Lola: And with that, another chapter.

Lupi: Took you long enough. --'

Lola: Oh shut up. At least I updated, right?

Lupi: Suppose.

Lola: Anyway, thank you everyone who reviewed! We're one shy of twenty reviews, which is higher than I ever thought I'd get '

TMM: Since she's not listening, I'll do the disclaimer. Lola-Gurl doesn't own Fushigi Yugi or any of it's characters. She does own Kumiko Inoai & Family, Mischa belongs to Paris Rose, and Rei belongs to Lupine Eyes. With that settled we can go ahead right.

Lola: Yea, in a second, I have to give a warning. When I said that this chapter would be more humorous, well, just know that I'm not a very funny person. My jokes suck. So I must give you that little note of caution before we begin.

Enjoy!

Shi Jin no Miko

Chapter 12 -Yo-yo's of Death and Peace Offerings

"Mischa!" Kumiko yelled, throwing her pillow at her, hitting her in the face.

"Ow, That really hurts," Mischa said, placing her hand over her heart in a dramatic pose.

"Shut up," Both Kumiko and Tasuki said simultaneously.

Mischa shuddered. "Man, that's creepy. Don't do that stuff. The hand holding, talking at the same time, lovey-dovey Miaka/Tamahome crap. It grosses me out!"

"And how did you find out anyway?" Tasuki asked both ill tempered and embarrassed.

"Simple," Mischa said shrugging, "I saw you. In the garden. It was pretty funny to watch."

"But how?" Kumiko asked.

Mischa blinked. "Hello, it's called a window." Kumiko put her hands in her heads. I'm such an idiot. Why there, where anybody could have seen me. I definitely wasn't thinking…

"So, who did you tell?" Tasuki asked reluctantly.

Mischa once again decided to be dramatic. "ME? Tell someone else? NEVER! Who says I told anyone?"

"Your face," Kumiko said coolly.

Mischa laughed nervously. "Yea, well…when you tell Miaka….IT'S NOT MY FAULT!" With that, she ran out of the room before any other objects could be thrown at her.

"Kumiko! I'm so happy for you!" Miaka hugged her tightly as she squealed in delight. "You got a boyfriend! You're very first boyfr-"

"Shut up about that will you!" Kumiko said irritably. Tamahome sat in a chair with a small smirk across his face, while Tasuki on the other hand, sat uncomfortably.

"Aww…but it's important!" Miaka insisted. Kumiko's face flushed deeper, if at all possible.

"No Miaka, do tell. I'm intrigued," Rei said. Mischa nodded vigorously. Kumiko shook her head.

"No, it's not important. What's passed is passed, right?" She laughed nervously. Miaka put her hand on Kumiko's shoulder.

"Oh, don't take offense Kumiko! It's just that during middle school you were so flat and gawky looking so none of the guys wanted to go out with you! Of course, the braces didn't help…" Kumiko shot her an angry look. "Sorry," Miaka said, realizing how badly she had embarrassed her friend.

"Kumiko was flat in middle school?" Rei mused, surprised.

"Yea well, I'm not much better now. At least during 8th grade I got rid of my braces…"

"But then came the retainer," Miaka reminded.

Kumiko nodded in reply. "Yea…middle school sucked."

"Well now you can feel good about yourself! You got a boyfriend for being your regular old psychotic self!" Miaka said happily.

"Um…one question? What are braces?" Tamahome asked.

"Railroad tracks of hell," Kumiko remarked dryly.

Chichiri suddenly popped through the door. "Um…Miaka, we've just received word from a messenger, no da. He said that there was a man who knew the location of Biyakko's Shinzaho, no da."

Miaka, who had been sitting on Tamahome's lap, stood up and said, "Wonderful! I'm going to check it out."

"Wait a moment, I thought Tatara had possession of the Biyakko Shinzaho, according to Tokaki," Tamahome said, raising an eyebrow.

Rei shook her head. "No, I wish it were that easy. Just before I entered, he was visited by Tai Itsukun, telling him that a new Priestess would soon come, and it wouldn't be of much use. So, he hid it, just in case it was needed again. Then he wiped his memory. Turns out it this so called 'Tai Itsukun' was only an imposter Seiryuu senshi, trying to get at it. It was lucky for us that he 'disposed of it'".

Kumiko said suddenly, "I'll go and meet with this man. I have a bad feeling about it. Tatara probably left clues, or told someone at least. Witnesses. Anything. It's worth checking out, but I don't want Miaka to have to go, just incase it's a trap. So you just stay here, ok?" Miaka nodded slowly.

"I'm going too!" Mischa said, standing.

"If it has anything to do with the Shinzaho, I believe I am entitled to go as well, being the priestess of Biyakko," Rei said willingly. Tamahome and Tasuki looked at them uneasily.

"Don't look at us like that! We'll be fine, ok? All of you have been overworked a lot. We can take care of ourselves, trust me," Mischa said laughing. The three girls left the palace without the slightest worry.

"Is this the place?" Kumiko asked uncertainly. They were at the directed spot, as Chichiri had told them to go, and no one was in sight. Being quite close to the edge of town, it was uneasy to be so far away from everyone else. What was more strange was how quiet and deserted it seemed to be.

"That's what that weird looking guy said," Rei said, shrugging.

"Chichiri," Mischa corrected her.

"So, someone decided to come after all. 'Bout time. Too bad that idiot Priestess of Suzaku didn't, that would've been fun. Still…three more priestesses, with no protection. How pathetic." A figure suddenly jumped down from a nearby tree.

"I had a feeling about this," Kumiko said reluctantly, turning to see an enraged Suboshi. Rei bit her lip.

Mischa, instead of shutting up like any smart person would have, said, "You must be that bastard Suboshi. The one who threatened to take advantage of my cousin Miaka. And worse, killed Tamahome's family so brutally. "

Suboshi gripped his Ryuuseishui tightly and yelled, "How can you say that, when she was the one that so badly hurt Lady Yui! And I won't stop until I get revenge on Miaka for her!"

"You think Yui's the victim here? How could you even say that? She CHOSE to listen to Nakago! She CHOSE to become the Priestess of Seiryuu, and appose Miaka! My cousin has done nothing intentional to hurt Yui, and anyone who says otherwise is screwed up in the head."

"Mischa, watch it," Kumiko warned.

"What's he gonna do Kumiko? He's got a pair of fucking YO-YOs!" Mischa yelled, pointing at Suboshi.

He swung his Ryuuseishui around and sent it flying at Mischa, who dodged it. An unfortunate tree suffered the blow, chopping it to pieces. Gulping Mischa added, "Deadly Yo-yos. DAMMIT!"

"Good job picking your fights, Mischa," Kumiko muttered.

"SHUT UP!"

"Stop guys. That's not going to help us now. Deep breaths, deep breaths, oh my god it's no use! I'm too young to die….Kumiko, what will we do?" Rei said, beginning to panic.

"Don't worry, Rei. Mischa's going to be our peace offering."

"Peace Offering my ass! You mean Sacrifice! Kumiko!" Mischa yelled as the two pushed her forward, closer to Suboshi, who laughed.

"I'm not going to stop with her. Once she's dead, what would you do? I'm not going to stop until all of you are dead. And then maybe the priestess of Suzaku will reconsider ever messing with the Seiryuu seven." Suboshi once again, gripped his Ryuuseishui tightly.

Mischa reached into her coat pocket and took out a few of her shiruken stars. "Not if I can help it," She whispered, throwing them at Suboshi, right on target. Rolling his eyes, he whipped his Ryuuseishui around, blocking each of them.

"Pathetic," he spat. "You actually think that those things can ward of my chi? You priestesses are more dense than I thought."

Kumiko grimaced. "There's nothing I can do…I mean, the only powers I have are sorta…random. And I don't think I'll have any strength to use them in the first place." She inwardly cursed Nakago for his brutal strength.

"Now priestesses," Suboshi said simply, "prepare to die." He swung his Ryuuseishui easily, sending it straight towards them. All three hit the ground quickly as it said past all of them. Again and again, he attacked, forcing them to desperately avoid attack. At times they would collide with the weapon, leaving slashes along their body and tiring them endlessly.

"We have to run away," Mischa yelled breathlessly to Kumiko, who shook her head.

"No, we can't! If we go back into the city he will harm innocent people! The longer we can fend him off the better!"

Another laugh emitted from Suboshi. "And how long with that be, priestess? You seem to have lost all will to move another inch! Wouldn't you just rather give up and except defeat? Except your death?"

Kumiko clenched her fists and looked around wildly for something…ANYTHING to use as a weapon. Then she spotted something that just might work. Hastily she ran, dodging yet another attack from Suboshi's Ryuuseishui as she went.

"Kumiko, what are you doing!" Rei yelled as she snatched the object. Smirking, she held it up to Rei, triumphant. Rei looked at her as if she was insane.

"A horse's feedbag?" She asked skeptically. Kumiko nodded vigorously. Rei shook her head. "You're a nutcase." Even Suboshi looked taken back for a second before he regained his angry demeanor.

"And exactly how will THAT keep you from stopping me?" He said disdainfully, giving another laugh.

"Just wait and see," Kumiko smirked. A plan began forming in her head. "Mischa, hand me that rock over there!" She yelled.

Mischa immediately grabbed it and ran as fast as she could to Kumiko, dodging the Ryuuseishui relentless attack. "Thanks," Kumiko said as Mischa handed it to her. She hurriedly put it into the feed bag, tying the rope around the end and knotting it. The rock made it noticeably heavier, and it was hard to swing with the remaining rope.

"Now watch and learn, Suboshi." Kumiko grinned. When he sent the Ryuuseishui flying in her direction, Kumiko promptly threw the bag in it's direction. Unfortunately, she still had to dodge its attack, due to her poor aim.

"Nice throw," Mischa commented wryly.

"Well I'm sorry if I suck at Gym class! I know I have a terrible throw, but this thing is heavy!" Kumiko complained, pointing to her newfound invention.

Rei grabbed it from her hand and said, "let me try this. I've got better coordination than you do." When the Ryuuseishui once again came flying towards them, Rei threw the contraption and hooked the ropes, promptly pinning Suboshi's weapon to the ground. Everyone was breathless. Suboshi stared at them, slightly unnerved.

Again, he sent it flying towards them, but at this point, the three girls found this slightly amusing. "This is kinda like a game," Rei said grinning.

"Yea, except the fact that any screwing around could quite possibly cost us our lives," Kumiko said pointedly.

"Idiots. You can't stop me." But yes, again they did. Suboshi scowled at them.

"Hey, Rei, let me try!" Mischa said as he launched another attack with his Ryuuseishui. Instead of landing anywhere near it, it flew towards Suboshi, nailing him in the face.

"Mischa!"

"What? I hit him, didn't I?" She said grinning.

Suboshi recovered quickly, and threw his Ryuuseishui at a quickening pace.

"Back to work," Rei said, throwing their toy.

Again and again, they countered his attacks, until a point where both groups were beginning to tire.

"This isn't going to work forever," Kumiko said, panting.

"She's right," Suboshi said, still managing to give an unsettling grin. "When you give up, I'll strike. And you won't know what hit you."

"Yes we will," Mischa said flatly. "I mean, there's not much else around here."

"Will you shut up?" Kumiko yelled. "You've already pushed him passed pissed as hell and I'm not really sure what passed pissed as hell is called, but let's not go any further!"

As the Ryuuseishui flew at them this time, a fatal mistake was made. As before, Rei hurtled their device at it, but predicting this, Suboshi made sure the strong blades his weapon possessed sliced right through the rope. Now the girls were left without a weapon: or any other means of protection.

Suboshi laughed. "You see? Now you're completely defenseless! What do you expect to do now?" Hope that Tasuki will come and flame this bastards ass, Kumiko thought, gritting her teeth. Yet no one came. They were left alone, and unable to escape.

"You're not going to kill us that easily, Suboshi." Mischa said, reaching into her pocket.

"We won't let you, no matter what," Rei countered.

Suboshi laughed again. "You do think so, don't you? You're all so foolish."

Mischa pulled out her final Shiruken star that she saved for desperate measure. And this, my friend, was desperate measure.

Please…Biyakko, Rei thought desperately…give me strength…She closed her eyes in thoughtful prayer.

Give me the strength to guide this star…to his weapon…give me the focus and determination. Mischa closed her eyes and let a green light surround her. Rei too was surrounded in a light, hers glowing a yellow tint. Kumiko stood in awe of her friends as she watched the winds pick up, blowing sand across their eyes. A green light emitted from the shiruken stars as they flew with true aim towards Suboshi's Ryuuseishui, snapping the cord in two.

Suboshi was speechless. The winds died down and the light that surrounded the two priestesses faded slowly.

His weapon lay on the ground, useless and broken. "No, it's not possible," he whispered to himself.

"We did it," Kumiko said, in total awe. She suddenly shook her head. "No, you guys did it. I was just a sitting duck."

"And still are."

Suddenly a tight, stifling feeling swept over Kumiko as she lay on the ground, paralyzed. "What…is this?" she said, between gasps of air. This invisible force tightened at her chest, making it almost impossible to breathe. She noticed both Rei and Mischa were in the same condition.

Suboshi walked towards her. "My chi is not only centered with my Ryuuseishui you know. I can transfer it many ways. Psychic waves is one of many," he said as the grip tightened.

"Suboshi…please…don't do this." Kumiko gasped as she tried hard to stay conscious. It was difficult to stay cognizant when she was losing all air in her body.

"Why not? You tried to take Lady Yui away from me!" He yelled. Kumiko shook her head vigorously.

"NO!" She screamed with all her might. "I tried to take her away from Nakago…from his lies. I want all these stupid wars to end! You don't want that, do you Suboshi? War killed your family, didn't it?" The invisible grip on her loosened slightly.

"H-how did you know that?" He asked. An anxious tone rang through his quavering voice.

"War kills many people," Kumiko said, finding it easier to talk, "and I know you don't want this. And neither would Amiboshi." At the sound of his brother's name, he released the grip all together. Gasps of air and choking sounds could be heard from both Rei and Mischa as they clutched their chests. "I want only peace, Suboshi. I need the help of your brother. I know he's not dead and so do you. Please…tell me where he is." She looked up at him with pleading eyes.

Seeing this made Suboshi squirm. Why? A girl, who had seemed to be his enemy, sat pleading the location of a loved one. How could he know what she would do to his dear brother? Somehow…he could sense the good emitting from the priestess before him, and was temporarily cleared of his emotional blindness.

"He-" Suboshi began, but before he could finish, was interrupted with a shower of arrows. He took this opportunity to flee sooner than Kumiko could learn of his brother's whereabouts.

"Where are these arrows coming from?" She asked Rei and Mischa, who shrugged. Not another attack, she hoped. This was quickly answered when two figures appeared before them. The two men were fairly tall and young looking. One had a black eye patch held over his eye and long flowing hair. The other had quite short hair covered by a large hat. He held a bow and arrow in hand.

"Priestess," they said, running to Mischa, who still sat on the ground clutching her chest. So…they're Genbu senshi, Kumiko thought as they helped both Rei and Mischa up.

Just as she was about to get up herself, a red-hot sensation spread on her back as she nearly screamed. She clenched her fists and shut her eyes tightly, waiting for the sensation to pass. Everyone must have noticed, because they immediately ran to her and began asking concerning questions. Suddenly the sensation stopped and Kumiko let out a small gasp.

"Which one of you is Tomite?" She asked to two men calmly, standing up.

The one with the bow nodded slightly, to show he was Tomite.

"I'm Tomite," he said, "my companion is Hikitsu. We are Genbu senshi, here to protect Mischa."

Kumiko nodded slowly. "I am Kumiko-"

"- Priestess of four gods, we are well aware," Tomite said nonchalantly. "And you have been looking for me, I know. I've been sorta busy though, guarding that Shinzaho for the last 200 years or so. Tough job, you know."

Kumiko nodded with a sigh. "So, will you agree to accompany me on my quest for peace?" She asked him.

"You make it sound so cheesy," Mischa pointed out. Kumiko gave her a small glare.

"Yes, I agree to do so. I would be happy to bring peace to this world, an restore Hokkan to the land it once was." Rei quirked an eyebrow at this statement.

"We are attacked by Kuto on occasion. The greedy emperor has a never-ending quest for power and land," Hikitsu explained.

Mischa nodded. "We thought all of this was taken care of when the first priestess came. But, unfortunately, when Yui and Miaka entered the book, things changed. Kuto started attacking again."

"One question," Kumiko said, "aren't you guys supposed to be ghosts or something?"

"Fair question," Tomite said. "We had to travel to Mt. Taikyoku to visit Tai Itsukun. Her servant, Nyan nyan, can multiply herself and create bodies. Tai Itsukun simply put a spell on them to give our souls the appearance we once had."

"I must admit, it'd look a little strange if you went walking around in dresses looking like neon haired high pitched twins," Mischa commented.

"We might want to get back," Rei said, looking at the sky.

Kumiko nodded. "Everyone will be worried sick. Then Miaka'll come out here to look for us on her own and Tamahome will come after her and they'll get lost and found by Seiryuu senshi and we'll have to find them and ultimately won't see each other for about a week. And that's wasting time."

"Well, you certainly have a way with words," Rei said.

Kumiko shrugged and replied, "I've always been sorta good at Language arts, I guess." Laughing, the group headed quickly back to the Sairou Emperor's palace as the red sunset slowly behind them.

Lola: Bedtime. TMM, you can do the other stuff if you want.

TMM: …Ok. Thank you everyone who's reviewed, we love you a lot! You mean so much to us and we could never thank you enough. I hope you liked this chapter because Lola will sorta be…I dunno if she'd care if you didn't like it. I guess that'd be ok. Sure, she's not all that funny but-

Lola: I said do the other stuff, not lower my self-esteem, jeez.

TMM: Did I mention that last line was extremely cheesy?

Lola/Glares/ Anyway, but after the next chapter, I'll try to stick to the story line of the show at least a little more…I know that I'm messing with it…. a lot. But anyway, thank you everyone and goodnight!