Fushigi Yuugi: Death's Enchantment
Episode Five:
"The Wolf Within"
Misty Schmitt
26 March 2001

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A/N: I wrote this fic years and years ago. I'm posting it here because I am no longer updating the original site I had dedicated to it. Please be nice when you comment, and remember that I (and my writing style) have changed since 2001.

There is some naughty language at the end of this story. Reader, beware.

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"What are you doing? I've been looking all over for you. You act like I enjoy babysitting you!"

A rather enraged Tasuki had found Aino after about an hour's search the next morning. She was sitting at the crest of a hill, overlooking the Konan empire. She was wearing the clothes that she had been in the day she came to Konan.

"Shut up, Tasuki."

Tasuki was rather taken aback by her abrupt reply, but still, in her world's clothes, didn't she look so mysteriously lovely?

"Can't you be quiet for just a minute and listen to the world?"

"What the hell do ya mean? Yeah yeah… hear the wind blow.. let's go.. in case you've forgotten, there is a mission we have to get ready for…"

"And in case you have forgotten, we could die tomorrow at the hands of those you call friends!" Aino replied icily through her teeth. Tasuki looked at her shocked for a moment, then looked down, too upset to talk. "Look, I'm sorry Tasuki, but I could very well die here, that.. that thing that has them all, he wants me, and I don't know why! All I know is that I refuse to give in to him… I'd rather die than let that evil penetrate me. So, let's just sit here for a while and watch the sun rise.. and then prepare to die, ok?"

Tasuki nodded his head and sat next to the strange girl, looking towards the city.

"They have no idea of the madness that is steadily growing everyday closer to them," Tasuki murmured.

"What was that Tasuki?"

"I just said that the madness is coming closer to the heart of Konan… You remember that day you came here, I came in the room where you were and I was hurt? Well, I had been at the outer territories to see just what was going on… and there was more to the rumors than just a civil war between the normally peaceable clans out there…. They were…. Bloodthirsty animals. They killed just to be killing…. Everyone…. It is spreading, that is the reason why Hotohori believes you came here… to once again save Konan from evil forces….. "

"So… even now, he is coming at us? Well then, we have no time to spare… get off your lazy ass, Tasuki! Let's get this under way, I can't stand to see innocents hurt… C'mon.. let's go shopping!"

"L-Lazy ass? Why, you…..!" Tasuki's grew to ten times their normal size and then his head promptly exploded.

She has finally realized that the time has come. For us to be one.. I have waited so long. Nakago thought he spoiled you, but you can't be spoiled, my precious Shi no Miko… soon.. soon.

"Tasuki, if you give me the I-am-a-girl-and-can-easily-get-my-ass-kicked-so-I-should-let-you-protect-me lecture one more time, I think I'm going to have to kick your ass on principle!"

"Look, I'm just saying that your clothes are weird and you ARE a girl and you should just stay close, you know? Damn! I am starting to sound like Chichiri!" I miss him! Where are you , Chichiri?

Tasuki looked up from his quick internal thought and his eyes were caught on…. A very pretty woman indeed. Immediately, he glued himself to her side. Girls – he hated them, sex – well, what red-blooded man didn't like it? And Tasuki's was just as red and perhaps hotter than the next man.

"Tasuki-chan…. Tasuki? Tasuki! Damn him, where'd he go… I don't know anything about this place and.."

Aino's eyes saw exactly where Tasuki was and exactly what he was doing…

"Pitiful! I can't believe it! The first semi-pretty face and what does this idiot do? He drools all over himself trying to get with her… Oh well, I guess I'll just have to shop myself… good thing I snatched the money from him when he wasn't looking! Heh! Now he has nothing to eat lunch with.. that'll show him." With that, Aino wandered into the first clothing store she happened upon.

"C-can I help you…. miss?"

The shopkeeper was a bit unnerved at the sight of Aino alone… with those strange clothes on.

"Yes sir… I need to get some new clothes.. see, I'm going on a mission, and I need clothes that I can move around in.. you know?"

Aino looked down at her tight fitting, very trendy clothing. She wore charcoal, boot cut dress pants, stacked black boots, and a light purple, 3\4 sleeve blouse… not exactly very Chinese… She was suddenly very embarrassed as she felt the shopkeeper's eyes glide smoothly up and down her body… several times. She began to wish desparately that she had never left Tasuki's side.

"Those clothes… they are quite interesting…. I think I can find something for you.. and if you will let me have those clothes, the ones I can get you could be very cheap, if you know what I mean."

Whew! He was looking at the clothes, not me!

"Oh, Tasuki, you're so funny!" the random pretty girl Tasuki had glued himself to cried.

"Yes, I know.. and charming.. and handsome.. and brave.. and responsible to boot.."

"Responsible?" she tittered "That's funny.. I thought I saw you earlier with a companion… and here you are, talking to me. You left her all alone… that doesn't SEEM very responsible Genro-chan.."

Tasuki's face was anger and shock and disappointment all in one….he was angry he had left Aino, shocked that this woman would remind him, and disappointed that sex was apparently out of the question today! Well, he would have liked to believe he was disappointed, anyway. That would have been his normal reaction before Aino crashed into his life.

"Where the HELL did she go? Damnit! She doesn't know anything about this place.." Tasuki ran down the street, crying her name loudly.

Meanwhile, after ten shops and three hours of blissful solo shopping, Aino was completely transformed. She had purchased two pairs of loose fitting, tan pants, two long sleeved wrap around shirts, two long wrap around sleeveless and collared tunics, one black with purple trim, the other a dark purple with black trim, a long black coat, and black shoes with ankle ties. She wore the black tunic without an undershirt – it was a very warm day. As an added bonus, she had also purchased a long dagger with a holster on a silver belt and several leather hair tiebacks.

"Now, I am ready for anything!" Aino thought as she walked down the street, her packages bundled, except for the clothes she wore and her new toy. "Now, I guess I'll have to find.. "

"TASUKI! Hey you, you red headed WEASEL! I got a bone to pick with ya!"

Aino turned, hoping to see Tasuki getting yelled at by someone.. perhaps the random girl's husband? But only saw a very large, angry man backed by about twelve smaller but just as angry looking men. They were all glaring at her.

"Umm… who did you want?"

"Don't play tricks with me, Genro! I came here looking for the leader of the bandits of Mt. Reikaku, and here I have found him.. or her… I never thought it would be a woman.."

"It's NOT a woman… at least not this one… and who is Genro? I don't know what you are talking about.."

"They said you'd try to talk your way out of it… no.. they told me to look for a red head in all black.. and here you are, damnit, now take this beating like a man!"

"But I'm NOT a man!" Aino managed as she leapt from the huge man's thundering fists.

"I don't care.. anyone who would raid our poor town… is heartless and deserves to be…. Killed.. now come here, you bitch, so I can teach you a lesson.."

"Sorry, but I already know everything I need…" Aino said as she leapt onto a nearby wall to escape from the men.. "Forgive me.. but I must leave this party, I have someone to find…"

And I'd better find him before these guys do….

Aino prepared to jump to the other side of the wall.. too late.

Oh! I hate girls I hate girls I hate girls… everyone now, sing along…. Man, this is such a pain in the ass… It's been too long.. What if she's hurt? No, I don't want to think about that…. She's fine… she's just being a silly girl… right?

"AAAAEEEEIIIII!" Aino screamed as the big man grabbed her ankle to pull her off the wall, and again when her head hit the wall with such force that blood immediately filled her left eye.

"Shit, that hurt. Why the hell can't I go unconscious NOW? I didn't seem to have a problem with it earlier…."

"Shut up, Genro… now take your punishment!"

The huge man held Aino while the others took their turns kicking her and spitting in her face. He threw her to the ground…. Licking his lips excitedly… Aino lay there, blood streaming down her face, her body bruised, she was completely wasted… Tasuki, help!

"And now, know the humiliation of our village… I will enjoy this immensely…"

His eyes were lit with a disgusting expression of lust, his thugs merely watched on, contented that theirs was the next turn… The leader began to untie Aino's tunic…

"I hope you don't think you're going to get away with this that easily!" Aino screamed as she swept the big man's feet out from under him. She sprung backwards, drawing her dagger as she did so. "Now, any of you who wish for a turn… come get me!"

What was that scream I just heard… could that be her? She is in trouble.. she needs me now…. Shit! This would happen today, wouldn't it!

The big man laughed at the girl's motions… "Come get me?" he grinned…

"Are you mocking me, you dirty pervert? I don't think you deserve that right… perhaps you should die for that!" Did I just say that?

"Or maybe it is you who will die! Misutii! Get her!"

"Yes, En'u-sama…. Gladly!" The henchman cackled as he drew closer and closer.

What the hell do I do.. I can't fight… I don't know the first thing about it….

"Come any closer, asshole, and I'll just have to rid you of that smirk! You don't know what you are dealing with in me!" Oh, why can't I just shut up!

"Oh, I'd like to see what's in you!"

"KISAMA!" Aino's eyes widened with rage as she charged upon the one called Misutii. She leapt into the air and made direct contact with her foot on his face. The man's nose instantly began to spurt blood. Aino landed and quickly stalked back to her original position, keeping her back to no one. She looked to survey the damage. A very shocked henchmen lay unconscious on the ground, his lower face a mess of teeth and flesh and blood. Damn, did I do that?

"Now, who wants to try next?"

At that, the man all became enraged… and all at once charged her. Aino fought fiercely with her feet and hands as well as with her dagger and even teeth. Several men fell away, and never stood again, such was her fury. Her eyes glowed purple and her face was a mask of rage.

I sense her close by.. She should be just around this corner….

Tasuki turned the corner and saw a terrible scene play out in front of him. Aino was fighting many large men like a wild animal, like those people he had encountered in the outer territories. Some men lay at her feet dead, several others tried to make their way past him and away from her rage, but they could not escape. The alley way was blocked off on one end by a house, on the other by a faintly purple life force… Tasuki turned his head for a moment, unable to look on her carnal fit…. She means to kill them all… not just scare or hurt them…KILL!

"Are you happy now, NAKAGO! Is that what you wanted, you bastard? Die, Die! DIE! For what you have done to me, DIE!" a voice that was and wasn't Aino erupted from her in a whirlwind. Tasuki looked up sharply. Nakago? Where? He only saw a few poor louts being massacred by the priestess of… death. A shiver ran down Tasuki's spine as he remembered Aino's words from that morning "I'd rather die than let that evil penetrate me." That's what she said. I am watching it. Already. I am watching the evil consume her.

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Yes, Tasuki.. isn't it beautiful. Enjoy it, Aino.. the rage.. the killing. That is what you were born for – the evil, the pure dark beauty of it!
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"Aino-Sama! Stop it! Yamete, Aino.. YAMETE!" Tasuki roared as he ran towards her.

Aino looked up at him with such pain, it hurt him. She calmly threw up one hand and he could no longer move.

"Let me do this, Raifu. Just let me, ok? I know you hate it… gomen nasai… gomen." Raifu! At that, a brief flash of.. somewhere else invaded Tasuki's mind, another scene of death and her, Aino… What?

That small window of calm was just enough for the miraculously still alive leader of the group to grab Aino from behind, completely destroying her defenses. She fell limp as Tasuki fell from her bondage.

"Heh.. thought you could kill us all, did you, Genro… or Tasuki.. or whatever else you call yourself. Well, it seems old En'u-sama got you in the end, didn't he? After this display of cruelty, I know that you were capable of the destruction of my village while I was away!"

"Tasuki?" Tasuki said "Genro? I'm him! Me! Why are you after her, what has she done to you!"

"Y-you're Tasuki?"

"In the flesh… and I don't remember raiding or destroying any towns… recently. You seem to know so much about me, but you failed to realize that I was the active leader of the bandits for a very short time. You fool! I would never, ever allow a poor village to be plundered, what would be the point? Now let the girl go!"

"No! She may not be Tasuki, err, you but she did kill some of my best men… these men are irreplaceable, and now she must repay… and then you will be punished as well for the heartless act committed upon my humble village!"

"Heartless? Heh! It seems to me that you're the heartless one. You think I can't see that her tunic is undone and her head has been struck…. You were trying to rape her, weren't you? Raping an innocent girl.. now that is what I call heartless.."

"Shut up, you.. or I swear I'll kill you now."

"No, I will not shut up…. You and your 'best, irreplaceable' men were about to gang rape the Shi no Miko.. did you know that? You and all your 'best' men are all going to hell!"

"AAAAHHHH That's enough!" En'u screamed, and charged Tasuki, dropping Aino.

"REKKA SHINEN!"

The flames engulfed En'u and the few survivors of his group.. but they weren't meant to kill, only inflict extreme pain to the point of death. That was their punishment for touching the Shi no Miko.

Tasuki scooped up the very weak, barely conscious Aino, gathered her packages, and swiftly left the town.

Aino was silent the rest of the morning as Tasuki cleaned her up and bandaged her wounds. Tasuki honored her wishes to be silent. For the second time in his life, he could not think of any snide comment to shoot her way – he cared about her too much to take advantage of her that way, for his own enjoyment. She sat and watched him pack for their trip without a word. By mid day, they were ready to be off. Aino silently climbed upon the horse with Tasuki, and they turned towards the greatest challenge either of them would face.

I can smell her. She will come!

The silence of the ride weighed heavily on Tasuki's mind. Questions filled his heart.

What DID Nakago do to her? And why did she call me Raifu? I've been called thousands of names by girls… generally bad… but this? I just can't stand this! She's in pain.. something is going on with her.. and I can't help her? Is this how Hotohori felt that time when Tama was…? Hotohori, Tama… Chichiri… even Miaka and Yui… we've lost them all… what can we do? The two of us…? How can we, one man and a hurt woman, make any difference now.. even if she is the Shi no Miko?
"Have you forgotten my power so soon?" Aino asked, without any trace of actual feeling in her voice. She became surrounded by her purple aura as Tasuki began to feel very uncomfortable. He felt the pain in his body gradually increase until it was all he could do not to scream. Just as suddenly as it began, the pain stopped, the aura disappeared, and the woods were silent. For the second time that day, a chill ran down Tasuki's spine.

"Yes, I can call it at will now. Now!" she said bitterly, as if now were too late to save her. Aino fell silent again, leaving Tasuki once more to his own world.

Is that even Aino in there anymore? That felt more than a little evil, I think… and did she read my thoughts? Has it begun already?

After hours of riding in solitude, Tasuki declared that it was a good time to set up camp. Aino listlessly got off the horse and watched him as he prepared a campsite and started a fire.

"REKKA SHINEN!" a huge fire was suddenly dancing in Tasuki's eyes. "Heh… I hate using it this way, but man… it's a hell of a lot easier than damn rubbing twigs together, isn't it?"

Aino did not reply.

"Man… ok… sheesh…." Tasuki mumbled as he prepared a meal for them. After they had eaten, he tried once more to strike up conversation.

"We should reach Mt. Taikyoku in about three more days…"

Again, no reply.

"I hope Chichiri and the others are alright."

Aino simply continued her staring contest with the fire.

"Ahem.. " Tasuki felt very awkward, something he wasn't accustomed to feeling… He then realized how ridiculous he was acting.

"Damnit! Look at me! The leader of the bandits of Mt. Raikaku, feeling like I need to tread lightly around this girl… how the hell could I have let this go on! Look, either you're going to tell me what in the fuck is going on…. Or I'm leaving your ass here in the forest to the wolves.. I'll be damned if you wouldn't give them a run for their money, the way you were fighting back there.. no, that wasn't fighting, that was a massacre! How could you do that? You trapped those poor guys there just so you could destroy every one of them! What are you!" The words ran out of Tasuki's mouth like the fire from his fan, he didn't even realize what he had said until he saw the flash of pain sweep over Aino's face. "I-I'm sorry.. I didn't realize…"

"I'm tired. I need to sleep."

"A-Aino… I.."

But Aino had already sunk into her bedding and turned her back to Tasuki and his fire.