Alatáriël: Arg! *bangs head into wall repeatedly*
Chichiri: O_O What's wrong, no da?!
Alatáriël: I keep *bangs head* trying to *bangs head* find out *is stopped by Chichiri* what happens to you! I could have sworn I read somewhere that you're friend doesn't kick the bucket, but I can't find ANY information on it!
Kate: *Walks on stage with an ice cream cone* Why don't you ask the crowd? I'm sure one of them knows!
Alatáriël: *hugs Kate* What would I do without you?!... Ok, people... I need your help for future reference... Does his friend survive the flood or not? I NEED TO KNOW!
Chichiri: *is in shock* ... H-he...What?....How?
Alatáriël & Kate: * look at each other and freak out* BRAIN WASH! *hold up MIB flashy thing and put on sunglasses* Look into the light Chichiri...
*FLASH!*
Alatáriël: *clears throat and throws sunglasses away* Chichiri, diclaimers!
Chichiri: *Blinks* Alatáriël doesn't own me nor any of the others that belong to Yu Watase, but she does own Kate, no da!
Alatáriël: On with the show!
*everyone runs off stage*
Chapter 7: Water, Water everywhere and not a drop to drink.
Soon everyone was on deck. Kate was trying to keep Tasuki in sight as he cursed up a strom (AN: note the pun). "Chichiri, what happened!?!", she heard Tamahome yell over the storm. "I felt an enemy's enormous chi approaching... and these thunder clouds suddenly appeared in the sky, no da!!", Chichiri shouted back.
Kate could faintly hear someone scream, "Watch out! We are gonna hit the rocks!!", suddenly the sky flared up and lightning hit the boat. Everyone screamed in pain and shock (AN:... another one?! -_-). "What's going on?!", Tamahome asked.
"This is the work of a Seiryu warrior! I can feel it!", Nuriko yelled. "Damn! Where are they?!", Tamahome asked. "We're taking on water!!", Chiriko said. "What's a little harmless water!?! My fire can evaporate it! Rekka... Shi--BLRBLRBLLRBL", Tasuki yelled and was suddenly over board due to a wave. "Tasuki!", Miaka called and jumped in.
Kate smacked her head to her palm. Tamahome jumped in after her, sence she couldn't swim either. "Hold on. I'll throw you a rope!", Nuriko yelled and Kate rushed to help him. A sudden wave sent Nuriko and Kate into the water. "CANNON BALL!", Kate yelled dispite the seriousness of the situation.
Kate was always iggnorant when it came to water. She had almost drowned in a lake while her parents flirted not 5 feet away from her and had jumped into a ten foot pool when she was three thinking she would just float back up without any effort. The most resent she had jumped into a flooded lake after a float that had excaped her grasp up river.
Now here she was being dragged AWAY from Nuriko, Tamahome, and Miaka. She was having a problem staying a float and watched as the others got out of view. 'This is bad, very bad', she thought and tried to look for a way to safety.
She started to swim for the boat but lost her strangth quickly (AN: What can I say? She's you're average American teenager... as far as phisical activity goes). Soon she found herself overwhelmed by the waves and tried to yell, but kept swollowing water. Then she knew no more.
Kate woke up dry and warm. She blinked and rubbed her eyes, sitting up. She was in a bed in a very nice looking room that smelt like flowers. She felt water logged and let out a burp. "Damn... That was the stupidest thing i've ever done!", she told herself.
"And what would that be?", a female asked from a corner of the room. Kate jumped and looked at her in shock. She was really pretty! "Eh?", Kate asked in astonishment. The lady giggled and sat down on Kate's bed. "My name is Ai. How do you feel?", suddenly Kate reconized this girl. She was the lady that served Tamahome wine in volume 8.
"Oh dear... er... How long have I been asleep?", Kate asked. The woman smiled, "Only a few hours. We were all quite suprized to see you floating near shore. Good thing you were wearing that green shirt or we may have not saw you", Ai said.
That's when Kate noticed it... She wasn't dressed in her green shirt and black pants. She was in a dress. "Gods, no!", she exclaimed. Ai looked suprized, "I'm sorry but we weren't just going to let you drown!", she said.
"I-it's not that... Sorry... and thank you for saving me", Kate said and wanted to say something else but couldn't find the words. Ai smiled, "You're welcome. Your things are drying off at the moment... Do you need anything?", Ai asked. Kate nodded, "A root beer would do wonders", she mumbled.
"Huh?", Ai asked, having no heard her. "Uh... Got any milk?", Kate asked and Ai nodded. She left the room and Kate quickly jumped out of bed looking herself over. She never thought she'd see the day she'd be in a dress. She shuddered at its girlishness and made for the door.
As soon as she was about to make her excape Ai returned with the milk. Kate cringed inwardly hoping it wasn't made of eyeballs and drank it down in two gulps. "Would you like to look around a little?", Ai asked and Kate nodded. 'I wonder if Chichiri and the others are here yet', she wondered. Out in the hall torches were being lit and the sun was setting.
Kate felt paniced that they would think her dead and continue with out her. 'I've come this far to be with Chichiri a little swim better not stop me now!', she thought and stomped off . "Ai-san... Have you seen a group of females around here from a shipweck?", Kate asked.
"Oh my! You were shipwecked?! You poor thing!", Ai said saddly and then thought for a moment. "Was one of them extreamly tall with a love of wine? She had really red hair!", Ai said and Kate raised an eyebrow. 'Well, isn't that interesting?', Kate thought and chucked to herself, 'It's Tasuki's soul mate!'. (AN: No flames please! It's a joke!!!)
"Were there six of them? One with purple hair, one with red, one with black, and two with brown, and one with yellow or blue?", she asked not remebering if Chichiri's female form had blonde hair or not.
"Hai! That's them... I think they are in the dinning area...", Ai said. Kate stopped walking when she heard what sounded like singing. "Right threw here", Ai said and pulled back a door. Kate nodded and entered the room.
She couldn't help but smile when she noticed she had entered from behind them. She watched them for a moment while she thought up a plan. They didn't know she knew they were in drag, and they would think it was weird if they knew that she knew that they were in drag... or that one of them had turned female.
He then creeped near Miaka's seat and threw her arms over her shoulders in a light hug. "MISS ME?!", Kate shouted causing Miaka, Tasuki (who was to her right) and Tamahome (who was on her left) to jump a foot in the air. Miaka looked at her for a moment before yelling, "KATE! YOU'RE ALIVE!". Miaka then latched herself to her new friend.
"I have nine lives", Kate said with a wink, "and I still have a few left", she added. She got scolded by Nuriko for being careless before she was able to sit down. She grinned at Tamahome and Tasuki as they glared back in a say-anything-and-die sort of way. She giggled her way all threw dinner as she watched Tamahome and Tasuki drink down the wine. 'Ewww', she thought and giggled some more.
Chichiri, whom she was sitting next to asked how she had gotten here. "I washed up on shore it seems... I got really lucky this time!... Is it just me or are you shorter and curvier than you used to be?", Kate asked with an evil grin on her face. Chichiri blushed and laughed a little, "Hai! I never thought i'd see the day I wore a dress, no da!". Kate grinned and answered, "Me neither". The two of them laughed.
In the hall Miaka and the other discused how they were going to get over the western wall and into Hokkan, which might require swimming to do so. "We're in good shape. I'll take care of Mitsukake. You're tired. Get some rest, no da", Chichiri said and Kate poked him in the sholder.
"Take me with you! I've been asleep all day!", she whispered and Chichiri nodded. Kate giggled as she saw Miaka and Tamahome's reactions to having to stay in the same room and whispered, "Behave you two!" to Miaka. Tamahome blushed as they were shoved into the room.
"Let's go, no da!", Chichiri said and they walked down the hallway. Eventually they scoured the entire dungeon, but couldn't find him anywhere. A woman's voice caught their attention. "Hmm... It looks like you caught a well built man this time."
Kate and Chichiri peeked into the room. 'Those animals!', Kate thought and would have giggled if Chichiri wasn't with her. "What use shall we put to him, Mother? A slave? A seed provider?", at that Kate gaged silently. "Or maybe a toy for the children?", on of the ladies asked.
"Well... I always love a good slave... but we haven't had a new man for some time... and our last seed provider seems... depleted. So, let's do the standered ritual... and gouge out his eyeballs!", the leader said and Kate turned to Chichiri, who had a discusted look on his face. 'That's going to hurt in the morning', Kate thought as a woman with a knife approached Mitsukake. "Don't move! We'll get your eyes with one quick gourge!", one of them said.
Kate looked at Chichiri like a puppy does when it wants to go for a walk. 'Can we go? Can we go?', Kate silently asked pointing her head in Mitsukake's direction. Chichiri concentrated and sent a blast of chi around Mitsukake to deflect the girls.
"Who's there?!", the leader shouted and the door flew open. Kate quickly pushed Chichiri out of the way and smiled at them. "Such strange weather we've been having, ne?", Kate asked and the females looked at her like rabid chipmunks and Kate felt like cowering in a corner. "We were just going to powder out noses, and got turned around, no da!", Chichiri said and Kate smacked her forehead into a wall.
"Chichiri, they can see threw your spell", Kate and Mitsukake said at the same time. Chichiri urked and got chibi, "We'll just be going, no da!", Chichiri said and grabbed Mitsuake and they ran down the hall like there was no tomorrow... Which there might not be if those angry females reach them. 'Must be that time of the month', Kate thought as a spear flew past her head.
They ran around in a random fasion with Kate running beside Mitsukake and Chichiri in front. They ran past Miaka and the others who looked like deers in headlights. Behind them were MANY MANY angry girls. "We have you now you... you MEN!!!", one shouted. "R-R-Run!!!", Kate yelled and they all took off.
"They're all men!! I want them caught!", one yelled. "Take that back! I'll all woman!", Miaka yelled. "And for once I don't regret it in a race!", Kate shot back with a grin, being a tomboy had its advantages. "That's right! How dare you?!", Nuriko said and Kate laughed. "You are a guy! Remeber?!", Tamahome yelled.
Suddenly arrows flew past them and Kate covered her head as she began to run faster. "Ya wonder why I hate women!!!", Tasuki yelled followed up be, "And I swore never to hit a girl!" by Tamahome. "We have to split up! Let's regroup at the west castle wall! There is a path to Hokkan there!", Kate yelled.
"Miaka! Head straight there! We'll act as decoys! You're a woman. Even if they catch you, they won't hurt you!", Tamahome yelled. Kate had allready ran off and so wasn't with her... She was too afraid of the sharp pointy objects.
They ran with all their might but couldn't seem to lose them! It seemed more women just kept showing up! Not very suprizing, but one could dream, ne? The sound of thunder brought their attention to the castle wall. "Miaka is in danger, no da!", Chichiri yelled and they ran in that direction.
They got there just in time to see Soi run off. "Um, guys? We're kind of surounded", Chiriko said and Kate took a deep breath and looked over the side of the wall. 'Damn, that's a long way down!', she thought. "You'll find that the wall leads to steep cliffs. You have nowhere to run", the leader said and Kate rolled her eyes. "State the obvious, why don't ya?", she said sarcasticly. "Dammit. We're almost there...", Tamahome said.
"Once we've gouged out your eyes, you'll make fine slaves. And the liquor brewed from your eyeballs should be delicious", the leader said. 'They always give away their evil plan', Kate thought and looked over the side again. "You talk big, but I gotta warn you. Any drink made from my eyeballs is gonna make you dirt poor! Are you sure you can risk it?!", Tamahome asked and Kate snickered.
"Chichiri. Could you distract them? A moment would do. I have an idea!", Chiriko said and Kate would have screamed FLASH THEM!... if it hadn't been for the fact that she'd rather he not. He was just to pretty to be used like that! "All right...", Chichiri said and threw his kesa into the air and it surounded the warrior women. They freaked out. 'A simple trick for simple minds', Kate thought and rolled her eyes... Throwing laundry at people was a GREAT diversionary tactic!
"Everyone! We have to dive in and swim for shore! The water's deep enough. You won't be hurt!", Chiriko instructed. "Are you nuts?! I'm in a dress!!!", Kate yelled. "L-L-Let's do it!", Tasuki yelled, looking like her was going to die. "ACK! NO!", Kate yelled as Chichiri took her her hand and led her over to the edge. "On the count of three! One... two...three!", He yelled and they jumped off the ledge.
Kate held her nose as they hit water. "After them!", the leader shouted and they swam for shore. "They are coming after us! Hurry! There is a place over there we have to get to!", Chiriko yelled and they ran in the direction Chiriko was pointing. "If my calculations are correct... it should happen soon!", Chiriko said. "What's goin' on? They're catchin' up!",
Tasuki yelled. "L-L-Look!", Miaka said in astonishment. "The water's rushing... backwards!", Tasuki called. They watched as their pursuers were washed back. Chiriko explained that it had to do with the sun and moon's alignment. 'Talk about lucky', Kate thought and they continued on their way. They lost the women easily from there and could finally breath a little easier. They made there way to a valley with sheep and Kate tried to pet one... It ended up trying to eat her dress.
"AHHHHHHHH!", a little kid shouted out of no where on top on a runaway horse. Tamahome ran up, "Oh no! He's going to be thrown off!". Kate sweatdroped as she watched him jump up, save the kid, then get trampled by the horse. 'Bob's prettier', Kate thought, having gotten away from the sheep.
They returned the kid, like any good heros would do. Kate thought ransome was the way to go, but was ignored. "I'm so greatful you saved my son! I don't know how to thank you", the boy's father said. "Fifty gold coins oughtta do it!", Tamahome said and got smacked by Miaka. "If you found a place for is to stay for the night, it'd be very helpful...", Chichiri said.(AN: I'm suprized! No no da is after this!)
"Oh! Please stay with us! We'd love to hear news from the south. It would be our pleasure", the man said and everyone thanked him. A little later they all had dinner. Kate had never had lamb before and desided she didn't like eating something that cute and settled on something that tasted like yogart.
After dinner the villiage elder came to visit. Kate got bored with his story of the preistess of Genbu and went out side. She had read volume 8 at least 206 times... She knew the story by heart. Kate looked out at the landscape. She admired that it had no roads or telophone poles. It was all trees, grass, mountains, and sheep for as far as the eye could see.
Soon everyone left the hut and Kate watched in amusement as Tasuki tried to play with the little boy Tamahome had saved, but the little kid burst into tears saying, "I don't wanna play with scary face." Kate covered her mouth trying to hide her smile as Tasuki stormed off.
Chichiri, who had seen the whole thing, laughed and sat down next to Kate. "Here, no da!", he said and handed her a blanket. "Oh! Thank you! It sure is cold here, isn't it?", she asked and he nodded. "It's been a busy day. It's good to have a rest, no da!", Chichiri said sat down next to her. "Hai. I agree... Long day... One of the weirdest days of my life too! I don't think i've ever had such a great adventure!", she said and Chichiri regarded her for a moment.
"Great, no da? We almost died...", he said confused. She laughed, "But we didn't! There for... it was a great adventure!... Come on... It's not everyday you get to play dress up at the risk of your very lives and jump off a castle into a river only to be chased by crazy women, almost killed by lightning, falling off a ship, and seeing your friend save a kid on a runaway horse!... not in that order", she said and they laughed.
"Hey, Chichiri...", Kate asked suddenly, looking away from him. "Hai, no da?", he asked. "Umm... Can you do me a favor?", She asked. Chichiri nodded, "I'll do what I can, no da". "Ummmm... Did you, by any chance, get my backpack from the ship?", she asked. Chichiri looked like a lightbulb had suddenly turned on in his head. "Nope, no da! But I can get it for you!", he said and pulled his hat out of nowhere and put his hand threw it.
Kate watched with wide eyes as he pulled her backpack threw it as he drew his hand out. "I think I could watch that a millon times and never get sick of it", she said with her mouth slightly open. He smiled and handed it over. "Thank you!", she said and ran off into the hut.
She came out a minute later with a bar of soap in her hands and headed for the nearest river. Once there she took out her clothes from her world and began to wash them. She noticed, with annoyance, that washing them near shore got them muddy so she walked into the water. Making sure not to step on her dress as she did so Kate slowly made it into deeper water, hoping nothing terible lived in the water.
After serious scrubbing of the clothes, Kate got out of the water and found a stick it hand her clothes up on. 'Thank Gods for camping', she thought as she sat under a tree by her clothes watching the setting sun dry her clothes.
She sighed, not thinking they would dry by nightfall and went to find a bathroom and brush her teeth. On her way there she heard Chichiri explaining to Miaka that Tasuki was mad because the little kid got scared of him and cried and laughed when she heard Chichiri add, "But don't let it get to you. Your whole body is equally scary, no da" and Tasuki yell, "I don't need abuse from you!!!". She smiled and headed inside the hut they were all staying in that night.
Inside Kate was instructed to the bathrooms location and headed to it. (AN: I don't know if they even had bathrooms back then...) She sighed when she saw the mirror. 'I have another desision to make... Nuriko... What do I do?', she thought. She groaned suddenly feeling a jolt of pain in her side. "Not now!", she grumbled.
Once outside again she headed back to where her clothes were hanging. She heard some talking nearby and knew Miaka and Tamahome were talking about their love life. Kate rolled her eyes and checked her clothes, 'Get a room'. They were still a little damp, but could be worn.
She grinned and desided to got find Tasuki. Maybe he would give her a hand drying them completely. She found Tasuki sulking with Chichiri outside the hut they were sharing. She was about to ask him but then realized that she had never acually SAW Tasuki use it yet and cursed... Suddenly a plan began to form.
She quitely snuck up behind him. 'I've seen Tamahome do this', she thought as she slowly reached for it. Her heart began to beat faster. She sat there dumbfounded. 'How the heck did Tamahome DO THIS?!', she thought as she saw it was tied on either side of his back and she pondered how he got it off fo fast during battle. It was secure and yet easy to acssess.
She fiddled with the top strap thinking that would be the logical thing to do when it suddenly fell off she caught it. She gasped in astonishment as to how heavy it was! It must have weighed 40 pounds! She wasn't expecting this.
She, desiding she didn't want to get caught trying to put it back, slowly retreated to the back of the hut. 'Perfect! Just freakin' perfect, Kate! Baka!', she thought angrely and examined the ledgendary harisen. 'Tasuki's going to kill me', Kate thought and her consious added, 'You should have thought of that before you stole the thing, which was bad in itself, ya know... Karma can be a bitch, eh?'. She hated to admit it, but her consious was right.
'Well, it is made out of hard metal... I should have known better', she thought and proped up the fan in front of her. "Rekka Shin'en...", she whispered (AN: she didn't want to be heard by said bandit leader) and noting happened. (AN: Tasuki's harisen can only be used by him. The only reason fat-so could use it was because he spied on Tasuki's training... stated on pg. 134 of volume 6... Kate didn't know this).
She sweatdroped. "I went threw this for nothing?", she questioned. A sudden shadow looming over her caught her attention.
Alatáriël: Sorry all, but I had to stop it there... The page thing says it's 8 pages long. O_O;; I went overboard again, no da.
Kate: ^_^;; Oops... Semi-cliffy!
Chichiri:... How could Tasuki NOT know she was there, no da?!
Alatáriël: *shrugs* How did Tama get it? I'm the authoress and therefore I am all-mightily! MWA HA HA.
Kate: *glares* So, i'm the one that gets Chichiri...
Alatáriël: *glares* Don't start with me or i'll kill you off! Nakago-style!
Kate: NO! I love you Alatáriël!!! Don't do it! PLEASE!
Alatáriël: *smiles innocently* I'll think about it. Time for reviews!... Sorry that I kinda went by the manga... but I really didn't have a choice!!!
Chichiri: *goes chibi* I wanna hug no da!!! *hugs reviewers*
Chibichibi386: Yes I did!!!... Look! I'm doing it again! LOL
Jedi of Oro: *laughs* Thanks for reviewing M... You'll have to wait to see what happens next... Ja!
Songwind: *laughs* You couldn't tell I was strange to begin with?! LOL Ha ha ha. That is what I was fearing... I don't want people to flame me! I might cry... *sniffles* Hmm... I really hadn't desided what the herbs did... I had that in mind, but now I feel bad because someone figured it out! XD J/k...j/k... Yeah, I figured they would do something like that so I added it in. Sence you like Tasuki so much i'm sure you'll love to know he has a funny part in the next chapter! Enjoy!
Amaya-san: *laughs* Hmmm.... There is an interesting idea. LOL. Fanfiction idea maybe, ne? *laughs evily* Hope you like this chapter... Not much Chiri, but it was SO fun to write!
Chiri26: *Chichiri hugs her* Love ya!!! Hai! It did... ^_^;; Miaka and the others aren't the sharpest tools in the shed.
Selene Serenity: So was I!!! LOL. I was like... PLOT TWIST!... But I had to "destract" Suboshi to do it. *Sighs* I feel bad... The twins are so cute... I hate making them the bad guys, but I plan to make the next meeting between Kate and Subo-chan VERY funny.
Holly:Daaa! I live in Tennesse! I love the trees here. ^_^ I know they can! It's not smart to get in the twins way!!!... Too bad for Kate, but good for Tama's family!... I think Kate would want it that way. *nods* I plan to have Kate and Subo-chan meet again... It should be enteratining. I like the cold... No bugs... What is Arizona like?... Well, as long as you are having fun! That's what counts!
Chichiri: Daa... I think you messed up on the reviews again, no da.
Alatáriël: Me too! *frowns*... You can flame me if I left you out... My compter is mean!!!... I think the spelling is wrong too! I'm sorry, everyone! *cries*
Kate: *Pats Alatáriël on the back* It's ok. Maa, maa...
Chichiri: O_O What's wrong, no da?!
Alatáriël: I keep *bangs head* trying to *bangs head* find out *is stopped by Chichiri* what happens to you! I could have sworn I read somewhere that you're friend doesn't kick the bucket, but I can't find ANY information on it!
Kate: *Walks on stage with an ice cream cone* Why don't you ask the crowd? I'm sure one of them knows!
Alatáriël: *hugs Kate* What would I do without you?!... Ok, people... I need your help for future reference... Does his friend survive the flood or not? I NEED TO KNOW!
Chichiri: *is in shock* ... H-he...What?....How?
Alatáriël & Kate: * look at each other and freak out* BRAIN WASH! *hold up MIB flashy thing and put on sunglasses* Look into the light Chichiri...
*FLASH!*
Alatáriël: *clears throat and throws sunglasses away* Chichiri, diclaimers!
Chichiri: *Blinks* Alatáriël doesn't own me nor any of the others that belong to Yu Watase, but she does own Kate, no da!
Alatáriël: On with the show!
*everyone runs off stage*
Chapter 7: Water, Water everywhere and not a drop to drink.
Soon everyone was on deck. Kate was trying to keep Tasuki in sight as he cursed up a strom (AN: note the pun). "Chichiri, what happened!?!", she heard Tamahome yell over the storm. "I felt an enemy's enormous chi approaching... and these thunder clouds suddenly appeared in the sky, no da!!", Chichiri shouted back.
Kate could faintly hear someone scream, "Watch out! We are gonna hit the rocks!!", suddenly the sky flared up and lightning hit the boat. Everyone screamed in pain and shock (AN:... another one?! -_-). "What's going on?!", Tamahome asked.
"This is the work of a Seiryu warrior! I can feel it!", Nuriko yelled. "Damn! Where are they?!", Tamahome asked. "We're taking on water!!", Chiriko said. "What's a little harmless water!?! My fire can evaporate it! Rekka... Shi--BLRBLRBLLRBL", Tasuki yelled and was suddenly over board due to a wave. "Tasuki!", Miaka called and jumped in.
Kate smacked her head to her palm. Tamahome jumped in after her, sence she couldn't swim either. "Hold on. I'll throw you a rope!", Nuriko yelled and Kate rushed to help him. A sudden wave sent Nuriko and Kate into the water. "CANNON BALL!", Kate yelled dispite the seriousness of the situation.
Kate was always iggnorant when it came to water. She had almost drowned in a lake while her parents flirted not 5 feet away from her and had jumped into a ten foot pool when she was three thinking she would just float back up without any effort. The most resent she had jumped into a flooded lake after a float that had excaped her grasp up river.
Now here she was being dragged AWAY from Nuriko, Tamahome, and Miaka. She was having a problem staying a float and watched as the others got out of view. 'This is bad, very bad', she thought and tried to look for a way to safety.
She started to swim for the boat but lost her strangth quickly (AN: What can I say? She's you're average American teenager... as far as phisical activity goes). Soon she found herself overwhelmed by the waves and tried to yell, but kept swollowing water. Then she knew no more.
Kate woke up dry and warm. She blinked and rubbed her eyes, sitting up. She was in a bed in a very nice looking room that smelt like flowers. She felt water logged and let out a burp. "Damn... That was the stupidest thing i've ever done!", she told herself.
"And what would that be?", a female asked from a corner of the room. Kate jumped and looked at her in shock. She was really pretty! "Eh?", Kate asked in astonishment. The lady giggled and sat down on Kate's bed. "My name is Ai. How do you feel?", suddenly Kate reconized this girl. She was the lady that served Tamahome wine in volume 8.
"Oh dear... er... How long have I been asleep?", Kate asked. The woman smiled, "Only a few hours. We were all quite suprized to see you floating near shore. Good thing you were wearing that green shirt or we may have not saw you", Ai said.
That's when Kate noticed it... She wasn't dressed in her green shirt and black pants. She was in a dress. "Gods, no!", she exclaimed. Ai looked suprized, "I'm sorry but we weren't just going to let you drown!", she said.
"I-it's not that... Sorry... and thank you for saving me", Kate said and wanted to say something else but couldn't find the words. Ai smiled, "You're welcome. Your things are drying off at the moment... Do you need anything?", Ai asked. Kate nodded, "A root beer would do wonders", she mumbled.
"Huh?", Ai asked, having no heard her. "Uh... Got any milk?", Kate asked and Ai nodded. She left the room and Kate quickly jumped out of bed looking herself over. She never thought she'd see the day she'd be in a dress. She shuddered at its girlishness and made for the door.
As soon as she was about to make her excape Ai returned with the milk. Kate cringed inwardly hoping it wasn't made of eyeballs and drank it down in two gulps. "Would you like to look around a little?", Ai asked and Kate nodded. 'I wonder if Chichiri and the others are here yet', she wondered. Out in the hall torches were being lit and the sun was setting.
Kate felt paniced that they would think her dead and continue with out her. 'I've come this far to be with Chichiri a little swim better not stop me now!', she thought and stomped off . "Ai-san... Have you seen a group of females around here from a shipweck?", Kate asked.
"Oh my! You were shipwecked?! You poor thing!", Ai said saddly and then thought for a moment. "Was one of them extreamly tall with a love of wine? She had really red hair!", Ai said and Kate raised an eyebrow. 'Well, isn't that interesting?', Kate thought and chucked to herself, 'It's Tasuki's soul mate!'. (AN: No flames please! It's a joke!!!)
"Were there six of them? One with purple hair, one with red, one with black, and two with brown, and one with yellow or blue?", she asked not remebering if Chichiri's female form had blonde hair or not.
"Hai! That's them... I think they are in the dinning area...", Ai said. Kate stopped walking when she heard what sounded like singing. "Right threw here", Ai said and pulled back a door. Kate nodded and entered the room.
She couldn't help but smile when she noticed she had entered from behind them. She watched them for a moment while she thought up a plan. They didn't know she knew they were in drag, and they would think it was weird if they knew that she knew that they were in drag... or that one of them had turned female.
He then creeped near Miaka's seat and threw her arms over her shoulders in a light hug. "MISS ME?!", Kate shouted causing Miaka, Tasuki (who was to her right) and Tamahome (who was on her left) to jump a foot in the air. Miaka looked at her for a moment before yelling, "KATE! YOU'RE ALIVE!". Miaka then latched herself to her new friend.
"I have nine lives", Kate said with a wink, "and I still have a few left", she added. She got scolded by Nuriko for being careless before she was able to sit down. She grinned at Tamahome and Tasuki as they glared back in a say-anything-and-die sort of way. She giggled her way all threw dinner as she watched Tamahome and Tasuki drink down the wine. 'Ewww', she thought and giggled some more.
Chichiri, whom she was sitting next to asked how she had gotten here. "I washed up on shore it seems... I got really lucky this time!... Is it just me or are you shorter and curvier than you used to be?", Kate asked with an evil grin on her face. Chichiri blushed and laughed a little, "Hai! I never thought i'd see the day I wore a dress, no da!". Kate grinned and answered, "Me neither". The two of them laughed.
In the hall Miaka and the other discused how they were going to get over the western wall and into Hokkan, which might require swimming to do so. "We're in good shape. I'll take care of Mitsukake. You're tired. Get some rest, no da", Chichiri said and Kate poked him in the sholder.
"Take me with you! I've been asleep all day!", she whispered and Chichiri nodded. Kate giggled as she saw Miaka and Tamahome's reactions to having to stay in the same room and whispered, "Behave you two!" to Miaka. Tamahome blushed as they were shoved into the room.
"Let's go, no da!", Chichiri said and they walked down the hallway. Eventually they scoured the entire dungeon, but couldn't find him anywhere. A woman's voice caught their attention. "Hmm... It looks like you caught a well built man this time."
Kate and Chichiri peeked into the room. 'Those animals!', Kate thought and would have giggled if Chichiri wasn't with her. "What use shall we put to him, Mother? A slave? A seed provider?", at that Kate gaged silently. "Or maybe a toy for the children?", on of the ladies asked.
"Well... I always love a good slave... but we haven't had a new man for some time... and our last seed provider seems... depleted. So, let's do the standered ritual... and gouge out his eyeballs!", the leader said and Kate turned to Chichiri, who had a discusted look on his face. 'That's going to hurt in the morning', Kate thought as a woman with a knife approached Mitsukake. "Don't move! We'll get your eyes with one quick gourge!", one of them said.
Kate looked at Chichiri like a puppy does when it wants to go for a walk. 'Can we go? Can we go?', Kate silently asked pointing her head in Mitsukake's direction. Chichiri concentrated and sent a blast of chi around Mitsukake to deflect the girls.
"Who's there?!", the leader shouted and the door flew open. Kate quickly pushed Chichiri out of the way and smiled at them. "Such strange weather we've been having, ne?", Kate asked and the females looked at her like rabid chipmunks and Kate felt like cowering in a corner. "We were just going to powder out noses, and got turned around, no da!", Chichiri said and Kate smacked her forehead into a wall.
"Chichiri, they can see threw your spell", Kate and Mitsukake said at the same time. Chichiri urked and got chibi, "We'll just be going, no da!", Chichiri said and grabbed Mitsuake and they ran down the hall like there was no tomorrow... Which there might not be if those angry females reach them. 'Must be that time of the month', Kate thought as a spear flew past her head.
They ran around in a random fasion with Kate running beside Mitsukake and Chichiri in front. They ran past Miaka and the others who looked like deers in headlights. Behind them were MANY MANY angry girls. "We have you now you... you MEN!!!", one shouted. "R-R-Run!!!", Kate yelled and they all took off.
"They're all men!! I want them caught!", one yelled. "Take that back! I'll all woman!", Miaka yelled. "And for once I don't regret it in a race!", Kate shot back with a grin, being a tomboy had its advantages. "That's right! How dare you?!", Nuriko said and Kate laughed. "You are a guy! Remeber?!", Tamahome yelled.
Suddenly arrows flew past them and Kate covered her head as she began to run faster. "Ya wonder why I hate women!!!", Tasuki yelled followed up be, "And I swore never to hit a girl!" by Tamahome. "We have to split up! Let's regroup at the west castle wall! There is a path to Hokkan there!", Kate yelled.
"Miaka! Head straight there! We'll act as decoys! You're a woman. Even if they catch you, they won't hurt you!", Tamahome yelled. Kate had allready ran off and so wasn't with her... She was too afraid of the sharp pointy objects.
They ran with all their might but couldn't seem to lose them! It seemed more women just kept showing up! Not very suprizing, but one could dream, ne? The sound of thunder brought their attention to the castle wall. "Miaka is in danger, no da!", Chichiri yelled and they ran in that direction.
They got there just in time to see Soi run off. "Um, guys? We're kind of surounded", Chiriko said and Kate took a deep breath and looked over the side of the wall. 'Damn, that's a long way down!', she thought. "You'll find that the wall leads to steep cliffs. You have nowhere to run", the leader said and Kate rolled her eyes. "State the obvious, why don't ya?", she said sarcasticly. "Dammit. We're almost there...", Tamahome said.
"Once we've gouged out your eyes, you'll make fine slaves. And the liquor brewed from your eyeballs should be delicious", the leader said. 'They always give away their evil plan', Kate thought and looked over the side again. "You talk big, but I gotta warn you. Any drink made from my eyeballs is gonna make you dirt poor! Are you sure you can risk it?!", Tamahome asked and Kate snickered.
"Chichiri. Could you distract them? A moment would do. I have an idea!", Chiriko said and Kate would have screamed FLASH THEM!... if it hadn't been for the fact that she'd rather he not. He was just to pretty to be used like that! "All right...", Chichiri said and threw his kesa into the air and it surounded the warrior women. They freaked out. 'A simple trick for simple minds', Kate thought and rolled her eyes... Throwing laundry at people was a GREAT diversionary tactic!
"Everyone! We have to dive in and swim for shore! The water's deep enough. You won't be hurt!", Chiriko instructed. "Are you nuts?! I'm in a dress!!!", Kate yelled. "L-L-Let's do it!", Tasuki yelled, looking like her was going to die. "ACK! NO!", Kate yelled as Chichiri took her her hand and led her over to the edge. "On the count of three! One... two...three!", He yelled and they jumped off the ledge.
Kate held her nose as they hit water. "After them!", the leader shouted and they swam for shore. "They are coming after us! Hurry! There is a place over there we have to get to!", Chiriko yelled and they ran in the direction Chiriko was pointing. "If my calculations are correct... it should happen soon!", Chiriko said. "What's goin' on? They're catchin' up!",
Tasuki yelled. "L-L-Look!", Miaka said in astonishment. "The water's rushing... backwards!", Tasuki called. They watched as their pursuers were washed back. Chiriko explained that it had to do with the sun and moon's alignment. 'Talk about lucky', Kate thought and they continued on their way. They lost the women easily from there and could finally breath a little easier. They made there way to a valley with sheep and Kate tried to pet one... It ended up trying to eat her dress.
"AHHHHHHHH!", a little kid shouted out of no where on top on a runaway horse. Tamahome ran up, "Oh no! He's going to be thrown off!". Kate sweatdroped as she watched him jump up, save the kid, then get trampled by the horse. 'Bob's prettier', Kate thought, having gotten away from the sheep.
They returned the kid, like any good heros would do. Kate thought ransome was the way to go, but was ignored. "I'm so greatful you saved my son! I don't know how to thank you", the boy's father said. "Fifty gold coins oughtta do it!", Tamahome said and got smacked by Miaka. "If you found a place for is to stay for the night, it'd be very helpful...", Chichiri said.(AN: I'm suprized! No no da is after this!)
"Oh! Please stay with us! We'd love to hear news from the south. It would be our pleasure", the man said and everyone thanked him. A little later they all had dinner. Kate had never had lamb before and desided she didn't like eating something that cute and settled on something that tasted like yogart.
After dinner the villiage elder came to visit. Kate got bored with his story of the preistess of Genbu and went out side. She had read volume 8 at least 206 times... She knew the story by heart. Kate looked out at the landscape. She admired that it had no roads or telophone poles. It was all trees, grass, mountains, and sheep for as far as the eye could see.
Soon everyone left the hut and Kate watched in amusement as Tasuki tried to play with the little boy Tamahome had saved, but the little kid burst into tears saying, "I don't wanna play with scary face." Kate covered her mouth trying to hide her smile as Tasuki stormed off.
Chichiri, who had seen the whole thing, laughed and sat down next to Kate. "Here, no da!", he said and handed her a blanket. "Oh! Thank you! It sure is cold here, isn't it?", she asked and he nodded. "It's been a busy day. It's good to have a rest, no da!", Chichiri said sat down next to her. "Hai. I agree... Long day... One of the weirdest days of my life too! I don't think i've ever had such a great adventure!", she said and Chichiri regarded her for a moment.
"Great, no da? We almost died...", he said confused. She laughed, "But we didn't! There for... it was a great adventure!... Come on... It's not everyday you get to play dress up at the risk of your very lives and jump off a castle into a river only to be chased by crazy women, almost killed by lightning, falling off a ship, and seeing your friend save a kid on a runaway horse!... not in that order", she said and they laughed.
"Hey, Chichiri...", Kate asked suddenly, looking away from him. "Hai, no da?", he asked. "Umm... Can you do me a favor?", She asked. Chichiri nodded, "I'll do what I can, no da". "Ummmm... Did you, by any chance, get my backpack from the ship?", she asked. Chichiri looked like a lightbulb had suddenly turned on in his head. "Nope, no da! But I can get it for you!", he said and pulled his hat out of nowhere and put his hand threw it.
Kate watched with wide eyes as he pulled her backpack threw it as he drew his hand out. "I think I could watch that a millon times and never get sick of it", she said with her mouth slightly open. He smiled and handed it over. "Thank you!", she said and ran off into the hut.
She came out a minute later with a bar of soap in her hands and headed for the nearest river. Once there she took out her clothes from her world and began to wash them. She noticed, with annoyance, that washing them near shore got them muddy so she walked into the water. Making sure not to step on her dress as she did so Kate slowly made it into deeper water, hoping nothing terible lived in the water.
After serious scrubbing of the clothes, Kate got out of the water and found a stick it hand her clothes up on. 'Thank Gods for camping', she thought as she sat under a tree by her clothes watching the setting sun dry her clothes.
She sighed, not thinking they would dry by nightfall and went to find a bathroom and brush her teeth. On her way there she heard Chichiri explaining to Miaka that Tasuki was mad because the little kid got scared of him and cried and laughed when she heard Chichiri add, "But don't let it get to you. Your whole body is equally scary, no da" and Tasuki yell, "I don't need abuse from you!!!". She smiled and headed inside the hut they were all staying in that night.
Inside Kate was instructed to the bathrooms location and headed to it. (AN: I don't know if they even had bathrooms back then...) She sighed when she saw the mirror. 'I have another desision to make... Nuriko... What do I do?', she thought. She groaned suddenly feeling a jolt of pain in her side. "Not now!", she grumbled.
Once outside again she headed back to where her clothes were hanging. She heard some talking nearby and knew Miaka and Tamahome were talking about their love life. Kate rolled her eyes and checked her clothes, 'Get a room'. They were still a little damp, but could be worn.
She grinned and desided to got find Tasuki. Maybe he would give her a hand drying them completely. She found Tasuki sulking with Chichiri outside the hut they were sharing. She was about to ask him but then realized that she had never acually SAW Tasuki use it yet and cursed... Suddenly a plan began to form.
She quitely snuck up behind him. 'I've seen Tamahome do this', she thought as she slowly reached for it. Her heart began to beat faster. She sat there dumbfounded. 'How the heck did Tamahome DO THIS?!', she thought as she saw it was tied on either side of his back and she pondered how he got it off fo fast during battle. It was secure and yet easy to acssess.
She fiddled with the top strap thinking that would be the logical thing to do when it suddenly fell off she caught it. She gasped in astonishment as to how heavy it was! It must have weighed 40 pounds! She wasn't expecting this.
She, desiding she didn't want to get caught trying to put it back, slowly retreated to the back of the hut. 'Perfect! Just freakin' perfect, Kate! Baka!', she thought angrely and examined the ledgendary harisen. 'Tasuki's going to kill me', Kate thought and her consious added, 'You should have thought of that before you stole the thing, which was bad in itself, ya know... Karma can be a bitch, eh?'. She hated to admit it, but her consious was right.
'Well, it is made out of hard metal... I should have known better', she thought and proped up the fan in front of her. "Rekka Shin'en...", she whispered (AN: she didn't want to be heard by said bandit leader) and noting happened. (AN: Tasuki's harisen can only be used by him. The only reason fat-so could use it was because he spied on Tasuki's training... stated on pg. 134 of volume 6... Kate didn't know this).
She sweatdroped. "I went threw this for nothing?", she questioned. A sudden shadow looming over her caught her attention.
Alatáriël: Sorry all, but I had to stop it there... The page thing says it's 8 pages long. O_O;; I went overboard again, no da.
Kate: ^_^;; Oops... Semi-cliffy!
Chichiri:... How could Tasuki NOT know she was there, no da?!
Alatáriël: *shrugs* How did Tama get it? I'm the authoress and therefore I am all-mightily! MWA HA HA.
Kate: *glares* So, i'm the one that gets Chichiri...
Alatáriël: *glares* Don't start with me or i'll kill you off! Nakago-style!
Kate: NO! I love you Alatáriël!!! Don't do it! PLEASE!
Alatáriël: *smiles innocently* I'll think about it. Time for reviews!... Sorry that I kinda went by the manga... but I really didn't have a choice!!!
Chichiri: *goes chibi* I wanna hug no da!!! *hugs reviewers*
Chibichibi386: Yes I did!!!... Look! I'm doing it again! LOL
Jedi of Oro: *laughs* Thanks for reviewing M... You'll have to wait to see what happens next... Ja!
Songwind: *laughs* You couldn't tell I was strange to begin with?! LOL Ha ha ha. That is what I was fearing... I don't want people to flame me! I might cry... *sniffles* Hmm... I really hadn't desided what the herbs did... I had that in mind, but now I feel bad because someone figured it out! XD J/k...j/k... Yeah, I figured they would do something like that so I added it in. Sence you like Tasuki so much i'm sure you'll love to know he has a funny part in the next chapter! Enjoy!
Amaya-san: *laughs* Hmmm.... There is an interesting idea. LOL. Fanfiction idea maybe, ne? *laughs evily* Hope you like this chapter... Not much Chiri, but it was SO fun to write!
Chiri26: *Chichiri hugs her* Love ya!!! Hai! It did... ^_^;; Miaka and the others aren't the sharpest tools in the shed.
Selene Serenity: So was I!!! LOL. I was like... PLOT TWIST!... But I had to "destract" Suboshi to do it. *Sighs* I feel bad... The twins are so cute... I hate making them the bad guys, but I plan to make the next meeting between Kate and Subo-chan VERY funny.
Holly:Daaa! I live in Tennesse! I love the trees here. ^_^ I know they can! It's not smart to get in the twins way!!!... Too bad for Kate, but good for Tama's family!... I think Kate would want it that way. *nods* I plan to have Kate and Subo-chan meet again... It should be enteratining. I like the cold... No bugs... What is Arizona like?... Well, as long as you are having fun! That's what counts!
Chichiri: Daa... I think you messed up on the reviews again, no da.
Alatáriël: Me too! *frowns*... You can flame me if I left you out... My compter is mean!!!... I think the spelling is wrong too! I'm sorry, everyone! *cries*
Kate: *Pats Alatáriël on the back* It's ok. Maa, maa...
