Alatáriël: *looks over a clip board* It seems 99% of the reviewers want romance soon.

*grins in Kate's direction, who is blushing*

Kate: Demo... We just met like... a week ago!!!

Alatáriël: *rolls eyes* Excuses, excuses! We ARE going to work on fluff so be a good girl and do the disclaimers!

Kate: *frowns* Alatáriël owns me. She doesn't own Chichiri.... Actually i'm based off a girl from the book The Ancient One by T.A. Barron, but that's our little secret. ^_~

Chapter 10: To The Mountain Top and Down Again.

Kate woke up and freaked out when she saw Chichiri's face extremely close to hers. A blush found itself on her face and she slowly sat up. Chriko was curled up in the kesa near Chichiri's back.

Kate rubbed the sleep from her eyes and examined Chichiri for a moment. He had a content look on his face as he slept on his side with his kesa lazily covering his midsection. His bangs were limp against the bed and his mask smiled pleasantly in his sleep.

She yawned and carefully crawled out of bed, making sure not to wake anyone. She had gotten caught up in Chichiri's kesa sometime during the night and it didn't want to let her foot go. The air in the room was extremely crisp to the point she could see her breath.

She walked over to her backpack and took out the mirror. The handle was as cold as ice and she wanted noting more than to crawl back into bed, but she had more important things on her mind. "Show me Nuriko at his present state", she whispered into the mirror.

Said cross-dresser appeared with a ripple of the glass. He was walking up Black Mountain. Kate cursed and quickly pulled her backpack over her shoulder after placing the mirror back and quickly left the room. The inn keeper giver her a perverted wink as she ran down the stares.

She rolled her eyes and dashed out of the inn. She looked around quickly before seeing her destination hovering above the buildings. On a quick thought she recalled as to how Miaka mentioned she had left Hotohori's holy sword on Chichiri's horse. She grinned and ran to the stables. Inside she quickly located the sword and ran out.

She looked around quickly to regain her boundaries and cringed slightly when she saw Black Mountain hovering in the distance. 'I so don't want to climb that', she thought and despite her thoughts ran in the direction of the mountain.

A little while later Kate found herself at the base of the mountain. She looked at her watch, a habit she had picked up before school. It was 9:17 AM. She took a deep breath and started upward, using the sword as a walking stick.

The snow was terrible and she feared falling into the snow and never finding her way out again. It began snowing slightly and it gave her path a mystical look to it, but it morbidly reminded her of how stupid she was to go off on her own.

About an hour and a half later she found herself standing in the gateway of Genbu's shinzaho. She looked around quickly and noticed Nuriko looking at his surroundings lazily. "NURIKO!", Kate shouted and ran over to him as fast as she could.

"Kate?", Nuriko asked. "What are you doing here?", he asked curiously. "I came t--", she was cut off by Nuriko's attention going to something behind her. Kate felt her blood run cold and she turned around with Hotohori's sword at ready.

She really didn't know how to use a sword, but Ashitare didn't know that. "It's you! I found you!", Ashitare growled at Nuriko. "You again!", Nuriko screamed at him. He grinned evilly at Kate. "Thanks for showing me where the shinzaho is... I'll tear you apart, then i'll feast on what's left of you!", he said and Kate shuddered slightly.

"After that, the same for all your friends! And that priestess of yours... She'll make good eating!", he said. "Ewww... sicko!", Kate commented followed by Nuriko saying, "No monster like you... will ever get near Miaka or my friends", he said and forced Kate to get behind him.

"NO!", she shouted as Nuriko yelled, "Because i'll kill you myself! Come on!". Ashitare roared in furry and slammed Nuriko into a wall. Kate barely dodged and swung the sword at him. He didn't even blink as he hit her with a powerful sweeping motion of his arm that sent Hotohori's sword flying and she fell down. "HAH!", Nuriko yelled as he tried to punch him. He jumped over it and almost hit Nuriko!

Nuriko was able to jump back at the last second only to be thrown into another rock. Kate was now on her feet and ran toward Ashitare with the sword, attempting to chop his head off. Nuriko jumped then as Ashitare went to punch him. The sword hit air.

Kate screamed when Nuriko landed just in time to be impaled by Ashitare's claws. "NURIKO!!!", she screamed in anguish, knowing she had failed. Nuriko, face twisted in pain, reached back and threw Ashitare over him and onto the ground where he held him in a head lock and cut off his air till he stopped moving. "You don't screw around... with Nuriko", he mumbled and sat back.

"Oh Suzaku! Nuriko!", Kate gasped and rushed to the side of the man she had barely known, but honored so much. "I... really blew it big time didn't I?", He asked with a pained smile. "Nuriko... Don't move ok? Mitsukake should get here soon", Kate said in a soft tone and tried to get Nuriko to lay down.

"How am I going to act superior to Miaka now?", Nuriko mumbled in a far off sort of way. Kate tried to hush him and get him to focus on surviving. "That boulder... needs to be moved", Nuriko mumbled and Kate shook her head profusely. "It can wait, Nuri-chan! It can wait! Wait till Mitsukake gets here!", Kate pleaded.

Nuriko looked at her with a laugh, "He won't... I can feel it", he said and tried to get up. Despite him being mortally wounded it didn't stop him from being able to get out of Kate's grasp. "Please... Help me", He begged and Kate nodded. She felt the warm tears going down her face as she put all of her strength into helping Nuriko lift that boulder.

Kate let out a sob when she saw the blood pooling from Nuriko form a puddle underneath him. Kate cringed as the boulder was thrown to the side. "Nuriko!", she heard Miaka shout. Nuriko turned and smiled just in time to fall down. Kate quickly caught him.

"Nuriko! Nuriko!", Miaka yelled rushing over. Kate didn't hear anything. She couldn't comprehend what was going on. "Hang in there, Nuriko... we'll get Mitsukake!", Tamahome shouted. "Leave him...", Kate whispered. "Kate... We have to do something!", Miaka shouted. 'No one should have to die twice', Kate thought.

The rest happed so fast. She couldn't think. Everything was blurry. Everyone was shouting and then everything went slow. Miaka got up suddenly and that drew Kate's attention. Miaka turned to them and screamed.

"Nuriko?... Nuri... Oh come on! It's a joke, right? You were just talking! You laughed! You saw her laugh, right?" Miaka said in denial and her tears began to form. "You've been here since the beginning! You were always laughing with me, laughing together... I don't believe any of it!", Miaka shouted. Kate stared at Tamahome numbly as he held Nuriko's head to his and cried.

"THIS IS ALL WRONG! NURIKO, OPEN YOUR EYES!!! DAMN IT! NURIKO, OPEN YOUR EYES!", Miaka shouted. Kate got up suddenly. She had to get away. She walked away unnoticed. She eventually found a place to sit and think.

'Why?', she asked looking at the sky. She wanted to cry more, but couldn't for some reason. She sat there staring at her blood stained hands. Nuriko's blood. 'I should have been able to do something... I didn't even scratch that bastard', she thought angrily.

Shouting filled her ears suddenly and she knew the others had arrived. She sighed and took volume 8 out of her backpack and skimmed threw it. It was exactly the same. She hadn't done ANYTHING. 'You will see with time that everything happens for a reason', Tamahome's father's words rang in her head and she cursed.

'What is the reason?! I see no fucking reason!!! Damn it!', she thought. Suddenly crying caught her attention. 'Miaka', she thought and saw the girl huddled under a tree like herself, crying. Kate cringed. She crawled over to where Miaka was and without words wrapped her arms around the crying girl, who cried into her shirt.

"Kate! Kate! Nuriko is dead! She's dead! Why do people have to die just to summon Suzaku?! I wanted people to be happy! People I love dying.. It's just too much to pay!", she screamed between sobs and began hyperventilating.

Tamahome took his cue then to walk out of the bushes and over to them. He looked at Kate questionably, but she just patted Miaka on the back trying to calm the other girl down. She didn't like Miaka very much, but the girl had been threw so much.

Tamahome pointed for Kate to basically get lost. Kate frowned, but did as she was told and walked back to camp. A few steps later Tamahome and Miaka rushed past her in a screaming frenzy. They stopped in front of Nuriko's body. Kate bit her lip and turned toward the gate. She had had enough of this.

"Look at Nuriko, Miaka!", Tamahome yelled. "N-no!", Miaka yelled. "Look at her! Would you rather she died for NOTHING!... You know what she was risking her life for! You should know better than anybody!!! Everyone here is sad! But if you give in... if you run away now... Then the saddest will be Nuriko!", Tamahome shouted.

Mitsukake took that moment to give his two cents. "Miaka... Take a good look at Nuriko's face. Doesn't she look content? I believe each life comes into this world with a purpose... to do something no one else can... and the death of every person... every living thing also has a deep meaning. Nuriko has fulfilled her mission. She lived her life the best she could... up to the last moment". Miaka kept crying and Kate found her eyes locked to a pool of blood on the ground near the gate. Ashitare was laying there.

Kate clenged her teeth together and looked around madly. 'How could I have forgotten?!', she thought and she wanted nothing more than to kill him, but couldn't bring herself to do it. Her eyes locked with a bag on the ground. 'Nuriko's hair', Kate thought and picked it up. The blood on her hands smeared onto the bag and she walked over to where Miaka was holding Nuriko's armlets.

She didn't say anything as she put the braid in Nuriko's hands and kissed her fingers and pressed it to him forehead before helping shovel the show onto his body. 'I'm so sorry, Nuriko...', Kate thought. Within the hour Nuriko was buried and a marker was placed on his grave.

"It's funny", Tasuki began, "I can't tell if it was womanly or manly... but that was sure a noble way to die". "No... Gender has nothing to do with it...", Miaka began. "Nuriko was Nuriko", Kate finished for her with a bitter laugh. Everyone said their final farewells before turning to the gate.

"So the shinzaho's supposed t' be inside here?", Tasuki asked. Kate pushed against the door and it opened. "Something bothers me", Chichiri stated and Chiriko looked at him questionally. "A Seiryu warrior has been killed... but there aren't any further attacks", he said. Kate feel in beside him. "Keep your guard up, Chichiri", she whispered.

Chichiri looked at her, confused. She was staring straight ahead and wiped her bloody hands off on her pants. "This isn't over", she whispered and looked at him with the fear she felt in her heart. Kate sighed and looped her arm around Chichiri's. (AN: heh heh heh)

"Geez! It's pitch black in here!", Tasuki commented. "We'll let's move on!", Tamahome said. They walked a few steps before a loud SLAM echoed threw out the room and caused Kate to jump. "The door close on its own!!!", Tamahome said and Kate shuddered just as Miaka screamed.

"Miaka, what's wrong?!", Tamahome asked. "I don't know I tripped over something", she replied from the darkness. "I'll give ya some fire!", Tasuki said and pulled out his tessen. Miaka screamed seeing bones near her... human bones.

Suddenly a tight feeling was in the air. "Watch out!", Tamahome yelled and blocked arrows that seemingly came out of no where. "Tamahome!", Miaka screamed. "Yikes!", Kate shouted as an arrow came within an inch of her ear. "Crap, crap, crap", she repeated.

"I'm fine they're just scratches", Tamahome said as Miaka mothered over him. "Ice arrows?!", Tasuki said just as a deep voice sounded threw the cave. "If you're here to claim the shinzaho, fate is against you... Because we allow no fools... to take one step farther down this path", the new voices said and Kate rolled her eyes.

'Cocky ghosts', she thought. "What's with those guys?!", Tasuki yelled. "They've got an icy calm...", Tamahome said. "Who are you?! Quit hiding! Show yourselves!", Miaka screamed. Suddenly little light things began to glow in the room and Kate had an urge to touch one, but thought better of it.

Kate carefully loosened her hold on Chichiri's arm and held onto her backpack's strap (AN: Say that 5 times fast). "You are bold, young lady. I am called Hikitsu", the more regal of the two said. His white hair and eye patch giving him a mysterious look. "And I am Tomite! We're guarding the shinzaho for the priestess of Genbu", the arrow welding youth said. He was clearly short tempered.

"Hold on a second... Hikitsu and Tomite?!", Tamahome said wide eyed. "That's impossible", Chichiri said just as Tomite released an arrow in their direction. "Genbu celestial warriors of the north!", he yelled.

The arrow almost hit Tamahome and Miaka. Kate ran to the right side of the cave knowing it was safest there as she slowly inched closer to the others, hoping to be unnoticed. "Genbu celestial warriors?!", Miaka shouted. "Ya gotta be kiddin'! They died 200 years ago!", Tasuki yelled.

Hikitsu began to chant a spell. "Stop! Please Listen we're the Suzaku---", Miaka shouted just as he let his spell lose. Kate jumped forward then and, ducking under the attack and with motion threw her backpack in the way of the ice snakes. They latched on and froze it. She had her mirror in her hands and was panting slightly.

"We do not suffer thieves, even when two are young women. Never fear. A frozen death will come swiftly, and within five minutes, your flesh will rot away", he said and Kate growled. "Don't insult me by underestimating me by my gender, you freak!", Kate hissed.

"Stay back, Miaka!", Tamahome said. "Let us take care of this. We have to make it though... for Nuriko's sake!", Tamahome said and looked at her lovingly. "Get yer smoochin' scenes when we ain't in battle! C'mon!", Tasuki complained.

"I promised her that I would make you happy! It may not be this moment... but we'll be together soon!", Tamahome said and Kate wanted to gag. "Listen, you idiots! You can't defeat us, so don't make long-term plans!", Tomite yelled. "Why don't you engage them, Tomite. The bones at their feet need company", Hikitsu said and Kate wrinkled her nose in distaste. "Can't you just say kill them like a normal homicidal ghost?!", Kate asked and got a weird look.

"You can tell we are spirits? Well, isn't this interesting?", Hikitsu asked Tomite who had a cocky smile on his face. "Suzaku warriors", Tasuki began. "and company!", Kate added. "ain't no pushovers!", Tasuki finished. Kate felt like they should a heroic pose or something at this moment.

"Suzaku warriors?", Hikitsu asked curiously, his eyes resting on Kate. "Don't believe them, Hikitsu! As guardians of the shinzaho, we don't let anybody close to it!", Tomite screamed. Just then Tamahome yelled, "Tasuki, the one on the left is mine!". "Rekka Shin'en!", Tasuki answered as Tomite threw what looked like snow flake shaped ninja stars at him.

Chichiri took this moment to pull Kate over to him just as Hikitsu sent his snakes in their direction. "That's won't work!", Tasuki shouted and melted them with a fire spell. "Lemme take 'im! I been cookin' up new techniques in my free time", Tasuki said with a grin. "He split the flame!", Chiriko said in awe.

Meanwhile Tamahome was being bombarded with lethal snow flakes from Tomite. "It's so fast you can't even see it! And watch it circle you till it slices your body into two", Tomite said. "Ew", Kate commented. Tamahome shattered the lethal snow flake with a punch.

"Time fer th' last move!", Tasuki yelled. Kate smacked her forehead. Didn't she say it loud enough?! They are GHOSTS! Hikitsu looked surprised as a wall of flames engulfed him. The heat was so intense Kate had to shield her face. "Hikitsu!", Tomite shouted and Tamahome kicked right threw him.

Hikitsu chuckled and with a wave of his hand disintegrated the flames surrounding him as if they were nothing. "Your mistake. No effect", Hikitsu said and Tasuki gasped. "Do what you like. Nothing can defeat us. How can you harm a body that expired 200 years ago?", Hikitsu asked and Kate took that moment to step up.

"Look! We need your help! A friend has died for us to come here! Surely we can compromise?", Kate asked and was answered with arrows flying too close for comfort. "That's it! I don't care if you are ghosts! Let's decide this with our fists like REAL MEN!", Tasuki yelled. Kate sweatdroped. "They're not real men anymore, and they don't have fists! There're some basics you're not getting", Tamahome mumbled.

"Now you know your efforts are futile", Hikitsu commented. "And we can stop playing with them, Hikitsu", Tomite commented. 'They must get bored easy or something to play with us like this', Kate thought.

"We'll prove our loyalty to the priestess of Genbu!", Tomite yelled and Hikitsu began to chant a spell just as Miaka ran up and threw herself on the ground. "STOP! Please... Please!!! Let us through! The only way for us to summon Suzaku is with the shinzaho!!! I'll submit to anything you want... If you'll just let the rest of us through!", Miaka shouted with tears poring down her face. Kate looked up to Tomite and Hikitsu.

"I can't go back to Konan without the shinzaho. I'm begging you! Please!", Miaka shouted. The only one not worried was Kate, who was grinning slightly. "Miaka", the Suzaku 5 whispered. "When a priestess bows before us, that leaves us with little choice", Hikitsu said. "You'll let us threw?!", Miaka asked.

"We must determine if you are the real priestess of Suzaku... and if you are worthy of receiving the shinzaho. Only then we can let you pass", Tomite said. "All right! I'm ready!", Miaka said with determination.

"Don't do it Miaka who knows what they'll do to you!", Tamahome yelled. By this point Kate was mouthing the words. "This is my duty! Don't interfere, okay?!", she yelled angrily. Kate yawned and noticed Hikitsu was looking at her strangely. She rose an eyebrow. He looked away. (AN: He saw her moving her lips to the words everyone was saying. He's freaked out XD)

"You agree? Fine then strip!", Tomite said and Kate had trouble not giggling. No matter how many times she read that part she laughed. "Wh- what?! What's on your minds? Y-you can't be thinking--", both Tasuki and Tamahome shouted, really P.Oed. Miaka was in shock.

"Yer just a buncha damn ghost perverts!", Tasuki yelled. Kate couldn't take it anymore and let a giggle out. Luckily no one noticed. "Stop that! We don't have to do this, you know!", Tomite yelled. You could practically here the cat like hiss in his voice.

"Fine! I'll do it!", Miaka said and began to undress. Kate turned her back to Miaka and examined the wall. "OHMIGOD! Don't look! Don't look!", Tamahome yelled to a sweatdroping Tasuki and Chichiri.

"This is as much as you get!", Miaka said. She was in her undershirt (AN: I have no clue what she is wearing in this pic... It looks like a shirt) and underwear. She looked very cold. "It'll do. Don't move!", Tomite said and extended his hand. Miaka began to get covered in ice.

Kate shivered. The ice was so cold it even turned the air frigid. She watched Miaka out of the corner of her eye. "Th-they're freezin' Miaka up!", Tasuki yelled. Now, Kate really didn't understand why Miaka had to get undressed to get frozen. By the looks of it clothes wouldn't help her at all, but such was the genius that was Yu Watese.

"Don't move! A priestess should be able to endure to the end!", Tomite yelled. 'Some one got up on the wrong side of the cave this morning', Kate thought and crossed her arms across her chest. By now the ice was up to Miaka's chest and she was screaming in pain. "Stop!", Tamahome yelled and ran forward... into a block of ice.

"Fools! Didn't you notice the ice wall surrounding you?", Hikitsu asked. Kate rose an eyebrow. She was away from the others. She reached around herself and looked for an ice wall. She didn't find one. Slightly curious, she walked up to the wall where the others were trapped and knocked on it.

"Shouldn't I be in there?", Kate asked. "No point. Just stay out of they way", Hikitsu said and Kate shrugged. "Don't have to tell me twice", she said. "What the fuck, Kate! HELP HER!", Tasuki yelled. Kate turned to him with a frown. "Do I look like I could do anything? Come on! These jerks will freeze me too!... Suzaku knows I won't survive!", Kate complained. 'Plus, I know she'll be fine', she added mentally.

Tasuki let out a long stream of cussing. "Even flame will not melt the ice of this wall! Now, if you are a true priestess, you should have no problem freeing yourself", Hikitsu commented. "Not a chance!", Tomite said with a laugh. "Miaka! Stop it! You'll die!", Tamahome yelled. 'Like she really has a say in this', Kate thought with a roll of her eyes.

Now Miaka was completely frozen over and Kate felt a small amount of fear. She wasn't breaking out... 'Oh no', she thought and held her breath. "Now she can't breath anymore. I guess she was a normal girl after all", Tomite said with a sigh. "MIAKA!", Tamahome yelled.

Alatáriël: Whew! That was a long chapter! O_O I just couldn't stop!!!

Kate: Miaka ice sickle. Nice.

Chichiri:... I'm not barely in this chapter, no da. -_-

Alatáriël: I really didn't have a choice, Chiri! You aren't in this part very much and it is so action packed!... I promise you'll have a good part next chapter. *grins evilly*

Chichiri: I'm scared, no da.

Kate: As you should be!

Alatáriël: Oh! Look! Reviews! I feel loved. heh heh.

Chiri26: *Giggles* It'srememberod! heh heh heh.

Songwind: O_o My computer talks... Really it does! It's hooked up to the answering machine! It's weird... *Giggles* I like that idea!... I have just the prank too! ^_~ It has to do with Tasuki and sugar. ^_~

Holly: *bows* I'm really sorry I couldn't let Nuriko live. His death is VERY important to the story line! I hope you aren't too mad at me. *puppy eyes*... and Yes, Chiriko is way too kawaii... I'm surprised he doesn't have more fan girls!

Prissylilchica: Thank you! ^_^ I try.

Selene Serenity: O_o What do you mean "Staying in character is very hard, I'll give you that"... Who did I get OOC?! O_O I must know!!!... Sleepovers are fun. ^_^

Neko-ane: I remeber you!!! Cute name! What does ane stand for??? Heh heh. Fluff WILL be in the next chapter! I promise!

Chichiri: That's all for now, no da! Stay tuned! On the next action packed episode of FY... well, I don't want to spoil it for you... Bye, no da!

*everyone runs off stage*