Greetings! So nice to see you again…well…kinda…Anyway! We've finally made our way back to Mieri. Poor, dear….It was really hard thinking how I wanted the plot to progress for her. I mean, she already has all her seishi! And all they'd be doing is walking…and walking….and walking…But you get my picture, right? So…forgive me if my artistic nature (snicker) felt forced to liven things up a bit. For all of you who wished me luck in the softball game…IT DIDN'T WORK! TT They stomped our asses! But it wasn't even that! They took out my little sister who's a catcher. And the bitch didn't even care! She had a slight concussion and a fractured elbow! Heh…but being a pitcher…I got even. I tried to hit her like 5 times. But the bitch was fast! She kept dodging them…She even thought about charging the mound but decided against it…maybe it was cuz I had the ball and my little sister was about to tackle her from behind….? o.O But enough about that. Sorry. I just had to tell ya. On to R&R's!
Silver: Yes she punched a horse! That's how you get them to behave. Their noses are really sensitive so it hurts a lot and they don't do…whatever…anymore. I see you've updated a lot too! TT it's not fair…you're so much better about updating than me. I bet everyone loves you more! (cries) Oh well! I'll read your next chapter after I put this up!
N-4-E:This is your new shortened name. It's too much trouble to type it all out. Sorry! And I gave a lot of attention to the horses cuz of 2 reasons: A. I love horses a lot and happen to have some so I had references B. The horses are a reflection of their riders and I thought it was cute. Also the horses will be essential to the plot line at a later date. But that's all I can say! Shhh!
Mint:(rolls eyes) You…are a goober…Aladdin? King of Thieves? Yeah…I guess you could say that…I actually like Arabian Nights! But that didn't have anything to do with this…I just picked a random number…sorry…;; I'm glad you liked it so much! I always have lots of fun with Aya. And it's even more fun when they all get together. Explosive would be one word. I wasn't sure how the whole sword thing was gonna come across but I'm glad that someone got it! Swordsmen are always really attached to their swords and often give them names. After all, the sword is a big part in staying alive! I had lots of fun with the Subaru love-triangle too! I wanted to give you some more background info on Subaru and Tokaki. That seemed like a good way to do it. Glad you liked the weapons!
LT:Yes! They're gonna be bandits…But you won't be finding out what happens for a while…I have 3 priestesses to go through! Sometimes I think this fic will never end….T-T
ET:Hee! Yes! The horses were lots of fun to think up! And of course Tokaki's is named Hentai…what else could you expect? And the Damar thing was a last minute thought. Glad you liked it though! I was going to have him pass die quietly while they picked out weapons….you know…cuz he'd only lived this long to hear Subaru's voice again? But I just got through watching a REALLY sad movie and I wasn't in the mood for more misery…T-T
Yusagi:Thanks for reading my story! I hope you enjoy it and I'm glad I managed to help someone else in their search for info on the unknown seishi…I had the hardest time finding even what I have…T-T…Be aware though that some of the info is going to be made up for lack of evidence! And no! I'm not Mieri! Good guess though! Heehee!
Mieri stared at her seishi. "You want to what!"
"Please, Priestess. You must understand, no da!" Chichiri began to sweat. "We, um, need to go ahead to see Taitsukun. It is possible that she will give us the help we need to locate Yuko and Rika without your assistance. The sooner we get there the better."
Mieri's hands went straight to her hips. "And why exactly can't you take me with you! I've been through the hat-thing once! It's a lot easier than wandering about in circles!" Mieri shuddered to remember the time she had before finding her seishi. In fact, she was taking this whole Priestess thing the best out of all four of the girls. Unlike Aya and even Rika, she found that she liked the idea of being truly needed by someone. Especially when that someone happened to be seven very hott guys…
"Mieri?" Tasuki broke into her thoughts. He was peering into her face with concern. "Are you okay?"
"Wah!" she jumped back at finding his face so close to her own. "Yes!" she gasped. "I'm fine! Now what were you saying? I kinda zoned out…"
"I was saying that I'm still exhausted from the earlier attempt to talk to Aya. It was hard work, na no da! I don't think I could carry all of us!"
"Tasuki, Tamahome, Nuriko, and Hotohori will accompany you," Chiriko smiled a bit.
"Why!" Mieri's eyes widened. "Why aren't the rest of you coming with me?"
"Well…frankly, I wish to speak to Taitsukun on the matter of how we all got back," Chiriko continued.
"And what's your excuse!" Mieri glared angrily at Mitsukake.
Mitsukake shrugged, "You won't need me with those four to guard you. And I'd like to ask Taitsukun some questions about my healing powers. If it's possible, I'd like to heal more than once a day. The power would be useful in the fight to come."
Mieri's gaze shifted unconsciously to Chichiri.
"Na no da! Don't look at me!" he threw up both hands, "I have to go to work the spell, no da!"
The Priestess sighed. "I don't know. It's just that I met you all yesterday, and you're already leaving me." Tears gathered in her eyes, "I miss Aya and Riku and Yuko. And now my seishi are going! Is something wrong with me!"
Concern immediately flashed across every face but one. Tasuki strode over to Mieri and crossed his arms. "Oh, shut up!"
Mieri looked up suddenly in disbelief.
"Is that really what you're thinking!" he asked with scorn. "You know your friends would be here in a heartbeat if they could. The bitchy blonde one would probably slap you for even thinking that! Besides, we're not leaving you! We're doing all this for you!"
Mieri sniffed, "Well, whatever! Can we just get this show on the road?" She glanced guiltily over her shoulder. "Now I get the creepiest feeling that Aya's going to pop out and hit me. Or Rika. She'd definitely do it, too."
"I'm ready!" Chichiri pointed to his strange straw hat. It was hovering a few feet off the ground.
Mitsukake bowed to Mieri before stepping casually into the hat and disappearing. Chiriko had to jump in order to even get in. Regardless that he was supposed to have aged two years since his death, he hadn't gotten any taller. Chichiri paused, half-in, half-out of the hat. "If you need us, Priestess, call, no da. We'll hear and answer." And with that, he disappeared completely from view.
"Honestly!" Nuriko fumed. "You'd think that no one around here trusted us with her!"
Hotohori frowned slightly. "I still have to wonder what I'm doing dressed like this." He gestured to his clothing. Instead of the traditional men's clothing, Hotohori wore a woman's robes. His hair was done up, and make up was on his face. He'd never looked prettier.
"I don't know," Nuriko spun around in his own robes. "It brings back fond memories for me!" He laughed. While at one time he had convinced himself he was gay — he had been in love with Hotohori, no less — Nuriko had finally realized that he was a man. He had only been living as a woman to make up for his little sister Korin's death.
Mieri laughed behind her own stiff mask of makeup. "I hate makeup," she admitted. "It makes me feel like…a third-grade art project…" The seishi looked blankly at her. "Okay! Note to self: Never try jokes that have modern day references!" She climbed into the back of the cart they were to ride in.
"Remember!" Tamahome admonished them as he led them out of the gates of Eiyo. "You are three daughters of a wealthy general. Tasuki and I are your bodyguards to see you safely to the home of your betrothed."
"Yeah, yeah! We remember!" Mieri shifted uncomfortably in the back of the cart. "Can that thing go any faster?"
Tasuki was driving the cart — which was attached to an old plow horse — and Tamahome rode beside on a gentle palfrey out of the Emperor's own stables. "Shut your trap!" Tasuki snapped. "The only reason I'm even up here is for you!"
Mieri glowered and would have replied if Nuriko hadn't touched her arm. "Forgive him," the older boy winked, "He's deathly afraid of horses. It's actually a big step that he's driving this thing for you."
Mieri looked anew at the fiery seishi. So he conquered a fear for me? From what everyone's said, he didn't even do that for Miaka. She smiled softly to herself. "Well, if that's the case, this pace is just fine."
"I should say so!" Tasuki commented.
Mieri forgot her feelings of good will and growled, "Watch it! I'll hit you! Don't think I won't!"
"Oh, no!" Tasuki's eyes widened in mock horror. "Whatever will I do now! I think I'll just — OW! Stupid Priestess! What was that for!"
"For being a smartass!"
"I'll show you what a smartass is!"
"Oh, please!" Mieri crossed her arms. "Please do! This show of great intellect will be well worth it!"
"Why I oughta —! "
"Enough!" Hotohori groaned as he covered his ears. "I'm much too delicate to be put through such torture!" He rolled his eyes along with Tamahome. Tasuki and Mieri were much to busy squabbling to notice.
"I don't know," Nuriko grinned, "I think it might give our little disguise some proof if the haughty princess argues with the lowly guard. Besides. It's cute."
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