Chapter 3 - Training
"Engl. Professor- A great Asian philosopher once dreamt he was a butterfly. From that moment on he was convinced that he was a butterfly dreaming it was a philosopher. What does this teach us?
Selene- One should never mix sake and opium.
Engl. Professor- Correct."
Selene was filled with unexplainable delight as the morning rays filtered through the window…then she woke up. She dragged herself out of bed and reached for her jeans and T-shirt which the Nyan-Nyans had been nice enough to wash for her. Muttering God-knows-what under her breath, she shuffled sleepily towards the banquet hall. Everyone was already assembled and chatting avidly about the lessons to come.
"Isn't it exciting?!" cried Nallely.
"HAAAIIII!!!" answered Jess.
"I can't wait to learn telekinesis," piped Ezra as he paced his fingertips against his temples and focused on his plate, "Rise! I order you! Rise, my meat roll servant!"
Both girls rolled their eyes and giggled.
"Oi, Selene! Where have you been?! You slept in baka!" chirped Nallely.
The oldest girl mumbled something about annoying blobs of sunshine before letting herself fall upon the chair like a bag of wet cement.
"You alright sis?" asked Ezra as his sister glared at the empty plate before her with bloodshot eyes.
"Coffee," came the simple reply, "give me coffee."
"Um, there's no coffee," replied Jess which earned her a fierce look from behind a flash of glass, "but-there's-black-tea-and-it's-kinda-like-coffee."
The red head offered a teacup of said liquid. Selene snatched the cup from her hands and downed it in a single gulp. Her three companions blinked several times before wisely returning to their previous conversation.
"What do you think they'll teach us first?" asked Nalle.
"FIRE BLASTS!!! I WANT FIRE BLASTS!!!" chanted Ezra.
"Yeah, probably magic! That would be soooo COOL!!!" agreed the redhead.
Selene snorted and both girls turned to look at her.
"What makes you think they'd start with the cool stuff?" asked the college girl.
"How do you know they won't?" retorted her brother.
"Because I know I wouldn't want to teach you anything destructive before you learned a little discipline," she answered him.
"Whatever S'lene, you're just grumpy 'cause you have to hang with uptight-water-dude," teased Jessica.
"Yeah, we get the sweet kami while you get the crab!" giggled Nallely.
"He's not a crab, he's a dragon…and I'm NOT grumpy!" snapped Selene, "I'm a little off from lack of caffeine!"
"Riiiiiight," said Ezra.
"You know what I'm getting sick of you!" shouted the oldest girl as she reached out and gripped him by the collar. The boy shut his eyes tightly as he awaited the inevitable, but the hit never came. Four simultaneous puffs of smoke filled the middle of the chamber. Not wanting to make a scene, Selene released her brother brusquely.
"So, I suppose you are ready to go?" asked Suzaku brightly. Not waiting for a response, he practically darted towards Nallely and grabbed her hand. In a whirl of crimson smoke, the pair was gone.
"Lemme guess, Suzaku's a morning person," Selene stated blandly.
"Must come with being a bird and all," agreed Jessica.
"I believe he was worried Seiryu would find some other way to further alter his plans," snickered Byakko.
"It can't possibly be that bad between them, I mean, they are brothers right?" inquired Jessica.
"It is a fact I'm willing to overlook," answered Seiryu coldly.
"Geez, and I thought my family was screwed," shuddered Ezra.
"You guys must have a lot of history in order to get him scuttling away like that," pointed out Selene.
"He would do well to fear me," sneered Seiryu.
. 0
"Shall we go now or shall we stay here and give Suzaku leave to bother us for our inappropriate coaching later on?" asked Genbu.
"Let's git this started!" sang Ezra in a German accent. With a poof both were gone.
"No time like the present I suppose," sighed Byakko as he ran his fingers through his mane of silver hair and looked down at the redhead, "shall we?"
Jessica nodded, and then they too were gone.
Seiryu looked down at Selene and smirked evilly. Her eyes widened behind her glasses and without warning everything became black.
###O.O###
Selene landed not so softly upon what looked like a desolate wasteland. The skies were dark but it was clearly daytime. She pushed her glasses up the bridge of her nose and got to her feet.
"Where am I?" she muttered.
"Where doesn't matter. You are here to be trained and I shall train you," boomed Seiryu. Selene mentally "eep"-ed. The dragon kami snapped his fingers and a wide river appeared out of nowhere, on the far bank there was an obstacle course and beyond that, a blue stone the size of a small cat. "For your first lesson, you will retrieve the stone for me."
Selene gawked at the complex amount of clutter before her.
"Say wha-?" she breathed.
"I suggest you hurry," Seiryu told her as he materialized an hour glass, "I expect you back before the sand runs out."
Selene's eyes bugged out before she scurried towards the river. This is not the kind of lesson I had in mind.
###v.v###
Jessica didn't open her eyes until she felt the tiger kami deposit her upon firm land. The place where they had arrived was a simple forest glade. Sparse butterflies fluttered through the tiny flowers of the meadow. The soft breeze was filled with the cool scent of pine and dew. Jessica took a deep breath filling her urban lungs with the rich healthy air of the woodlands.
"I believe this place will do," smiled Byakko as he saw the awed expression on the redhead's face, "Let's start by balance."
The atmosphere beside them shimmered and several posts and beams appeared. They looked like gymnastic beams but they were about three feet high and one foot in diameter. With Byakko's help, Jessica climbed atop the first beam. She wavered slightly as the kami's hands released her.
"Let's start small," said the kami, "take three steps forward."
"Okay, I can do that," the redhead nodded and took a tottering step forward, "it's not so hard, I can do this," she said and took another step before loosing all control, "Gyah!"
Her arms pin wheeled violently as her entire body leaned at a perilous angle. Byakko winced as the girl fell face first from her perch. He rushed to her side.
"Jess-san! Daijobou? Are you alright?" he asked as he knelt beside her. Concerned golden eyes looked down at her and the girl felt her body dissolve into mush. I am now…thought the girl as the kami's arms wrapped around her and helped her up. At once she composed herself and tried to regain her dignity.
"Yah, I um…meant to do that," answered the redhead as she dusted herself and spat out bits of grass, "I needed fiber."
Byakko laughed softly.
###n.n###
Ezra stood in the middle of what looked like a library. He inwardly groaned. Genbu turned to his pupil and beckoned him to sit down upon an uncomfortable looking chair which was before a large desk.
"Suzaku, Seiryu, and Byakko will be training their sentinels in the art of war. With the exception of Seiryu, I doubt my younger brothers realize what that entails," the kami stated calmly as he paced before his student, "Suzaku will, no doubt impart upon his sentinel a gift best befitting her energy's stability. Byakko will focus on accuracy and overall impact. Seiryu will run your sister until she is a dangerous weapon for battle. I will do none of these things." Ezra groaned yet again. "Precision, self-control, and power alone will not ensure victory. I must therefore teach you to be wise."
"I was under the impression that wisdom couldn't be taught," pointed out the boy.
"That would be true, if you were speaking of a mortal," stated the oldest kami smugly. "We shall start with the basics. Strategy is crucial to obtain victory. Therefore, I will help you develop the mind of a general." A heavy and impossibly thick book materialized out of nowhere and landed with a thump upon the desk.
Ezra eeped as the dust motes around him swirled wildly. Genbu snapped his fingers and the book shot open. The pages flipped until they uncovered a large diagram of a battle field. The opposing sides were intricately drawn and labeled "Side 1" and "Side 2". Ezra had the feeling that if he were to place a magnifying glass over any individual soldier, he would be able to make out his facial features.
"Take this battle for instance," continued Genbu, "the General from Side 1 had 300 footmen, 600 archers, and only 100 mounts, while Side 2 had about twice as much…"
"In order for side one to beat side two, he should take eighty of the hundred mounts and charge here, on the eastern flank," Ezra stated confidently leaning back and closing his eyes as if he had just solved the puzzle.
"That's ridiculous," stated Genbu, "they would be slaughtered. The best approach would be for them to seek a weak spot in their cavalry."
"You'd think that, but look," Ezra pointed at the diagram and it came to life depicting his strategy, "here, the eastern flank is heavily wooded. You lead an army of horses and archers there and they're useless. They'd have to pull more soldiers from the western flank. So you're giving them something to worry about and weakening their western flank."
"By the time that happens your cavalry in the woods is outnumbered," mentioned Genbu.
"True, but also, by that time you take your archers and set the wood on fire. Then you take the rest of the mounts and soldiers from Side 1 and break through their lines. Divide and conquer," grinned Ezra.
Genbu scanned the battlefield as the boy's plan was executed perfectly. His forest-green eyes then looked at the teen who was smiling like an idiot.
"Check-mate," he told the deity receiving a puzzled look.
"I am not familiar with that term," stated the tortoise kami.
"You don't play chess? What kind of primitive world is this?!"
Genbu narrowed his eyes.
"Well c'mon! I have to show you!" exclaimed Ezra. He went on to state the proper dimensions and colors of the board and pieces. Genbu supplied it all out of morbid curiosity. When he had assembled the game Ezra went on to state the movements and value of each game piece. And so time passed.
###o.O###
Nallely looked about in sheer wonder. The place where Suzaku had transported her was breath taking. It was the broad courtyard of a palace filled with trees. The scent of wild flowers was everywhere.
"Kirei," she breathed.
"I'm glad you like it," Suzaku smiled, "We needed a quiet place to meditate."
"What are you going to teach me first?" asked the brunette.
"That all depends," answered Suzaku as he motioned for her to sit down, "first I need to see what your life force favors."
Her brow then furrowed with confusion.
"What does that mean?"
"Well, every life force is different and favors distinctive abilities," explained the phoenix, "Some are adept at enhancing mental capacities, like Chiriko's. Some prefer to interact with other life forces and enhance their performances. These are the healers, like Mitsukake. Others still have an abundant source of ki and they can use it as weapon and as a means of teleportation. Chichiri is a good example of this."
"I want the last one," Nallely said with a nod.
"It doesn't work that way," chuckled the phoenix.
"But it's the most useful!"
"All of them are useful in their own way. It is possible for you to use your ki any way you choose, but your performance would be far superior if you stay within your strengths. Besides, any one of these abilities would be an advantage."
"I guess," sighed the girl, "so how can you tell what I'm good at?"
"Thought you'd never ask," grinned the Southern kami, "Hold out your hand."
Nallely did as she was asked and Suzaku brought forth a bright red sphere. It floated between the two for several seconds before it sank into her palm. It felt warm and incredibly downy. Like a fluff ball. The orb then broke apart and became a swirling puff of mist. The crimson haze then wrapped around her hand like a glove and seeped into her skin. Her hand glowed steadily as she wiggled her fingers experimentally.
"I've given you a little bit of energy," explained Suzaku, "How does it feel?"
"It tickles," she replied simply.
"Lets see what kind of attack you have," the kami snapped his fingers and immediately a Nyan-Nyan appeared. At once, it became distracted by the surrounding flowers, "Despite Taiitsu-kun's griping, the little things are very useful. Now, I want you to aim an attack at that Nyan-Nyan. Focus on your hand and-"
SKSHEEEW
A red beam shot out of her hand and hit the pinkly garbed child. (A/N: Is "pinkly" a word?)
"EEEK!" the little Nyan-Nyan tried to duck but it reacted too late. She fell back onto the flowerbed.
"OMIGOD! I'm so sorry! Are you okay?" cried Nallely.
Suzaku was presently examining the fallen Nyan-Nyan. His eyebrows were raised in mild surprise.
"Direct hit, I'm impressed," he congratulated, "but there's no damage to be seen."
The Nyan-Nyan then popped to her feet and grinned sweetly. Her previously pink outfit was now white and her aqua hair had become baby blue. Suzaku closed his crimson eyes, and looked thoughtful. After a while, he turned to his pupil.
"Purification…not bad. You're mainly a healer," he stated, "but, your ki is also partial to entering another's thoughts."
"You mean telepathy?"
"A little more than that. With some training you could place a request within your opponent's mind and he'll comply."
"Deberas (For real)? I mean, really? How cool!"
"Lets get started."
"HAI!!!"
###n.n###
Selene gasped for breath as she barely cleared yet another hurdle. She was wet and cold, her entire body was covered in mud due to a hidden trap in the obstacle course. Her shoes were filled with a mixture of sludge and quarter-sized pebbles. Her glasses were splattered with kami-knows-what, so she was running half-blind through a network of never-ending obstructions. And to make matters worse, she wasn't even halfway to the stone. The final grain of sand in the hourglass fell marking the end of the trial.
"USELESS!!!" bellowed Seiryu as he floated before the burgundy-haired youth, "Simply unacceptable! I have never seen such an embarrassing display!!!"
The college girl collapsed with her face in the loose soil as she let the dragon's berating fly over her head.
"Get up!" he ordered, "Get up and let me see you!"
Selene grumbled something nasty and did not so much as budge. Icy eyes narrowed and he snapped his fingers.
"Woah!!!" instantly unseen forces dragged Selene to her feet. She teetered a bit, but did not fall.
"You're useless!" snapped Seiryu, "Not fit for a common guard, much less my sentinel! But don't you worry, I'll be sure to fix that problem!"
"Ease up will you!" snarled Selene, "It's not like I'm relishing the idea of being your sentinel anyway! 'Sides, this is stupid! You're supposed to be teaching me special skills, not coaching me for track!"
Seiryu glared at her, but since her glasses were useless she didn't see it.
"Let me make this perfectly clear," he said in a menacing voice, "I am not having a pudgy sentinel." He poked her midriff to prove his point. Selene's eyes opened wide and she became red with anger.
"Excuse me! Did you just call me FAT?!"
"I believe the word I used was 'pudgy'."
The only thing that was keeping her from slapping the smirk from the kami's face was the fact that he was floating three feet over her. So she did the next best thing, she hurled a glop of mud at his impeccable armor. The projectile blob didn't reach its intended target since Seiryu stopped it in midair and made it fly back at her face. The college girl growled angrily as she wiped the grime from her eyes. She considered tackling the dragon deity, but wisely refrained from doing so. Who knows where he'll send me flying to. Seiryu spotted the glasses in her hands and frowned.
"What are those?" he asked.
"What are what?" she replied angrily.
"Those things in your hand, what are they?"
"You mean my glasses," Selene told him dryly as she placed them on her face.
"They make you look foreign."
"Really?" she asked in mock surprise, "And all this time I wouldn't go with contacts because I thought glasses made me look smart."
"Take them off you won't be needing them," he ordered unfazed by her sarcasm.
"Shows how much you know," she said visibly defying his command.
"You won't need useless trinkets while you're under my service. Take them off now!"
"No."
"Nobody cares about your appearance, least of all I. Now remove those trifling things from your face!"
"Listen, oh Lord of temporary wit, I'm nearsighted! These glasses correct that," she retorted acidly, "If I take off my glasses then I'll be legally blind. Got that?"
Seiryu was taken aback but his stony façade divulged nothing. There was a long pause.
"How far can you see without your…glasses?" he inquired indifferently.
"Why?"
"Just answer the question!"
"About as far as my hand," she answered.
"Take off your glasses."
"I thought we just went through this!" she cried out in annoyance.
"You know, if you would only obey the simple commands I give you, things would go a lot smoother."
"Yeah? Y si mi abuelita tuviera ruedas fuera bicicleta." (And if my grandma had wheels she'd be a bicycle. Spanish saying designed to point out how pointless of what-ifs are.)
The dragon kami had not understood a word that she had just spoken, but he was not about to let her know that. Besides, Selene's tone and attitude told him everything he needed to know.
"Suit yourself," he said as he lifted his hand and covered her eyes. His palm glowed a bright blue before he immediately retracted it.
Selene stepped back and shook her head as the glowing light faded. Her glasses seemed to have become distorted since they no longer provided her with a clear picture. Awkwardly, she removed them from her face and studied the lenses. Certain that Seiryu had melted them, she turned to the kami angrily.
"What did you do?! These were transition lenses! They cost me $200! What the-" she fell silent and blinked. The usual blurriness accompanying her line of sight was no longer present. Her mouth opened and closed as she searched for words. Ignoring her expression, Seiryu glowered.
"Is there anything else wrong with you?" he asked disdainfully. Any dwindling thoughts of gratitude within Selene fizzled into nothing.
"You always know just what to say to a girl to make her feel special," she told him in a sweet tone dripping with sarcasm. Seiryu took that as a "no" so he turned to the surrounding landscape. Instantly, the scenery wavered and shifted.
"Lets move on," he told her icily. Finally a large stone wall appeared before the girl. Upon the surface were several shallow indentations. "You will climb this wall and retrieve that flag," he ordered as he pointed to said object.
The girl looked up at flag which was several stories above her head.
"You have got to be kidding," she breathed.
"No. But you have got only ten minutes," he told her with a cold smile.
Selene gaped at the wall torn between attempting the suicidal and predictably embarrassing climb (read: fall) and taking out her handball for a round or two.
"I suggest you get moving," advised Seiryu, "because you're not leaving until I have that flag in my hands."
Selene wept.
###V.V###
After a few hours of class Byakko, Suzaku, and Genbu allowed their sentinels to break for lunch. Said teens assembled, loudly I might add, in one of the palace's many dining rooms. As Nyan-Nyans scurried about with plates twice their size, the trio discussed their day so far.
Their three respective deities assembled in the heavenly realm of Mt. Taikyoku, and watched over the proceedings.
"I have to admit, akai-chan," said Byakko, "you seem to have a knack for finding potential. Jess-san shows much potential."
"As does Nallely," agreed Suzaku, "she will make an excellent sentinel."
"What about you, brother?" the tiger Kami asked his tortoise counterpart, "How did yours do?"
"He impressed me. That was…unexpected," he said after much deliberation, "He will be skilled after I drive out all the gibberish."
"Which reminds me, where is ol' lizard breath? " asked Byakko. At that moment, there was a thunderclap and Seiryu appeared.
"I resent that comment, brother," the dragon kami stated icily. Suzaku began to look about worriedly.
"Where is Selene?" asked the phoenix kami putting on a calm expression.
"Busy," came the curt reply.
"Okay," the redheaded kami took a deep breath, "let me rephrase that. What have you done with Selene?"
"Training."
"Listen, you oversized reptile!" yelled the phoenix loosing all self-control, "What have you done with my sentinel?!"
"As I recall, she is my sentinel to teach as I see fit."
"Exactly how are you teaching her without you being present?!"
"I don't believe it is up to you to question my teaching methods," the war kami told him without so much as a glance. The two older kami looked back and forth between the discussion. Flames began to erupt from Suzaku's feathers and fingertips. The only thing they needed now was popcorn and they could call it a show.
"If you've hurt to her…"
"Little brother, you devote too much of your time and emotions on your servants," the dragon kami told him coolly, "you seem to forget, they are only mortal."
Suzaku made as if to lunge at the eastern guardian, but Genbu finally stepped between them. Piercing green eyes met icy blue ones.
"Seiryu, you are correct," stated the tortoise kami, "they are only mortal. Therefore, you must be tolerant and allow them their rest. The girl has had a morning of lessons. It is only fair that she receive a moment to unwind before continuing."
The water kami shrugged nonchalantly. He really didn't want to get into a clash with two of his brothers, as the odds were not in his favor to win.
"Very well, I suppose I could allow her time for a meal," he smirked wryly as he silently transported his sentinel.
###O.o###
Selene's arms were throbbing. Her hands had developed blisters and, to make things worse, she was once again nowhere near her goal. She cursed her luck using several choice multilingual phrases as her fingers slipped once more upon the hard angular holds.
"Yeeees, I wanted to come to the Universe of the Four Gods. I wanted to help Suzaku. The brochure never said anything about the wall of death here," she grumbled as she chucked herself over the rim of a ledge, "they never mentioned idiot kamis for that matter either."
She perched on the sliver of a ledge and tried very hard not to look down.
"I will kill dragon boy," she vowed balling up her fist, "I don't know how, I don't know when, but he WILL PAY!!! Huh?" A blue light surrounded her and carried her off the cliff-like wall.
Sure that she would die for her insolence, the girl shut her eyes tightly. For the second time that day she was dumped not-so-gently upon the ground. When she opened her eyes she saw a large stone dragon glaring down at her. She was on the eastern edge of the Mt. Taikyoku courtyard. She looked past the petrified glare and lay there staring at the clouds that drifted overhead. The burgundy haired girl desperately wished she had a flame-thrower or at least the energy to hurl a good-sized rock at a the deity's statue. She sighed, and then, without a second thought, she did what any teen in her situation would do…closed her eyes and feigned sleep.
###V.V###
Suzaku stared at the fallen figure covered in grime upon the cobblestones of the courtyard. There was a mixture of concern and fury within his crimson eyes. Seiryu had summoned a large comfortable chair to sit upon. As he leaned back against the feather cushion, he closed his eyes undisturbed by Suzaku's distress.
"You," accused Suzaku pointing his finger at his brother, "Are you purposely trying my patience?"
Seiryu cracked an eye and stared at the younger kami.
"Seeing how you have very little of it, I'd only be wasting my time in trying it."
"You've practically killed your guardian!" screeched the phoenix.
"A little physical activity never killed a mortal," shrugged Seiryu re-closing his eye.
The youngest kami turned bright red in anger. He balled up his fist in a Selene-like manner before vanishing in an explosion of flames. Genbu raised an eyebrow.
"I've never seen him do that before," he remarked.
"Only you can screw around with imotou's anger so much," said Byakko looking at his draconic brother with distaste.
"Suzaku is dominated by his emotions," shrugged the eastern deity, "It isn't all that difficult to manipulate him."
"And still, he somehow managed to best you with his miko," Genbu jabbed at the war kami's ego.
"Pure luck," retorted Seiryu acridly. To which the northern guardian merely smirked.
"You underestimated Suzaku's potential little brother," chided the eldest kami as he looked down upon the eastern guardian now sprawled on the ground, "don't make the same mistake twice."
Byakko winced at Genbu's words. Only the eldest kami and Taiitsu-kun had the luxury of speaking to Seiryu in such a manner. The tiger kami remained silent as Seiryu rose out of his seat and looked down at the girl. Amazingly, after a morning of sheer torture, she was dragging herself to her feet and stumbling towards the dining hall.
"I don't make mistakes, Genbu. They are errors in judgment," huffed Seiryu before he too vanished to his realm.
###o.O###
O.T.: So ends another chap. I was going to drag it on longer, but I think you get it, right? Genbu's uptight but there's curiosity somewhere in there, Byakko is playful…
Jess: AND HOT!!! is still in daze from reading her training section
O.T.: -.-0…and hot, Suzaku is caring and gentle…
Nalle: AND HOT!!! still hasn't gotten over her own fangirly daze either HOTTER THAN BYAKKO!!!
Jess: IS NOT!
Nalle: IS TOO!
Jess: IS NOT!!!
cat fight ensues
O.T.: Um…yeah. As for Seiryu…he's just a bastard. .-0
Jess and Nalle: …but he's YOUR heartless bastard!!!
O.T.: I didn't say he was heartless.
Jess: shrugs Meh, he is whatcha gonna do about it?
O.T.: glares evilly Trade with you. Jess runs away screaming
Nalle: Anywho, thanks for reviewing y'all!
O.T.: Righto! Here we go:
Bronze Dagger: Yes, the mallet has great power! Use it wisely my child…WHAP gets smacked in the head by muses OWIES!!! Thanks for the pick me up review! Yes Ezra is based on my brother and if by "cute" you mean "annoying retard" then yes he is "cute"…he is very VERY "cute". As for the couplings: I TELL YOU NOTHING!!! It will be made clear soon enough. Nalle and Jess are sisters…we're still debating whether one of them is adopted, though between you and me my money's on the redhead gets glare from Jess but-it's-anybody's-guess! Heh-heh…don't kill me Jess. In conclusion, feel sorry for me, feel very very sorry! ;)
Ryochan8: Speeding is part of survival. To speed it to truly be at one with the road! To those who speed not I ask thee: WHAT KIND OF PRIMITIVE BEAST ARE YE?!!! Alas, I'm sure that if Suzaku had appeared to three different fangirls, the result would have been the same if not worse. Suzaku: O.o As for poking fun at our own characters, I say : "We all have flaws. We can never change that so we might as well exploit them for the entertainment of others"!
Otaku-no-miko: YES! I reign supreme in the shifty underhanded update gang!!! As for the flat side of a cleaver comment all I can say is: "What a waste of a cleaver." Hee-hee!
Koneko03: I hope I'm still on a roll! crosses fingers and does rain dance for no apparent reason I personally hate "perfect" people so I try to make my characters as NON perfect as I possibly can. I often find myself stuck while I'm writing and so I ask myself: If I were the character what would be MY reaction? I think it fun to put things in your writing that make people go: I'VE SO TOTALLY BEEN THERE!!! As for CD chaps, I already told them: I'm writing them and there's nothing you can do to stop me! They are the bland oat pieces in the Lucky Charms of my fanfics. By themselves they hold the consistency of cardboard, but with the marshmallows they balance out the sweetness!!! muses question O.T.'s sanity
Rhapsody: Hey that was easier than the whole thing! grin grin Yes they beat them out of me, I have the bruises to prove it. Lemme just tell you I know ALL about time management issues! Which is why it took so long for this chap to get out! Just know that as long as you read it, my life is complete! fanficwise that is
CosmicMoon: Yes, CM, it was slow…-.-0 mutters under breath You children are too action biased! Whatever happened to intellectual reading?! begins to feel old and shuts up But hey, at least I made it interesting ne? Since I know you're DYING TO ASK, Gin Aki's Ch 14 is at my beta's right now, so I'll have it up as soon as I get it from her.
Nytingale: Yeah, a lot of people liked the driving. As for "akai" it just means "red" so the older gods were calling Suzaku "little red". Thanks for bringing that up! I'll have to put translations up for the words I use next chap! Again, I will not reveal Seiryu's deep dark secrets. That is only up to him. But rest assured it is nothing weird, kay?
Jessica Wolfe: gets attitude I'll update when I'm good and ready you got that?! BAM! WHAP! muses smack her silly SORRY! ACK! STOP! THE PAIN!!! Thanks for catching that mistake, I corrected it on this chap. point to it See? SEE? I apologize for any weirdness that might have caused. I'm not fluent in Japanese and have been found guilty of using a dictionary. bows head in shame But I'm thrilled you liked the chap anyways!
O.T.: Whew! That was a lot of reviews!
Jess: It was only eight.
O.T.: My chaps don't usually attract so many, okay? I admit it, I suck! Sue me!
Jess: Nah, just you recognizing it is enough.
O.T.: Reaches for her flame thrower Looks like we're done here! Don't forget to read and review! Meanwhile I have a barbeque to get started.
both muses slowly back away
Nalle: O.T. why are you looking at us like that?