea of torment ahead.
It's my joy…
To be able to believe in you.
This storm blows…
To remind us both of the love…
That we share…
All alone…
Under the forest trees.
I reach out both my arms…
And I dance. Do you see?
Shimmering in the filtered light.
My dream…
The winds of legend blows.
And in my hair, my fingers…
I can feel it…
Sad things and painful things, too…
Sparkle in the light of the sun.
As I travel on to distant lands…
Does the sun look down on me, too?
Chichiri listened to every single word that slipped through her lips as she sang.
" What a pretty song, it's probably a song from her world, no da…" He looked at her peaceful face and smiled.
" She has a very good singing voice, maybe when she feels comfortable enough she might sing for us at her own free will no da." He thought.
But one piece in her song puzzled him.
" Some things can only be seen, when you lost everything? What does that mean no da? " He asked himself. But he got no time to think about it since Akina opened her eyes and stared at him in surprise.
" C-chichiri? How long have you been standing there? " She asked. Chichiri rubbed the backside off his neck and looked at her.
" Long enough to hear you sing that pretty song no da. It sounded really good! " Akina blushed at the compliment and invited him to sit down.
" So you what are you doing out here then Chichiri? " She asked as he sat down beside her.
" Mostly curious about your world and I thought you could use some company, no da! "
He replied and watched her face as she became a little curious.
" Is there something else you want to know about it? " Chichiri nodded and then added.
" Well not just about your world, but things about yourself Akina-chan no da! " Akina giggled and shook her head.
" Okay you can ask me what you want, if you call me by my name, Akina-chan is nice but I prefer to be called by my name Chichiri-san." She told him and he nodded in reply.
" Okay, I'll call you by your name if you do the same for me, no da! "
" Agreed " She stretched out her hand and Chichiri took it to seal the agreement.
Then they both started to talk about things from their worlds. Akina told him about Tokyo and the school she went in and about electricity and cars.
" What strange things you're world seem to have no da! " Akina giggled and Chichiri began to tell Akina about magic and legends of Suzaku. And he told her about his teacher Tai Itsukun and the little Nyan-Nyan's on the mountain which he trained on for three years.
Akina noticed that he was careful to not tell her about why he went there in the first place.
" He probably thinks that I would push him away if he told me about Kouran and Hikou.
If I only could tell him that I know of his past… And that I accept him for whom his is. Not for what he's done or his title as a Suzaku seishi..."
" Where do you live Akina no da? " Chichiri asked and she was brought back to reality. She looked thoughtful for a minute
" Well I live in a apartment I rent in Tokyo and go to school on the weekends. I read a lot of manga and fantasy books. Chichiri nodded and motioned for her to continue.
" What about your friends and family, no da? " He asked and noticed her saddened expression that showed up at the words " Friends " and " Family."
" I-I don't have friends in my world, the other students just bullies and ignores me. They call me the teacher's favorite pet and other mean stuff just because I'm trying to get good grades."
" Then what about your family no da? Don't they step up for you? "
" I-i…" She began but got cut off by a voice calling after them.
" Akina! Chichiri! Where are you guys? " They heard Nuriko shout.
" Over here Nuriko! " Akina yelled and waved her arms at the cross dresser. Nuriko came panting over to them and waved back.
" Finally found you guys! " He said and stopped right in front of them.
" Did something happen no da? " Chichiri asked.
" Yeah Miaka wants to go to Kuto right now and she wanted to talk to Akina so I volunteered to go and find you guys! " He replied. Chichiri rose to his feet and reached out his hand to Akina so he could help her from the ground.
" Thanks Chichiri." Akina placed her
hand on his shoulder and gave him a small warm smile before turning
back to Nuriko.
" Okay then Nuriko lead us to Miaka! " The small group began to walk away.
But Chichiri's thoughts rested on his and Akina's conversation about friends and family. She never got a chance to start telling him about her family.
But the part about her being without friends wasn't entirely true.
" Maybe she hasn't notice, but I already consider her a friend, no da. And I'm sure the others do the same…
I tell her that later and maybe ask her about her family when I get some time alone with her again, no da." And a part of him got really excited about being alone with her again. He got a bit confused by this but shrugged if off. He decided it was because she was a nice person to talk to.
Satisfied with that he hurried to keep up with Nuriko and Akina.
Soon they reached Miaka's room and stepped inside. Miaka, Hotohori, Mitzukake and Chiriko were already there and were waiting for them.
" Oh good! You're here now Akina! " Miaka greeted them. She then went over too Akina and took her hands in hers.
" I'll be straight with you Akina! I want you to come along and get Tamahome back! " She began. And she heard her Seishi's inhale in disbelief.
" We'll be going to night and retrieve him from the Seiryu seven. We're supposed to wait under a tree in the palace garden. And I thought you might want to come along and meet him! "
" Miaka, she'll meet Tamahome when he comes back! There's no reason to drag her along into danger too, no da! " Chichiri objected. But to everyone's surprise she agreed to come along.
" Oh boy, two girls to look after. As if one wasn't enough! " Tasuki growled. Akina stuck out her tongue towards him and then turned to Chichiri.
" Don't worry about me Chichiri! I can look after myself! " She said and patted his shoulder reassuringly. But that only made him more worried about her safety.
" I guess we could take you along too, but stay close to me if anything should happen, no da! So I can protect you two if we get spotted, okay no da? " He said and gave her the most serious look the mask could make.
Akina nodded at him before answering.
" Yes I promise Chichiri." She held her fingers crossed behind her back. She knew Tamahome is already poisoned with " Kodoku " and decides she wants to try to help.
Since she was the only one who knew about the poison.
" I have to stay close to Miaka… Even if I can't do anything about Tamahome I can at least try to prevent him from breaking her arm."
" But what about Amiboshi? " She suddenly remembered that she wanted to talk to him but decided to do it when they we're back.
" Okay then it's decided! " Miaka announced.
" Chichiri, Akina, and me are going to Kuto! " She received a punch at her head from Tasuki.
" Aren't you forgetting something? " He asked and gave her a meaning look.
" Oh, sorry Tasuki! Of course we'll tell you when Tamahome's back! You're so sweet for caring about him! " She said and ruffled a beat-red Tasuki's hair.
" NO BAKA! I'M COMING ALONG TO REMEMBER? " He yelled at his miko.
" Oh, yes now I remember! I mean that Chichiri, Akina, Tasuki and me are going! "
Chichiri leaned down towards Akina and began to whispering following words to her.
" Don't worry Akina I'll protect you…" Akina's cheeks turned pink and she nodded at him.
Now when all that was decided Chichiri laid down his Kesa on the floor and prepared to teleport.
" Come over here no da! " He ordered them. And they stood on the Kesa and soon began too sink down in it. Those who were left behind gathered around the Kesa and wished them safe travel.
" Be careful everyone! As soon as you got Tamahome get back here immediately, okay? And Chichiri and Tasuki take care of Miaka and Akina! " Nuriko told them all.
" Don't worry yer head they both got the mighty Tasuki to protect them ya know! "
" Go and get them Genrou! " Kouji encouraged his friend.
And then they all were gone.
Hotohori and the others prayed hard to Suzaku that nothing would go wrong and that they would come back safely.
Here I end chapter four!
Phew! I sat the whole day to day to make it better and correct wrong spellings!
On Monday I start school again, but I'll keep writing for the sake of my faithful reviewer's!
If you guys saw the question for Stariko and want to answer it too then it's just fine by me. -
And just one more question!
Do you guys think I'm moving to fast with Akina and Chichiri?
Please review
And I will update as fast as I can!